So, it's not a power switch failure but just the bulb inside.? I wonder if it's incandescent or LED?? I received my amp directly from Palstar in September of 2022 and have had zero issues with it.??
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I have s/w like that and acts like that on my Astron 35m. It has done that for 30 years plus. PS still works fine. Just like your amp does.
Steve
W7CM
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Hello Everyone,
Quick update:? Mr. Mark Ward of Palstar has informed me earlier today, by email, Palstar discovered all of their power switches, obtained from a
new supplier, have the same fault that causes the malfunction as seen here
on my practically new LA-1K (about 4 months old) bought directly from Palstar.
Mark has stated that they will send me a new power switch, from their original supplier, ASAP.
If y'all have been following my postings here, this next new power switch will be the
2nd replacement power switch for my practically new LA-1K.
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
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Hello Everyone,
Quick update:? Mr. Mark Ward of Palstar has informed me earlier today, by email, Palstar discovered all of their power switches, obtained from a new supplier, have the same fault that causes the malfunction as seen here on my practically new LA-1K (about 4 months old) bought directly from Palstar.
Mark has stated that they will send me a new power switch, from their original supplier, ASAP.
If y'all have been following my postings here, this next new power switch will be the 2nd replacement power switch for my practically new LA-1K.
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
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Mine is a 2020 Ser. 34924 and has NO switch.. ...
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ICOM 7610 Interface Cable
The 9pin connector interface to an Icom 7610. Do I need this radio control cable interface cable? I'm already using the SEND /ALC from the 7610. And where does it connect to on the 7610 rear if needed? An does it eliminate the Send/ ALC OR use both.? Confused.? TIA...
?de K2HVE
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On Sun, Apr 30, 2023 at 12:00 PM, Kent Trimble, K9ZTV wrote:
What you say is true. ?What I said is also true.
?
I wasn't questioning your assessment, I was narrowing the problem.
Kent, Let's look at it from the power switch manufacturer's perspective.. the power switch currently installed in my LA-1K will be declared defective at final test for failing to fully meet the stated performance specifications of the power switch.? Then, for continuous manufacturing process improvement purposes, they may request the defective power switch be undergone certain failure mode analysis procedure.. for example, identifying a marginal batch of LED (light inside the power switch) imported from the PRC wasn't caught by their incoming QC personnel. So, while all I care about, as an end user, is the final test results, you would rather focus on root causes; maybe even including the failure mode analysis piece.? Bottom line: Contrary to your first assessment this morning... to be accurate, the power switch assembly currently installed in my LA-1K has failed to fully meet its performance specifications. Please find attached an image file showing the replacement power switch currently installed in my LA-1K and the original power switch (deemed defective by Mr. Ward) sitting next to the piece of paper that accompanied the replacement power switch that Palstar shipped me at my request, free of charge. I personally performed the power switch remove/replace actions to return my LA-1K to fully serviceable condition.? Just FYI... I took a field engineering service job (i.e. a glorified technician) after I was laid off from my very first real engineering job in the semiconductor industry in Silicon Valley.? My lead taught me a few things about servicing small and medium size computers.? Lol.. they even sent me to their in-house tech school to service line printers and teletype machines.? Oh well, long story short, I went back to manufacturing integrated circuits as a real engineer after the U.S. economy recovered. So, remove/replace the LA-1K power switch is a simple task for me.? But from seeing the LA-1K online reviews (e.g. ) I had no ideas that a nearly USD $4,000 Palstar amplifier would start acting like some hobby kits sold on PRC websites, my friend. 73, Ray KJ5MI
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Ray ...
What you say is true. ?What I said is also true.
I wasn't questioning your assessment, I was narrowing the problem.
When I ordered an HF-AUTO several years ago the same (presumably) kind of rocker switch as on the LA-1K was inadvertently installed upside down. ?The switch itself worked perfectly but to my mind, ON is UP, OFF is DOWN, and several days of it being the opposite was really bugging me. ?Much, I'm sure, as the light in your switch is bugging you.
Deciding it wasn't worth my paying shipping costs, or worth wasting the factory's repair time, I started digging.
