Ditto what Jim said about the B26 2K+.
I'll add that the heat sink has serrated fins to maximize contact area with
moving air.
The never exceed temp, the temp at which the amp shuts off, is 72C.
NG7M has a YouTube video posted showing the amp running in the CQ WW RTTY for
an hour of running and SP. The temp stabilized at 65C. You can’t even hear the
amp and he has a camera/mic set right next to it. Now, expecting mausoleum
sound levels from ANY amp is not realistic, but keep jousting with that
windmill.
My personal level is the AL-1500 running full tilt boogey. If it's quieter than
that great deal. If it'll do 1500W without burning a hole in the world even
better. This one seems to be quieter than either of the Elecraft amps and may
be the quietest SSPA in production.
I think I read that the tuner will do 5:1. IMHO if you can't hit that mark with
your antennas...you need to fix your antennas. 5:1 is better than the Expert
2K-FA @3:1 and not as good as the Elecraft tuners. The KPA1500 will do 10:1 but
it's derated at that level as is the KAT-500 used most by KPA500 users.
The main difference between the BLF188XR and the BLF189XR is bias current. The
188 is set for 3.5 amps per device and the 189 is set for 6 amps per device.
NG7M showed during his configuration videos that the software is configured to
drop bias current as temp goes up. No thermal runaway.
More points.
It uses Ethernet for computer control. You remote into the amp using VNC and
have full control. If the quiet amp still frazzles your delicate hearing move
it to the other room and plug in an Ethernet cable from your switch. Thank God
they didn't do Wi-Fi! NG7M has Win4K3Suite, DX Labs Commander, N1MM+,the amp,
and his SteppIR all talking amongst themselves using Com0Com.
The QSK thing is an easy fix. One gentleman, G3YYD, on the forums, designed one
using inexpensive Omron relays with 10A capacity. Use 5V relays with an
appropriate dropping resistance. Output gets a speed up cap across the coil,
input doesn't get a speed up cap. No hot switching possible. Jim's idea of
ripping fast reed relay for input and Vacuum relay for output has some merit.
Coming up with 26.5V will be an issue. The control system runs on 12V. Might be
able to get it from the 50V supply. Firmware changes would have to be made for
Bias control.
Two $3 dollar relays and couple resistors and caps vs. what do PIN diodes
that'll do 1500W continuous cost?
The amp is a little more expensive than the Ameritron ALS-1306 shipped to your
door. 1500W from a pair of loafing LDMOS vs 1200W from 8 MRF-150's running flat
out.
R. Kevin Stover AC0H
ARRL, FISTS, SKCC, NAQCC.
“If it doesn’t work the first time you push the button it won’t work the
20th…Just stop.”
-----Original Message-----
From: Amps <amps-bounces@contesting.com> On Behalf Of Jim Thomson
Sent: Saturday, October 6, 2018 6:27 PM
To: amps@contesting.com
Subject: [Amps] Flex Power Genius XL 2KW amplifier
Date: Fri, 5 Oct 2018 18:23:50 -0600
From: Jim Garland <4cx250b@miamioh.edu>
To: Amps group <amps@contesting.com>
Subject: [Amps] Flex Power Genius XL 2KW amplifier
## The acom 600 and also acom 1000 wont run qsk,and neither have a built
in 2 kw rated auto tuner.
They will kick offline asap, as soon as swr reaches 1.5:1
## The german made B26 RF2K+ does not have QSK either, but does have an
option for a built in auto tuner.
The german amp only has one xcvr input.... but does have 4 x ant outputs.
Apparently they no longer use NFB.
Amp has 33 db gain, and can be ordered with a choice of input pad, like
3-13-16 db...all 100 watt rated. They tried the diplexer approach, like the
Power genious, but did not see any improvement in IMD, etc. Power genious comes
with an internal 400 watt dummy load for the HP filter portion of their
diplexers. Power genius does not mention IMD,
I still dont know what it is. IMD on the german amp is –44 db pep..at 1.5 kw
out..and the amp covers 160-6m..including
warc bands.and also mars freqs.
## The noise on the power genius on their u tube demo.... I can hear the fans
screaming away, as soon as they start up on cw.
## german amp uses one fan for the 3 kw switching supply.... amp runs > 72
% eff in linear mode..and now comes with the
just released and newer BLF-189XR... a pair of em. Old version was the
BLF-188XR. One small 80mm fan used for the
myriad of LP filters..and also the auto tuner.
Two 120mm fans used in a push pull setup..pulling air in through the rear.
Tests show at 1.5 kw out, the noise level is 30 dba.
And ambient shack noise was 20 dba.... with the 1.5 kw amp shut off. Tester
compared that to his noisy KPA-500 which
measured a whopping 50 dba when run at 500 watts out cw.
## On the german amp, the 80mm fan..and the pair of 120mm fans are not
included. End user selects his own fans, depending on
selected end use... mode, etc, and also ambient shack temp. Regardless of
which fan is used, they all speed up as heat sink hits 50 deg C.
No where near the price tag of the other SS offerings..and a huge bang for the
buck..... but tr relays also require the aprx 15-20 20 msec operate
time..so no real qsk... not yet anyway. They could be modified with a vac
relay output and reed relay etc on the input side.
## Some fellow ran the german amp through a rtty contest..with zero issues.
Others have tested on 10M FM..and others have tested with AM.
The heat sink design, and decavitation chamber and fin setup is superb..and
well thought out. They use an internal raspberry pi processor to operate the
amp. The raspberry pi is not included, along with the fans..since it can be
procured cheaper locally..vs shipping from germany. Its a no solder kit,
which requires plugging n the myriad of internal cables, installing processor
board, and the 3 x fans of ur choice. Fans are 12 vdc. Folks have
experimented
and found which fans provide for min noise....and max airflow. They also
installed a spacer between the rear cab and rear fan... which further
increases
air flow.
## Depending on budget, and application, the german amp is one more option to
consider. It also has the SMA connector on the back apron to provide for the
now standardized.... pure signal output.... fed back to anan xcvrs... and
probably other xcvrs..as PS gets implemented with new xcvr offerings.
Pricing:
- RF2K+ Kit without Tuner 2550,-€
- RF2K+ Kit with Tuner 2850,-€
- 13dB;16dB or 3dB attenuator 22,-€
- Shipment to Canada 190,-€
Above is the quote I got for pricing. 1 euro is now $1.15 US funds.
Aprx $3500.00 US funds with all options, and shipping. A bargain
for what u get. The add in the 3 x fans + raspberry PI..which is dirt cheap .
I believe a gigavac GH1 spdt vac relay would easily fit in there. U can
get em In either 12 or 26.5 vdc. GH-1 is the same as a RJ-1A , HC-1,
etc.
https://rf-kit.de/en/2k_Kit.php
Jim VE7RF
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