[Elecraft] KPA1500 issues/blown finals

[Jim Brown]

On 2/15/2026 9:58 PM, dyno lab wrote:
> Sounds like you have a really good one and running it at 1250 Watts goes a long way in keeping it alive.

1250W is only under the highest stress operation -- high duty cycle, and 
very long TX periods on 6M, it's least efficient band, and for the 
reasons noted. Meteor scatter QSOs can take 20-30 minutes to complete 
when there aren't a lot of rocks.

Nearly all HF and MF operation is contesting, legal limit, constant 
CQing on CW and RTTY.

> I have a feeling you keep an eye on the match.

The KPA1500's protection circuitry does that. It faults when stressed, I 
let the tuner do its thing, and continue.

> I have friend that runs her's at a full 1500 Watts all the time and gets away with it.

73, Jim K9YC