Reversing the switch was straight-forward but not easy, owing to wires being dressed after the switch was installed. The wire lengths were just taut enough and the maneuvering space just tight enough to make things interesting. ? But eventually I got it reversed.
When ordering the LA-1K a few years later, I called the factory for assurance its power switch would be installed correctly, which it was.
People will occasionally make mistakes and components working properly at shipment will occasionally fail. ?That's why we have warranties.
I'd have them send me a new switch (with wiring attached) and see if I could replace and wire it myself (in true amateur tradition and all that). ?If I couldn't, I'd send both back for warranty service. ?Since we're dealing with a power switch, you may or may not feel comfortable doing the work yourself, but a suitably experienced ham near you might.
The point is, you should have received a longer-lived switch. You didn't. ?Join the crowd.
73, Kent K9ZTV
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On Apr 30, 2023, at 9:06 AM, tuneupmagic (null) via groups.io <tuneupmagic@...> wrote:
? [Edited Message Follows]
[Reason: Edited to include link to my original post in another LA-1K thread.]
On Sun, Apr 30, 2023 at 08:03 AM, Kent Trimble, K9ZTV wrote:
To be accurate, the power switch itself has not failed; it's the light inside the power switch which has failed. ?The amp itself is still operating after the light goes out.
?
Hey Kent, A fully serviceable power switch assembly so installed in the LA-1K shall include an indicator light that stays on the entire time the power switch assembly remains in the powered-on position for as long as the amp is hooked up to a proper AC power source.? Any deviation from that stated condition shall render said power switch assembly defective as a fully serviceable item. Just so readers of this new thread has the whole story in one place, here's my original post /g/la1k/message/1228 referred to by Mr. Trimble, K9ZTV, when questioning my assessment of the situation. 73, Ray KJ5MI
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Points well taken, Steve.
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
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So, you don't blow out the fans in your computer or your amps or radios. Do you brush your teeth? There are many things that are just common sense. Perhaps I overthink thinks because I was a repair tech for over 50 years and know what goes wrong with devices
and I tend to prevent them in my own things. I think I am done with this thread. I just jumped in because I am and remain are big Palstar fan and supporter. 73
Steve
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On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 08:17 PM, Steve Snyder wrote:
We live in farm country and it makes less things to take apart and blow out. Plus if you own a LA-1K you know the fans are not silent.
The current LA-1K Technical Manual as provided on the Palstar website says nothing about the need for any periodic preventive maintenance requirements (e.g. cleaning the fans, etc.) of the amplifier.
Btw while I was on the HHH Net this morning, the replacement power switch of my LA-1K (S/N 38935) has failed after just nine (9) weeks of installation.? I have already emailed Mark Ward (Palstar technician) this video clip
showing the same failure experienced by the original power switch that Mr. Ward deemed defective on February 20, 2023.
Since there isn't a way to decode the LA-1K serial number to arrive at the amp's date of manufacture (confirmed by Mr. Ward) just FYI.. my LA-1K has a manufacture date of January 19, 2023.? So, how do you spell infant mortality?? And the 1-year (repeating one-year)
warranty of my LA-1K started on January 19, 2023; also confirmed by Mr. Ward.? Good thing I purchased mine directly from Palstar and was in possession of my amp within a just few days, as opposed to buying a LA-1K from one of their authorized dealers that
may have a LA-1K sitting around in a box for months!
Bottom line:? Buyers beware!
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
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On Sun, Apr 30, 2023 at 08:03 AM, Kent Trimble, K9ZTV wrote:
To be accurate, the power switch itself has not failed; it's the light inside the power switch which has failed. ?The amp itself is still operating after the light goes out.
?
Hey Kent, A fully serviceable power switch assembly so installed in the LA-1K shall include an indicator light that stays on the entire time the power switch assembly remains in the powered-on position for as long as the amp is hooked up to a proper AC power source.? Any deviation from that stated condition shall render said power switch assembly defective as a fully serviceable item. Just so readers of this new thread has the whole story in one place, here's my original post /g/la1k/message/1228 referred to by Mr. Trimble, K9ZTV, when questioning my assessment of the situation. 73, Ray KJ5MI
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To be accurate, the power switch itself has not failed; it's the light inside the power switch which has failed. ?The amp itself is still operating after the light goes out.
