Keyboard Shortcuts
ctrl + shift + ? :
Show all keyboard shortcuts
ctrl + g :
Navigate to a group
ctrl + shift + f :
Find
ctrl + / :
Quick actions
esc to dismiss
Likes
Search
NEW LA-1K OWNER UPDATE
|
I finally got my LA-1K this week and have it in line. I am running it on a dedicated 120 V 15 AMP circuit. So far no problems at that voltage. 20 watts drive, 600 PEP output. 25 watts drive,? 750 PEP output. At 30 watts drive the Id is 31.1 After one hour of casual rag chewing on 75 meters this morning the amp temperature reached 36C. That was with 20 watts drive, 600 watts out. 90% of the time I will operate the amp I will not drive it with more than 25 watts drive. If they can't copy me with 750 watts then I better get on the phone and order some bigger antennas! So it appears that the amp runs fine on 120 V. Yes I know that if I was running it on 240 the current draw would be less. However I do not operate the amp for long periods of time so A shout out to Bob W3RJP for all of your help via email. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of the group members. 73, Rick VE3PP |
|
On Fri, Dec 22, 2023 at 09:50 AM, VE3PP wrote:
20 watts drive, 600 PEP output. 25 watts drive,? 750 PEP output.Hi Rick, How did you determine the respective RF output figures? Additional input: Please check out my 5-Apr-2023 post /g/la1k/message/1184 where you can click through to my video clip showing my exciter (FTDX101D) RF power setting = 100W and the indicated LA-1K RF power, while on?STBY mode, as having reached way higher than the "100" mark on its "POWER-WATTS" horizontal scale. The rest of that 5-Apr-2023 post called into question how believable is the LA-1K SWR readout, as observed. 73 Ray KJ5MI |
|
<The rest of that 5-Apr-2023 post called into question how believable is the LA-1K SWR readout, as observed.
73 Ray KJ5MI> Did you calibrate your LA1K power meter against a known calibrated watt meter?? Was the SWR between your DX101D and your LA1K exactly 50 ohms with no reflections?? Were you using a dummy load for your test??? My LA1K matches my exciter perfectly, as does the meter following it on the HF-AUTO.? N5GGG |
|
On Sun, Dec 24, 2023 at 10:18 AM, <davenlr@...> wrote:
Did you calibrate your LA1K power meter against a known calibrated watt meter?? Was the SWR between your DX101D and your LA1K exactly 50 ohms with no reflections?? Were you using a dummy load for your test??? My LA1K matches my exciter perfectly, as does the meter following it on the HF-AUTO.?Hello Dave N5DDD, Sounded like you were referring to my 5-Apr-2023 post /g/la1k/message/1184 when asking those three (3) questions. I was putting together an antenna system (antenna + feed line; a store-bought 50-ohm coax with PL-259 on both ends) for the 6-meter band earlier this year.? My Rig Expert AA-55 Zoom indicating 1.28:1 on 50.125 MHz for the antenna system in question. Next, hooked the antenna system to the LA-1K then drove it with my FTDX101D.? No dummy load; it wasn't a test.? I shared my observations, documented with the video clip, with Mr. Mark Ward (Palstar technician) who advised me to ship my brand new LA-1K bought directly from Palstar (delivered late January 2023) for calibration, if I would like to do so. Since I had already decided to purchase the Elecraft KPA1500 Amplifier at that point, I simply kept my LA-1K as is (yes, didn't even replace the 2nd replacement power switch that Palstar sent me) sitting next to my KPA1500/FTDX101D combo, as seen on my QRZ page more or less a static display! lol The same 6-meter antenna system is working just fine with my KPA1500/FTDX101D combo. 73 Ray KJ5MI |
|
VE3PP
I wasnt questioning your setup, but the person who originally asked you questions about your results. I totally understand your results.? SWR on the Palstar can cause the power meter to read less than accurate results.?? As you said, its only a general guide, not a bird wattmeter.?? 800 to 1000 watts on the meter will make no difference on the receiving end as you pointed out.? When I am operating, if its reading over 500 and lower than 1000, I am a happy camper.? I have also noted the SWR reading on the AMP vs the SWR reading on the HF-AUTO also do not always match.? I can show a 1:1 on the tuner, but the amp will show? 1.3:1.?? Varies by band, which I guess is due to the length of LMR500 jumper between the two.??? It is all relative.?? If they can hear you, the job is complete.?? I pay more attention to the antennas and feedlines than I do to the actual equipment power.?? The LA-1K is an excellent amp, with excellent tech support.? Could not ask for more.? N5GGG |
|
VE3PP Congratulations on your new LA1K. I’ve had mine for around 4 years now. I gotta say I did have some growing pains with this solid state amp. I used to have a HealthKit sb220 and this solid state amp surpasses the old sb220 in every area.? I find it funny when I hear silly hams tuning up their tube amps and not using a dummy load. Long gone are those days with these new solid state finals. I use my amp on all the bands it’s designed for and get 1000 watts out no problems. Rock solid amp. I wonder how many hours/years it will do me good for. I think it will be comparable to buying a modern radio. Who knows. But one thing I can say is, I use my amp a lot. I now have over 100k contacts (estimate easily over 20k with the LA1K). I been contesting with this amp and many hours rock solid performer. I push this amp to 900-1000w With 40w drive. On 15m and 17m for some reason I have to back down the drive to around 25w to get 1000w out. I guess that’s where it’s most efficient.? I don’t wanna get into semantics here but I only use my trusty heath kit sm-2140 which I have checked with a bird and it’s close enough for me, the govt and most others. I use the 50w power out restriction in the ftdx5000 so I never overdrive the LA1K. I have at times, due to ice on some of my warm dipoles swr as high as 2.2 and the amp still works fine. Quite amazing. Most of the time swr is down around 1.1 - 1.5.? I don’t worry about using full 1000w out. It’s made to handle it.? 4 years of hard contesting full out. No problem. The hottest it’s gotten is 67C. I back off for a few minutes it goes back to 45C. Nice.? Using 240v here. There are some around here that think other amps are better. Maybe they are. This isn’t a debate. I personally don’t care. I got what I paid for and would buy it again. I’m happy with my purchase. I got along fine with Mark at Palstar with my growing pains. I had a bad capacitor which I had to return the amp the first year.? Doesn’t mean I need to trash the amp. No problem, that’s what warranty is for. It’s been good since. Off topic here, but I also have 2 high end amplifiers for my home theatre and had a bad capacitor on my centre channel there too within a year period. I’m ?a believer of if something is going to happen to a capacitor or resistor or any electrical part, it will appear right after the build. The rest is just from age and heat.? Just sharing to you my experiences.? I wish you and others reading this a Merry Christmas and many fine hours with your LA1K. 73 Barry VE6UM On Mon, Dec 25, 2023 at 10:03 <davenlr@...> wrote: VE3PP |
|
Hello Barry Thanks for your report on the LA-1K. So far I am quite happy with the performance of mine. Running on 120 V for now. I may bring 240 into the shack but in order to do that I will need to add a sub panel because my current panel only has one open breaker spot on it. I've been driving mine with 35 watts or less from my FTdx-10. That gives me all the power I need from the amp. And that keeps the Id well below the Palstar 33 amp rating. This is my first solid state amp, and I love the no tune and RF sensing band change. Makes operating so much easier! I hope you had a Merry Christmas and all the best in 2024. Rick VE3PP ? |
to navigate to use esc to dismiss