Elecraft KPA1500 - legal limit drive power test
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- Опубликовано: 30 окт 2024
- [UPDATE] - drive power settings may have changed with the Version 2.0 Firmware release from January 3, 2019.
In this video, I show what drive power is required to bring the Elecraft KPA1500 to the full legal limit of 1,500 watts. I do this for 160 meters through 10 meters; skipping 30 meters for obvious reasons.
What happens if you drive it with lets say 80 watts on 80m ssb? Into a dummy load of course...
The amp's protection would go into a hard fault and cease transmitting. It's a 1-button fix to re-set it, but you cannot put 80 watts into the KPA1500. It's simply too much drive. Thanks for your question and 73! de WX0V
@@SuburbanDXing Ok Thanks. I was just wondering what max output would be. I like the idea of a solid state amp with the tuner built in. Tuning the Ameritron gets old.
@@davidray4128 I can get about 1,700 watts out of mine (into a dummy load) before it starts to become unhappy. The output transistors are rated higher than that, but Elecraft appears to have the electronics cut things off, which is fine, as 1.5KW is the legal limit. If you need more than that you'll see to contact MR BBI in Idaho! :-) Thanks for your question and 73! de WX0V
@@SuburbanDXing Lol. Yes I know about Mr BBI. I stick to the rules but like his videos.
@@davidray4128 Ditto. I watch him, too. Shake my head at times when he is building 11 meter amps that do 4KW, but he's still interesting. 73!
hello from austria. The Yaesu FT dx 5000 has around 10-12 W minimum power. Can you tell me. How much power has the PA with 5 to 15 w? Thanks! 73 de OE5POP
It will depend on the band, but I often will use 6 watts of drive on 30m to reach 200w (legal limit in the US for that band). My HF beam has a limit of 500w, and I use around 11 watts for that (20m through 10m). So expect somewhere in the 180w to 600w range; depending on the band and your output power (since you gave me a range of 5 to 15w). Thanks for your question and 73! de WX0V
Can you try moving the KTA-1500 and power supply to another room in your house, and remote controlling it? That will reduce the noise level, if you have a normally unoccupied room in your house.
Hi Dave,
I answered this question on your comment from another video on the KPA1500. Thank you and 73! de WX0V
Why not test 6m?
Fair question. I do not have an antenna that can handle QRO on 6m, and, the dummy load I was using topped off at 30 MHz. Otherwise, I would have been happy to test 6m. Thanks for your comment and 73! de WX0V
My friend was wondering if the amp works on 11 meters.
Well, as silly as that question might seem to many radio amateurs, the subject of 11 meters is actually covered in the KPA1500 manual! The amp will not operate in the 11 meter band. Elecraft designed it so. Your friend will need to find another option. A better option yet, is to have them get their Ham Radio license. 73! de WX0V
@@SuburbanDXing ,. That is what I told him.lol. I said there is more bands and frequencies to use that amp. I'll make sure he gets his license.
Hello from TF1A
Where can you find transceiver that do 30W on SSB ? 99% of all tranceiver also IC-7610 have ALC overshhot. On SSB voice 30W and radio make shoot to 100W even adjust to 30W. This problem is only on SSB voice. That is why real AMP maker offer ATT so you can send 100W to make max power without splattering or damage the amp or the tupe .
What will Elecraft KPA1500 do when he get 1 sec of 100W He make lots of noise on the band :-(
Is ATT option build in to KPA1500 ? If not, He is not made for 100W SSB transceiver . :-(
20 year old Yaesu VL1000 have ATT option for 100W transceiver :-)
Without ATT he also only need only 30W for full power .
In spec say
Heat Sink Temperature 230° F (110°C), maximum
That is hot amplifier
Hello Ari, and thanks for your comments. The KPA1500 has protection circuitry built in so if you accidentally hit it with 100w, it goes to stand-by in an instant. I have had this happen when I wasn't paying attention. It also goes into stand-by if the SWR is very high (I show this on another video). The protection circuitry is lightning fast...and you can reset it with a push of one button. Very easy.
I suppose Elecraft could make this so 100w is needed to get to 1,500 watts, but I am not sure what that does to the efficiency of the amp (I simply do not have the knowledge to answer that). Plus, different bands require different power (as this video shows), so what then?
Another issue arises; what do you do with an Icom 7700, or other radios that are 200w? Isn't one of the high-end Yaesu rigs 400 watts? What then?
The exception here is the Elecraft K3, then you can run 100w, and the two units will adjust automatically to output 1,500 watts (at least, this is my understanding).
Yes, solid state amps run hot...no question about that...that's a trade-off between tube amps and SS amps. Tubes run cooler but take time to warm up (and most need to be tuned per band). SS amps run hotter but are fully operational in seconds.
I have no beef with the KPA1500 needing me to adjust my exciter for the proper drive power...Hams have been doing this with amplifiers since the hobby began. Besides, you're going to need to adjust your power anyway to get the desired level. My beef with the KPA1500 is the fan noise (covered in other videos), but then again...that's the trade-off I just spoke of.
In the end, there are no right or wrong options here...it's all personal preference.
As an aside, I see you on the air a lot; especially on FT8. Thank you for being so active from TF!
I appreciate your passionate comments...73! de WX0V
Ari...watch this video for a look at the protection circuitry of the amp: ruclips.net/video/T_rG1EJ7Xjc/видео.html -- it's at the 8 minute mark or so.
From AFRICA!???
I do not understand your comment...what do you mean?
@@SuburbanDXing Just started peeking into the world of radio...my mind is blown on the possible range with a 1500w setup.
You can make Ham Radio contacts all over the world with even just 5 watts with the correct conditions. 1500w is the maximum legal limit in the United States, but most transceivers run 100w, and you will get all over the world with that. Thank you for stopping by and 73 (which means "best regards") de WX0V
@@SuburbanDXing ive become interested in digital to analog radio and analog to digital formats (there is some chatter about utilizing certain technologies like LORA or PPT for audio radio comms)
Some talk about APRS but id rather see what that setup would look like for the ability for analog to digital encryption in a shorter range with a license (10-20 miles) that would let you contact someone without "giving up the ghost" as they say.
some would see this as asking for advice for illegal means but im simply a proponent of privacy while operating in the legal means of radio .
i guess im asking is there for a form of radio contact with some form of anonymity to WHAT is being transmitted? (of course they will know where)
I hope im speaking gibberish, looking it up will open the world about the digital radio world trying to meet with the analog.
Its nice to talk to anyone and everyone on the radio with a traditional UHF/VHF setup sometimes and sometimes its not. If you feel uncomfortable answering I understand.
@@atranimecs I'm not the best qualified to answer your questions, but as you get further into the hobby, you will find plenty who can converse with you on your interests. Thanks again and 73! de WX0V