73, Kent K9ZTV
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Btw while I was on the HHH Net this morning, the replacement power switch of my LA-1K (S/N 38935) has failed after just nine (9) weeks of installation.? I have already emailed Mark Ward (Palstar technician) this video clip showing the same failure experienced by the original power switch that Mr. Ward deemed defective on February 20, 2023. 73, Ray KJ5MI
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On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 08:17 PM, Steve Snyder wrote:
We live in farm country and it makes less things to take apart and blow out. Plus if you own a LA-1K you know the fans are not silent.
The current LA-1K Technical Manual as provided on the Palstar website says nothing about the need for any periodic preventive maintenance requirements (e.g. cleaning the fans, etc.) of the amplifier. Btw while I was on the HHH Net this morning, the replacement power switch of my LA-1K (S/N 38935) has failed after just nine (9) weeks of installation.? I have already emailed Mark Ward (Palstar technician) this video clip showing the same failure experienced by the original power switch that Mr. Ward deemed defective on February 20, 2023. Since there isn't a way to decode the LA-1K serial number to arrive at the amp's date of manufacture (confirmed by Mr. Ward) just FYI.. my LA-1K has a manufacture date of January 19, 2023.? So, how do you spell infant mortality?? And the 1-year (repeating one-year) warranty of my LA-1K started on January 19, 2023; also confirmed by Mr. Ward.? Good thing I purchased mine directly from Palstar and was in possession of my amp within a just few days, as opposed to buying a LA-1K from one of their authorized dealers that may have a LA-1K sitting around in a box for months! Bottom line:? Buyers beware! 73, Ray KJ5MI
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We live in farm country and it makes less things to take apart and blow out. Plus if you own a LA-1K you know the fans are not silent.
Steve
W7CM
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On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 04:58 PM, Steve Snyder wrote:
My radio is on from 6 am to 10 pm 7 days a week. I sure don't want to run those fans all the time.
Lol.. I take "those fans" you mentioned above are the ones installed in the Palstar products.
What is/are the reason(s) you don't want to run those fans all the time?? Are the fans too noisy or you have doubt about their reliability?? Or both?
Clearly, you and I both choose to own the reliable Yaesu FTDX101D and wouldn't hesitant to power it up all day long, same way we do with our desktop personal computers, with the fans running, as needed.
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
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? Great, it looks like KJ5MI ( "tuneupmagic (null)" )? got it about right about 10 posts ago!?? Happy you got it figured out.
73,? Ron?? WA2EIO
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On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 04:58 PM, Steve Snyder wrote:
My radio is on from 6 am to 10 pm 7 days a week. I sure don't want to run those fans all the time.
Lol.. I take "those fans" you mentioned above are the ones installed in the Palstar products. What is/are the reason(s) you don't want to run those fans all the time?? Are the fans too noisy or you have doubt about their reliability?? Or both? Clearly, you and I both choose to own the reliable Yaesu FTDX101D and wouldn't hesitant to power it up all day long, same way we do with our desktop personal computers, with the fans running, as needed. 73, Ray KJ5MI
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Aha! I’m using Antenna 2 . I know it was passive with my 7600 but I changed to ant 2 with the 7610. This explains it Thank you!?
73
Chris K2HVE?
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I operate my Yaesu FTDX101D (internal ATU disengaged) as an exciter for my LA-1K (both on and off) into antennas with acceptable SWR at each operating frequency; all without the use of any external antenna tuner.
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On Apr 29, 2023, at 2:50 PM, Paul <sobonpaul@...> wrote: ? Great reminder Kent - thanks! Paul NO0T On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 6:32?PM Kent Trimble, K9ZTV < k9ztv@...> wrote:
There is a caution to be remembered in this
regard and it has to do with having two ATUs in the
circuit.
A transceiver can be used barefoot through the LA-1K
provided the external ATU (HF-AUTO or whatever) is the active ATU
in order to protect the LA-1K.
