Elecraft KPA1500 Amateur Radio External Linear Amplifier User Manual KPA500 Owner s Manual

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Date Submitted	2017-08-19 00:00:00
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Document Title	KPA500 Owner's Manual
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Document Author:	Ron D'Eau Claire

ELECRAFT KPA1500
1500-WATT AMPLIFIER
OWNER’S MANUAL
Revision A1 (Draft), August 9, 2017
E740301
Copyright © 2017, Elecraft, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
WARNING
Dangerous Voltages
Inside the KPA1500
Before opening the KPA1500 RF Deck or Power Supply
enclosures:
1. Turn off the KPA1500 by tapping the front panel ON
switch and wait until the fan stops. (The fan drains
the power supply to a safe voltage.)
2. Disconnect the Power Supply at RF Deck rear panel
before opening the RF Deck enclosure.
3. Disconnect the Power Supply from the mains before
opening the cover.
Key to Symbols Abbreviations and Text Styles
Important – read carefully
Operating tip
TEMP
PK HOLD
Tap switch function (labeled above a switch; press for less than 1/2 second)
Hold switch function (labeled below a switch; press for at least1/2 sec. to
activate)
LED
Light Emitting Diode
LCD
Liquid Crystal Display
CAUTION
Follow the instructions under a Caution to avoid damage to the equipment.
WARNING
Follow the instructions under a Warning to avoid serious personal injury.
Introduction
On behalf of our entire design team, we’d like to thank you for choosing the Elecraft KPA1500 amplifier.
The KPA1500 offers a unique combination of features. It’s one of the smallest 1500-W amplifiers available. The
power supply is in a separate enclosure for ease of station layout.
The KPA1500 is capable of fully automatic operation, yet has an alphanumeric display and a full complement of
front panel switches for precise manual control. A comprehensive remote-control command set is also included.
The KPA1500 can be used with nearly any transceiver, thanks to its instantaneous RF-based band switching,
advanced protection circuitry, adjustable ALC, and extensive parametric monitoring. It also has inputs that
allow direct band switching from many popular transceivers. T/R is completely noise-free thanks to the use of
PIN-diode switching.
The KPA1500 comes with a built-in Automatic Antenna Tuner (ATU) that can handle a load SWR up to 3:1 at
full 1500 watt output in any mode.
Of course the KPA1500 is an ideal companion for the Elecraft K3 transceiver, both physically and electrically.
The K3 can sense whether the amp is in standby or operate mode, then select the appropriate per-band power
settings. This allows you to set up the K3 for “barefoot” operation at one power level on each band, and then
switch the amp to operate and set up optimal drive levels for full 1500-W output. The K3/KPA1500
combination is also capable of extremely fast break-in, especially when the K3 is placed in QRQ (high-speed
CW) mode. The two are so well-integrated that you can use the per-band switches on the amplifier to change
bands at the transceiver.
If you use the KPA1500 with both the K3 transceiver and P3 panadapter – our new “K-Line” – you’ll enjoy a
high degree of operating convenience, along with world-class performance and the power to get the job done.
73,
Wayne, N6KR
Eric, WA6HHQ
FCC-Mandated Part 15 Notice:
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection
against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates, uses and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may
cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is
encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
– Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
– Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Regarding the computer interface: changes or modifications not expressly approved by Elecraft could
void the user's authority to operate this equipment.
Elecraft Inc.
125 Westridge Dr.
Watsonville, CA 95076
+1 (831) 763-4211
www.elecraft.com
Installation
Installation consists of the following:

Positioning the KPA1500 RF Deck and Power Supply to provide for proper cooling (pg 6).

Connecting the KPA1500 RF Deck and Power Supply (pg 6)

