[Elecraft] KPA1500 Power Level

[Mark Goldberg]

I believe the SPE 1.5K-FA uses one 1800W Mosfet and the KPA1500 uses two
1400W Mosfets. In general, the KPA500 and KPA1500 are more robust than most
of the competitors. I've made mistakes a few times with my KPA500 and it is
still ticking. Everyone I've talked to with an ALS-600 has blown the
finals, sometimes multiple times.

I'm using it with a TS-590 that has the spike fix, but it still is not
perfect.

73,

Mark
W7MLG

On Sat, Sep 18, 2021 at 6:47 PM Jerry Kirshenbaum <jkbaum at usa.net> wrote:

> re: it'd pay to review the SPE
>
> In May 2021 I bought a SPE 1.5K-FA 2nd generator new from the distributor
> in Texas. I’ve been using a SunSDR2 DX 100W transceiver while I wait to
> receive my K4D. The 1st time the finals blew may have been operator error.
> Subsequently, I discovered that the software allows one to limit the power
> on each band. So I set the SPE to mid power (it has low, mid, high
> settings) and determined the correct output for 700-800W. That left at
> least 20% head room.  Despite this seem lying failsafe procedure, the
> finals blew again. The distributor would not cover this under warranty on
> the grounds that my radio has spurious spikes which blew the finals. In
> fact, if you run the “wrong” radio with this amp, you don’t have any
> warranty because the radio is indicted as the cause of failure sight unseen.
>
> The amp when it works is wonderful. One case, 24 lbs, very quiet. I had
> everything linked together with my SteppIR DB18E through DxLab.
>
> Two times back to the distributor for repair in 3 months was enough. I
> sold it and now have a KPA1500 which is working great.
>
> BTW, the distributor also says the IC-7300 (my backup) has spurious spikes
> as well and presumably is another transceiver not covered under their
> warranty.
>
> 73, Jerry / K0ES
>
>
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