There have been instances where hams have put their
external ATU (HF-AUTO or whatever) in OFF or BYPASS, believing
they could then use the transceiver's internal ATU to do
the matching.
Paul warned against doing this in a similar discussion a year or
so ago, and the caution is printed in the HF-AUTO manual:
Bypass
mode bypasses
the matching network.? Some users have the tuner in
Bypass
allowing them to use their radio’s internal antenna tuner.? Caution is
needed in this last case if
an amplifier is in the circuit and turned off or in
bypass.
The standing waves (SWR)
will potentially have high voltage nodes that can
cause damage to the bypass components in
the amplifier.
In
short, when operating a transceiver barefoot through the
bypassed LA-1K, the operative ATU should remain the external
ATU, not the transceiver's internal one (which should be
disabled).
73,
Kent
K9ZTV
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I run my FTDX 101 with the HF Auto and LA 1K with the Palstars turned off most of the time. I also operate them independently with one or the other turn on or off.? They are here to use as needed not an appliance. My radio is on from 6 am to 10 pm 7 days a
week. I sure don't want to run those fans all the time. If the new ones won't it must be a chip thing. I think all understand that issue. Palsar is the best IMHO. Great product and service.
Steve W7CM
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There is a caution to be remembered in this regard and it has to do with having
two ATUs in the circuit.
A transceiver can be used barefoot through the LA-1K provided the external ATU (HF-AUTO or whatever) is the active ATU in order to protect the LA-1K.
There have been instances where hams have put their external ATU (HF-AUTO or whatever) in OFF or BYPASS, believing they could then use the
transceiver's internal ATU to do the matching.
Paul warned against doing this in a similar discussion a year or so ago, and the caution is printed in the HF-AUTO manual:
Bypass mode
bypasses the matching network.? Some users have the tuner in
Bypass allowing them to use their radio’s internal antenna tuner.?
Caution is
needed in this last case if an amplifier is in the circuit and turned off or in bypass.
The standing waves (SWR) will potentially have high voltage nodes that can
cause damage to the bypass components
in the amplifier.
In short, when operating a transceiver barefoot through the bypassed LA-1K, the operative ATU should remain the external ATU, not the transceiver's internal one (which should be disabled).
73,
Kent
K9ZTV
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I bought mine within the last 6 months and it does not need to be powered on to use my radio.
Get
On Apr 29, 2023, at 1:09 PM, Barry < barplo@...> wrote:
Dont tell me this has also been changed like the 220/120 switch thing….. eg. New amps no longer have straight thru when amp off design?
On Fri, Apr 28, 2023 at 09:48 Bob NN5D <
nn5d.bob@...> wrote:
Hi Chris,
Same thing here with my LA1K. I have to power it on to operate even if I'm only wanting to listen to the radio.
Bob NN5D
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Great reminder Kent - thanks! Paul NO0T
On Sat, Apr 29, 2023 at 6:32?PM Kent Trimble, K9ZTV < k9ztv@...> wrote:
There is a caution to be remembered in this
regard and it has to do with having two ATUs in the
circuit.
A transceiver can be used barefoot through the LA-1K
provided the external ATU (HF-AUTO or whatever) is the active ATU
in order to protect the LA-1K.
There have been instances where hams have put their
external ATU (HF-AUTO or whatever) in OFF or BYPASS, believing
they could then use the transceiver's internal ATU to do
the matching.
Paul warned against doing this in a similar discussion a year or
so ago, and the caution is printed in the HF-AUTO manual:
Bypass
mode bypasses
the matching network.? Some users have the tuner in
Bypass
allowing them to use their radio’s internal antenna tuner.? Caution is
needed in this last case if
an amplifier is in the circuit and turned off or in
bypass.
The standing waves (SWR)
will potentially have high voltage nodes that can
cause damage to the bypass components in
the amplifier.
In
short, when operating a transceiver barefoot through the
bypassed LA-1K, the operative ATU should remain the external
ATU, not the transceiver's internal one (which should be
disabled).
73,
Kent
K9ZTV
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Ron - WD8T
K2HVE
Chris K2HVE
Paul