Cabling the KPA1500 RF Deck to your other station equipment (pg 6).
The KPA1500 rear panel is shown in Figure 1. The connectors and controls are described following the figure.
Figure 1. KPA1500 Rear Panel
and
SO-239 RF connectors to antenna system or dummy load.
SO-239 connector for RF input from the driving transceiver.
Low level KPA1500 transmit signal output.
Station ground attachment.
High voltage connection to the KPA1500 power supply.
Control circuit connection to the KPA1500 power supply.
Accepts a 12V input for remote control applications to power the KPA1500 on or off.
Negative-going voltage for transceivers that require ALC. (Elecraft transceivers do not require this
connection.
Enables the KPA1500 by a short to ground. 5 Vdc open circuit inhibits the KPA1500 . When grounded the
source must sink 1mA to enable the KPA1500.
For interconnecting cable to fully integrate the KPA1500 with an Elecraft K3 or K3 S for enhance mode
operation.
Input signal to the internal KPA1500 automatic antenna tuner (ATU) that emulates an Icom remote ATU
when the KPA1500 is used with Icom transceivers.
RS232 level serial data connection for use with the KPA1500 Utility program and other computer-based
applications
Ethernet connection for local or remote operation applications.
USB connection to virtual COM port for use with the KPA1500 Utility and other computer-based programs.
Positioning the KPA1500 RF Deck and Power Supply
Provide at least 4 inches (10 cm) clearance behind the fans and at least 1 inch (2.5 cm) clearance around the top,
bottom and sides for normal cooling air flow.
The supplied cables allow the power supply and RF deck to be placed up to 66 inches (167 cm) apart. The
Power Supply can be operated remotely and so need not be positioned within reach of the operator. The fans
operate whenever the KPA1500 is on, so you can place the power supply under the operating desk or elsewhere
to minimize the sound of the fans.
Cabling – Power Supply
A mains power cable is provided that plugs into the Power Supply. The other end has bare wires for you to add
the 240 VAC connector needed to match your mains outlet.
Connect the Power Supply to the RF deck with the supplied 66-inch (167 cm) cable that has an Anderson
PowerPole® connector and a 12-pin connector at each end.
Plug the PowerPole connector tnto the HV Supply connector ( ) on the RF Deck rear panel (see Figure 1) and
the corresponding connector on the Power Supply. Observe the polarity; match the colors on the plug with the
connectors
Connect the 15-pin connector to the Power Supply and the Control connector (
) on the RF Deck rear panel.
Cabling – RF Deck
Always turn the KPA1500 off before attaching or removing cables.
The KPA1500 may be used with the Elecraft K3, K2 or any HF/6 meter transmitter and that has a KEY IN
output meeting the requirements shown under note 4 below. Interconnections with the transceiver are shown in
Figure 2. The driving transceiver must provide up to TBD watts of RF drive for full output and the output power
must be adjustable as described under Transmitting on pg 11.
The optional KPAK3AUX cable provides closer integration with the K3 by sharing band information between
the KPA1500 and the transceiver (see Figure 3). The KPAK3AUX cable provides all the operational features
described under Operation, including coordinated band-switching (pg 11). The KPAK3AUX cable includes the
KEY IN line. If you need access to this line so that other equipment can control the amplifier, you can install the
Key Line interrupter supplied with your KPAK3AUX cable set and use a separate key line as shown in Figure 4.
You must use the Key Line Interrupter when using a separate key line with the
KPAK3AUX cable set. Otherwise any external equipment inserted into the key line will not
be able to inhibit the amplifier.
You can make cables for use with Yaesu and Icom transceivers that also provide closer integration with the
KPA1. For details of those cables and the KPAK3AUX cable set see AUX Connector Interface on page 22.
NOTE
1. Connect your station ground to the GND wing-nut
. A good station ground is important for safety and
to minimize local radio frequency interference (RFI).
2. Attach the RF INPUT
to the output of your driving transceiver or transmitter using a 50 ohm coaxial
cable with a PL-259 male connector on the KPA1500 end.
3. Attach the RF OUTPUT
to a suitable load with an SWR of less than 1.5:1. A dummy load is strongly
recommended for initial testing.
4. The driving transmitter must ground the KEY IN line circuit during transmit while sinking up to 1 mA.
If the transmitter Key Output is not a contact closure or equivalent, it must be at a level between +4 and
+16 VDC during receive. (Compatible with all known transmitters. No key line buffer required.)
Figure 2. Basic Cabling Diagram for Any Transceiver.
Figure 3. K3S Enhanced Cabling Using KPAK3AUX Cable.
Figure 4. K3S Enhanced Cabling Using KPAK3AUX Cable and Separate Key Line.
Operation
IMPORTANT
When the KPA1500 is turned off using the front-panel switch, part of the control circuitry
remains on as long as mains power is applied to the Power Supply. Keeping the control circuitry
energized allows the KPA1500 to be turned on and off remotely as well as from the front-panel
switch.. If you do not need to control the KPA1500 remotely and would prefer to save the small
amount of power required to power the control circuitry, either switch the Power Supply
completely off or provide an external mains power switch.
Power On
1. Ensure a suitable 50 ohm load is attached to the ANT 1 or ANT 2 connector on the rear panel .
Tap the front panel ANTENNA switch to select the antenna connector used. The associated LED
will be illuminated. A dummy load is recommended for initial tests.
2. Enable the power supply by pressing the rear panel rocker switch (Figure 1,
position.
) to the On (I)
Switches with a legend above and below the pushbutton have two
functions. Tap (press briefly) to activate the function labeled above a switch.
Hold to activate the function labeled below the switch. In the text, tap
functions are shown like this: S T A T U S . An example of a hold function is
EDIT.
Figure 5. KPA1500 Front Panel.
3. Tap the O N switch
. The LCD
If at any time the FAULT LED
and STBY LED should light.
lights, refer to Fault Conditions, pg 14.
10
Band Switching
Automatic Band Switching: The KPA1500 automatically measures the frequency of the RF
drive and selects the proper band. The KEY IN input must be connected to the driving transmitter.
Manual Band Switching: Tap any of the front-panel BAND switches to select that band.
Coordinated K3 and KPA1500 Band Switching: When the optional AUX cable (pg 6) is
connected between the KPA1500 and the K3 or K3 S:

