Bob,is the breaker boxing your apartment? If so do you have an outlet that is dedicated to something near your operating position. If so check and see what gage wire is feeding that outlet. Or a heavy extension cord is a good idealot cheaper than $700. Or make your own out of 12/2 or better wire. I bought aa heavy generator extension at home Depot for my welder and just put new ends on it.
Bob in Harrisburg?
Dear Friends,
? ? ? ?I'm about to purchase an LA1K and HF Auto.? I live in an apartment above a garage and would like to get a 240 v line installed.? The electrician called today and gave me an estimate of $700.00 to put a plug on my wall.? I think that excessive.? And so my question is what kind of output would I expect if I saved the $700.00 and plugged it into my existing 110 outlet?? I know that it will be less than the advertised output but how much less?? Thank you so much for your anticipated responses.
Bob
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Thank you, Ray.? Very best to you,
? ? ? ? ? Bob? W3RJP
Robert J. Pegritz P.O. Box 11 Holtwood, PA?? 17532 717-786-0155 Serving the legal community for over 33 years.
On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 4:38?PM tuneupmagic (null) via <tuneupmagic= [email protected]> wrote: Hi Bob,
Since my post here /g/la1k/message/1182 (Palstar LA-1K/HF AUTO versus Elecraft KPA1500), I have taken delivery of a brand new KPA1500 on 5 May 2023, as can be seen on my QRZ page: among other photos of ham gears I acquired over the past 30 years.
All the best on making a great buying decision with adequate market research (often difficult, if not impossible) to seek out factual information.
73,
Ray
KJ5MI
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Hi Bob, Since my post here /g/la1k/message/1182 (Palstar LA-1K/HF AUTO versus Elecraft KPA1500), I have taken delivery of a brand new KPA1500 on 5 May 2023, as can be seen on my QRZ page: among other photos of ham gears I acquired over the past 30 years. All the best on making a great buying decision with adequate market research (often difficult, if not impossible) to seek out factual information. 73, Ray KJ5MI
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
Thanks Art,
I am sure we took an indirect hit, and a direct hit is almost assured to be catastrophic. And while?I would hate to replace all the equipment in the shack. I would be happy as?long as the house did not burn down. I guess there’s a silver lining in every cloud.
On Friday, June 9, 2023, 11:16 AM, W1SWL <artgumbus@...> wrote: MY shack is protected as follows....
First, ?Alpha Delta Lightning Lighting Arrestors ?are attached to the coax outside, just before entering the building. ?Each is grounded to a bonded set of ground rods which are then in turn grounded to the AC main. ?Ground rods every 12 feet connected with 1/0 copper stranded wire.
Second, ?Because I use long wire antennas (80-10M Horizontal Loop), ?EFHW and Hexbeam, ?each coax, once entering the shack is attached to a Paradan Automatic Antenna Disconnector. ?The Paradans are grounded to the same ground system above via 2" copper strap. ?The Paradan Disconnectors keep my AMP, Tuner and Rig isolated from wind and snow static build up which is prone to long wire antennas. ? When the power is off in the shack, the Paradan Disconnectors drop the coax connection to the antennas. ?You hear a big "THUNK" when I apply power in the shack and then again when power is shut off. ?I went the Paradan route just to insure my antennas were offline for static purposes.
Lastly, if I were so unfortunate to suffer a direct lightning strike, I am SURE that none of these measures would save my gear. ?This is why all my gear is insured via the ARRL insurance policy.
Art W1SWL
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Friday, June 9, 2023, 12:05 PM, Bill K3HZP <hzp_electronics@...> wrote: A word on RF surge lightning protectors.? The are rated by peak RF voltage.? If the suppressor is on the antenna side of an antenna tuner, then the voltage caused by SWR must be taken into account.? From the July/Aug 2016 QEX article,?
Power Max= (Vpeak)**2/(100 * SWR)?
Power max is the max output power of your amp.?
Vpeak is the peak rating of the lightning protector.
SWR is the SWR of the coax that it is connected to.
Exceeding Power Max might be a reason that the amp shuts down due to "High SWR"
? ? ? 73
.... Bill K3HZP
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As another EE, I guess I would have to agree! If Palstar ever decides to redesign the LA-1K, or design a new amp, with CAT control to read frequency/band data (e.g. via USB from rig control programs or possibly their HF-AUTO), I would be quite interested in that product.
