[Amps] K3 Drive Levels and the SPE 1.3K-FA

[Joe Subich, W4TV]

It would be more appropriate if SPE shipped their amplifiers to
the US with the proper attenuator in place.  That way one would
be running the K3/K3s at 30 Watts in the first place.

73,

    ... Joe, W4TV


On 2019-11-21 10:42 AM, john at kk9a.com wrote:
> I have operated RTTY with my K3S in the 11 watt range not knowing that 
> this was bad for the LPAs. It would be nice if the Elecraft K3/K3S would 
> allow the option to turn on the 100 watt power amp and a lower power 
> setting.
> 
> John KK9A
> 
> dgb ns9i wrote:
> 
> I run a lot of rtty and digital with my K3. I always set the amp to the
> mid range getting 8-900w out. It takes only 8-11 w drive from the K3 to
> accomplish that.
> 
> Note: SPE recommends to run the amp in Mid Range for digital operation.
> When I first got the amp I made the mistake of running it in the high
> range and melted the copper heat sink, which was not considered a
> warranty repair, and was an expensive lesson learned.
> 
> Over the  course of the 3 yrs. that I've owned the amp,  I have blown 4
> LPA's in the K3 running it at 8-11w. With latest repair the tech
> informed me that the "LPA is not rated for continuous duty at upper
> power levels (like the digital Modes)" They suggested running 13w vs 11w
> so the LPA wouldn't be used. If I do that it over-drives the SPE in the
> mid-range.
> 
> What is my suggested recourse?
> 
> thanks 73 Dwight NS9I
> 
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