[Elecraft] Output power being eaten

[john at kk9a.com]

I follow the SPE Expert list and I never understood their reasoning for
running 100 watt radios at full power and relying on ALC to control the
output. I never use ALC. I thought relying it can cause splatter. There are
a lot of failed LDMOS posts on the SPE list.

If the SPE amp watt meter is before the tuner it would make sense to use an
external meter. I am a big fan of the TelePost LP-100A.

73,
John KK9A

Bill Frantz AE6JV wrote:

After reading all the comments on this thread, I think that 
Skip, K6DWG and Bob, K4TAX have the best theory of what 
happened. Careful reading of the SPE 1.3K manual indicates that 
the power output of the amp is sampled between the amp and the 
internal tuner and that the recommended tune power is 30W.

So the idea that the tuner could have gotten into a state where 
it ate the output power is at least credible. I would expect a 
KW dissipated in the tuner to have damaged it, but fortunately 
that does not seem to have happened.

The manual strongly recommends setting the exciter radio (my K3) 
to maximum power output and trusting the ALC to set the correct 
drive power. Many here, including me, will disagree. However, as 
a result of this recommendation, the manuel doesn't really 
address the drive power issue.

Please note that the antenna is driven through coax and not open 
wire or ladder line, so theories based on those feed lines don't apply.

Thanks to everyone who replied. This list is a wonderful resource.

73 Bill AE6JV