--
73, Norm/KC1BMD
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
A word on RF surge lightning protectors. The are rated by peak RF voltage. If the suppressor is on the antenna side of an antenna tuner, then the voltage caused by SWR must be taken into account. From the July/Aug 2016 QEX article,
Power Max= (Vpeak)**2/(100 * SWR)
Power max is the max output power of your amp.
Vpeak is the peak rating of the lightning protector.
SWR is the SWR of the coax that it is connected to.
Exceeding Power Max might be a reason that the amp shuts down due to "High SWR"
73
.... Bill K3HZP
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Norm,
Auto band selection is a very good sales pitch!
I do not like shortening the first dit or dah of each transmission. I do not know how much hot switching shortens a relay's life? I "assume" that the antenna relay and input relay are correctly sequenced so that the antenna relay closes first and then the input relay closes. This prevents hot switching of the amp output power. As an EE, I would not design an amp this way for CW, although many people appear to be happy with it.
73
.... Bill K3HZP
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Norm ...
Two things to keep in mind:
(1) DIRECT mode requires a band-data cable from the transceiver to either the "Radio Interface" jack or the "RS-232 Band Control" jack. Without a band-data cable, the amp reverts to NORMAL Keying mode.
(2) In the LA-1K, 30 meters is not a separate band. When the transceiver calls for 30 meters, (either through RF sensing or band-data cabling), "20-15" is indicated on the screen. There is a note about this on page 12 of the online manual under the headline, "External Data Connectors."
Moreover, at first I was troubled by the third sentence in that note which seems to imply that Direct Keying is not possible on 30 meters. But closer reading indicates this restriction pertains only to Icom transceivers and not to Yaesu, Elecraft, or Kenwood transceivers. Since you own an Icom, I'd recommend consulting Paul or Mark at Palstar for further clarification.
Finally, while the last sentence in this note stating amplifier operation is not normally used on 30 meters is probably true, neither does it mean 200 watt operation on 30 meters is precluded. I have many 30 meter DX contacts in my log using the LA-1K.
73,
Kent
K9ZTV
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
MY shack is protected as follows....
First, ?Alpha Delta Lightning Lighting Arrestors ?are attached to the coax outside, just before entering the building. ?Each is grounded to a bonded set of ground rods which are then in turn grounded to the AC main. ?Ground rods every 12 feet connected with 1/0 copper stranded wire.
Second, ?Because I use long wire antennas (80-10M Horizontal Loop), ?EFHW and Hexbeam, ?each coax, once entering the shack is attached to a Paradan Automatic Antenna Disconnector. ?The Paradans are grounded to the same ground system above via 2" copper strap. ?The Paradan Disconnectors keep my AMP, Tuner and Rig isolated from wind and snow static build up which is prone to long wire antennas. ? When the power is off in the shack, the Paradan Disconnectors drop the coax connection to the antennas. ?You hear a big "THUNK" when I apply power in the shack and then again when power is shut off. ?I went the Paradan route just to insure my antennas were offline for static purposes.
Lastly, if I were so unfortunate to suffer a direct lightning strike, I am SURE that none of these measures would save my gear. ?This is why all my gear is insured via the ARRL insurance policy.
Art W1SWL
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
Hi Brett, ? I mounted a Paradan Radio Dual Antenna Disconnector on my RG213 coax, unfortunately AFTER a lightning strike.? It is controlled by 12VDC from my Astron PS.? When the 12VDC is off, the Paradan unit is INOP and both coax feeds are shunted to GND.? It can be mounted anywhere but requires a 12VDC feed to function... draws 120mA when ON... insertion?loss is 0.05.? This is not a gratuitous 'plug' for the named product, just another lightning mitigation idea. 73, Jerry KB1N
On Fri, Jun 9, 2023 at 10:00?AM Brett Finkelstein via <docbrett= [email protected]> wrote:
Thanks Eric,
My plan is to install the Alpha Delta switch for the coax on the antenna side of the AT , on the outside wall of the shack, in a waterproof cable box I installed for the polyphaser lightning suppressors, which were attached to a bus bar and directly to the ground pole 1 foot away. I'm sure quite similar to what you did. That way I can walk to the cable box 10 seconds away, flip the switch to Com, close the box and Good Night Irene!
