[Elecraft] KPA500 problem

[Rick Bates, NK7I]

It's not elegant but I just finished a rack/table using a butcher block 
top (Home Depot) and angle stock on the front inside of the 2x2 wooden 
legs to mount the p/s and a repeater I use for IRLP (duplexer later, one 
pieces at a time).  The table top is stained and matches the height of 
the desk so there is almost a continuous surface.   Five coats of poly 
should suffice to seal it.  More angle stock from the front to back legs 
will support/share the weight for each item, so it's not entirely held 
by the front.

The K3, P3 and KPA1500 will sit on the desk within reach, just below the 
50" monitor (4K TV) mounted to the wall (swing/tilt mount).  The KPA1500 
amp p/s will sit on the table top but may end up in the rack later.  The 
KAT500/KPA500 will be nearby as backup, easily added if needed.

The next step is to add copper pipe along the equipment space to behind 
the desk for equipment bonding to ground, then add a shelf on either 
side of the monitor to hang speakers, rotor and SteppIR controllers and 
the control head of a dual band with some books too.  (There is also a 
small frig and microwave next to the desk.)  Then put a 36x36" piece of 
plywood on the wall (that wide so it can be well anchored by the 16" on 
center studs) for dual band, 6M FM radio and perhaps more later.

The entire station (and network) is all going to run from a UPS, which 
only has to last long enough for the generator to kick in (about 40 
seconds) so nothing drops out during an outage (except the large amp, on 
240V).

Most of the wiring will be hidden by desk or monitor, except the space 
above the table, where they come in from the tower (large conduits, 
buried in ground).

The floor is industrial laminate, the rack and desk have sliders (easily 
moved when wanted, no wandering).  A computer manages each piece, then I 
can remote into that computer from the warm house or when traveling.

It's a simple station, the 80-6M SteppIR up 60' and an 80/160M Inverted 
L.  Simple ROCKS!

73,
Rick NK7I
North Idaho

On 4/15/2020 10:46 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:
> When I built my operating desk, I made the top a full 36 inches deep 
> so the face of the equipment is about 24 inches from the front.  I 
> also put the 2 pedestals on appliance dolly wheels so I can roll the 
> desk out for access behind the equipment.  There are shelves in the 
> back to hold power supplies and all the other stuff that I don't need 
> to see on a day to day basis.
>
> I am fortunate to have a fully equipped woodworking shop and can do 
> that kind of custom furniture design.  I built the desk from good oak 
> and it matches the custom trim and cabinets throughout the rest of the 
> house.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/15/2020 1:21 PM, Jim Brown wrote:
>> On 4/14/2020 10:18 PM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote:
>>> I chose to place my operating desk two feet from the wall. I refer 
>>> to the area behind it as the "cable vault." This solution is cheap 
>>> in terms of money and effort, but very expensive of space.
>>
>> Yes. I wish I had thought of doing something like this after seeing 
>> something similar in N6RO's superstation. My operating position is on 
>> shelves attached to the wall behind them, held away from the wall 
>> about 2 inches for cables to pass vertically between shelves. That 
>> works, but it's a real PITA getting to cables connected to the radios 
>> and other gear when something must be removed for service, 
>> replacement, or to go into the field for FD or county expeditions.
>>
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