73, Brett KN4DVM
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Clanton < drericclanton@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Jun 9, 2023 6:38 am
Subject: Re: [la1k] LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
I have used Alpha Delta inline lightning arrestor for years with my LA-1K with no issues. Can they go bad and have a problem, yes. But like you I live in the South and it gets rough around here. Besides you need just the static discharge function on any antenna that is a none loop configuration, Dipoles, verticals and such.
Also with any random wire antennas you can get some wild voltages at the feed point.
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
Thank you Dave, that is exactly my intention and I appreciate the confirmation and knowing it has worked well for you!
73, Brett KN4DVM
-----Original Message-----
From: Dave Sellers via groups.io <dave.sellers@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Jun 9, 2023 6:29 am
Subject: Re: [la1k] LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
I use alpha delta delta on an 8’ ground rod outside the window where the wire is coming in the shack. Have no issues.?
On Jun 9, 2023, at 8:05 AM, Brett Finkelstein via groups.io <docbrett@...> wrote:
?
So I recently received my LA-1K and put it in sequence with my Yaesu, FT 991a, to the amp, to Palstar?AT2K tuner,? to a lightning suppressor outside the shack?via lmr 240 coax,?to a balun?via coax and to a random length inverted the dipole.
The amp blew the output transistor first time I keyed the PTT.
Mark stated it was the lightning arrestor and when I explained I was in Florida the lightning capital of North America and required some sort of protection, he suggested an alpha Delpha?type switch at the radio. Well, it has always been my opinion that you need to keep the fox out of the henhouse. The?lightning arrester/protection?needs to be on the wall of the shack, outside,?not inside at the radio, where the amplifier and the tuner are susceptible to the hit prior to reaching the switch as protection.? So this made no sense to me. I would appreciate any input regarding Re attempting LA-1K use going forward. Thanks
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I have 240 VAC outlet at the radio desk for use with the LA-1K.
Thanks
Brett KN4DVM
-----Original Message-----
From: KK4UU Jack via groups.io <Wa2paa@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Jun 9, 2023 6:34 am
Subject: Re: [la1k] New LA1K owner
Do you have an Electric Dryer (220 volt) , near the area you would like to operate ?
W4PQ
On Friday, June 9, 2023, 9:30 AM, Bob Pegritz <bobpegritz@...> wrote:
Thank you so much, Jerry.
? ? ? ? ? ?Bob, W3RJP
Robert J. Pegritz
P.O. Box 11
Holtwood, PA?? 17532
717-786-0155
Serving the legal community for over 33 years.
Bob:
I agree with Eric's expected output level powered by 120VAC.? However...The LA-1K draws 20A on 120VAC; 10A on 240VAC (plate on amp rear).? If your wall recpt is fed with #12 wire and terminated with a 20A outlet, then your circuit will suffice.? If there is ANOTHER consumer on the same circuit, i.e., a fridge, then you will exceed the available current draw.? Pesky Ohm's Law at work again!
73,
Jerry
KB1N
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
Thanks Eric,
My plan is to install the Alpha Delta switch for the coax on the antenna side of the AT , on the outside wall of the shack, in a waterproof cable box I installed for the polyphaser lightning suppressors, which were attached to a bus bar and directly to the ground pole 1 foot away. I'm sure quite similar to what you did. That way I can walk to the cable box 10 seconds away, flip the switch to Com, close the box and Good Night Irene!
73, Brett KN4DVM
-----Original Message-----
From: Eric Clanton <drericclanton@...>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Fri, Jun 9, 2023 6:38 am
Subject: Re: [la1k] LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
I have used Alpha Delta inline lightning arrestor for years with my LA-1K with no issues. Can they go bad and have a problem, yes. But like you I live in the South and it gets rough around here. Besides you need just the static discharge function on any antenna that is a none loop configuration, Dipoles, verticals and such.
Also with any random wire antennas you can get some wild voltages at the feed point.
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On Thu, Jun 8, 2023 at 06:59 PM, Bill K3HZP wrote:
The problem in CW Normal Mode is that the initial applied power is full power, NOT reduced power on the first dit or dah of each transmission.
Thanks for the explanation Bill. I was thinking that hot switching would be more of a problem with amplifier output being applied before the output relay is switched. What you describe is radio drive power (much lower) being applied before the input relay is switched. I guess that is technically hot switching but is it that serious (ie. is the input relay being over-stressed switching with what, maybe 10-40W drive,... just a rough average)? Now, the 20ms delay on the first dit could be a problem. But what then is the purpose of the design that incorporates "normal keying" mode with these two serious problems? ? -- 73, Norm/KC1BMD
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Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
I have used Alpha Delta inline lightning arrestor for years with my LA-1K with no issues. Can they go bad and have a problem, yes. But like you I live in the South and it gets rough around here. Besides you need just the static discharge function on any antenna that is a none loop configuration, Dipoles, verticals and such.
Also with any random wire antennas you can get some wild voltages at the feed point.
|
Do you have an Electric Dryer (220 volt) , near the area you would like to operate ?
On Friday, June 9, 2023, 9:30 AM, Bob Pegritz <bobpegritz@...> wrote: Thank you so much, Jerry.
? ? ? ? ? ?Bob, W3RJP
Robert J. Pegritz P.O. Box 11 Holtwood, PA?? 17532 717-786-0155 Serving the legal community for over 33 years. Bob:
I agree with Eric's expected output level powered by 120VAC.? However...The LA-1K draws 20A on 120VAC; 10A on 240VAC (plate on amp rear).? If your wall recpt is fed with #12 wire and terminated with a 20A outlet, then your circuit will suffice.? If there is ANOTHER consumer on the same circuit, i.e., a fridge, then you will exceed the available current draw.? Pesky Ohm's Law at work again!
73,
Jerry
KB1N
|
Thank you so much, Jerry.
? ? ? ? ? ?Bob, W3RJP
Robert J. Pegritz P.O. Box 11 Holtwood, PA?? 17532 717-786-0155 Serving the legal community for over 33 years.
Bob:
I agree with Eric's expected output level powered by 120VAC.? However...The LA-1K draws 20A on 120VAC; 10A on 240VAC (plate on amp rear).? If your wall recpt is fed with #12 wire and terminated with a 20A outlet, then your circuit will suffice.? If there is ANOTHER consumer on the same circuit, i.e., a fridge, then you will exceed the available current draw.? Pesky Ohm's Law at work again!
73,
Jerry
KB1N
|
Re: LA-1K use with lightning suppressor
I use alpha delta delta on an 8’ ground rod outside the window where the wire is coming in the shack. Have no issues.?
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Jun 9, 2023, at 8:05 AM, Brett Finkelstein via groups.io <docbrett@...> wrote:
?
So I recently received my LA-1K and put it in sequence with my Yaesu, FT 991a, to the amp, to Palstar?AT2K tuner,? to a lightning suppressor outside the shack?via lmr 240 coax,?to a balun?via coax and to a random length inverted the dipole.
The amp blew the output transistor first time I keyed the PTT.
Mark stated it was the lightning arrestor and when I explained I was in Florida the lightning capital of North America and required some sort of protection, he suggested an alpha Delpha?type switch at the radio. Well, it has always been my opinion that you need to keep the fox out of the henhouse. The?lightning arrester/protection?needs to be on the wall of the shack, outside,?not inside at the radio, where the amplifier and the tuner are susceptible to the hit prior to reaching the switch as protection.? So this made no sense to me. I would appreciate any input regarding Re attempting LA-1K use going forward. Thanks
|
Bob:
I agree with Eric's expected output level powered by 120VAC.? However...The LA-1K draws 20A on 120VAC; 10A on 240VAC (plate on amp rear).? If your wall recpt is fed with #12 wire and terminated with a 20A outlet, then your circuit will suffice.? If there is ANOTHER consumer on the same circuit, i.e., a fridge, then you will exceed the available current draw.? Pesky Ohm's Law at work again!
73,
Jerry
KB1N
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Brett Finkelstein
Norm - KC1BMD
Bill K3HZP
Eric Clanton