The KPA1500 will follow the band selected on a K3 or K3 S transceiver.

Tapping a BAND switch on the KPA1500 will cause the K3 or K3 S to change bands
accordingly.
Band switching control in which the KPA1500 follows the transceiver band selection without
transmitting is available with other popular transceivers such as Icom and Yaesu with the
appropriate interconnection cable. See AUX Connector Interface on pg 22. However, the control
is one-way. The KPA1500 cannot command the transceiver to change bands.
The automatic band selection function is active whenever the KEY IN is low (transmit
mode) and the transmitter is delivering RF drive to the KPA1500. The automatic band selection
function overrides band selection made by any other means to protect the KPA1500 from
damage by wrong-band operation.
Antenna Selection
Tap AN T E N N A
to select the desired rear panel antenna indicated by a lighted ANT 1 or ANT 2 LED above
the switch. Do not attempt to change the antenna selection while transmitting.
11
Transmitting
The POWER (W) and standing wave ratio (SWR) bargraphs are functional when the amplifier is in
standby (STBY). Twenty-five watts from the driving transceiver will illuminate the first POWER LED.
You may run up to 200 watts through the KPA1500 in STBY.
1. Be sure you have an antenna or dummy load connected to the active antenna output (see Antenna
Selection on page 11)
2. Tap the MODE switch
and confirm that the STBY LED goes out and the OPER LED lights.
3. Apply a few watts of RF drive and note that the POWER (W)
bargraph illuminates to indicate
the RF output power. Never exceed 100 watts of drive to the KPA1500 in OPER mode. Normal
drive levels will be about 50 watts. The KPA1500 will not amplify without the KEY IN signal.
Note that the TX LED
lights when the key signal is present. If the KEY IN signal is not
present, INHIBIT will appear on the LCD (See the INHIBIT menu entry on page 15)
NOTE
If you apply RF drive at a frequency below 1.6 MHz, between 26 MHz and 28
MHz, or above 54 MHz, INVALID will appear on the LCD and the KPA1500 will
not amplify.
4. Increase the drive power and confirm that the SWR bargraph
indicates less than 1.5 while the
output indicated by the POWER (W) LEDs increases. For ease in reading the critical SWR levels,
the SWR LEDs are green from 1 to 1.5. The 1.5 to 2.1 SWR LEDs are yellow and the LEDs for
SWRs above 2.1 are red. Up to TBD watts of drive may be required to produce the full 1500
watts output from the KPA1500. During heavy use, you may hear audible clicking sounds,
particularly as amplifier components cool after transmitting. This is normal. It does not indicate
that the amplifier is being overly stressed.
5. When driving the KPA1500 with an Elecraft K3 or K3 S, use the K3 or K3S per-band power
control to set the amplifier output just below the desired peak output on each band. Do not rely on
ALC to control the power output (see Using ALC, pg 12). At the K3 or K3S, set
CONFIG:POWER SET to Per Band. See Per-Band Power Control in your K3 or K3S Owner’s
manual for further details.
If you use the AUX cable interface between the K3 or K3 S and KPA1500 (pg 22), the
KPA1500 will send the OPER/STBY status to the K3 or K3S. You can then set two perband power levels at the K3 or K3S: one to drive the KPA1500 when it is in OPER mode
and another for pass-through transmitting when the KPA1500 is in STBY. The K3 or K3 S
will automatically furnish your preset power levels as you switch the KPA1500 between
OPER and STBY.
Using ALC
Automatic Level Control (ALC) is a useful safety mechanism, but never use ALC as the principle power
control. Doing so causes many of the unwanted transmit dynamics you often hear on the air including excessive
intermodulation distortion (IMD) and clicks. Instead, set your transmitter power output correctly as described
under Transmitting and adjust the ALC so it does not affect output power in normal operation. To do this, drive
the KPA5100 to the desired output. Adjust ALC THR in the menu (pg 15) until power just starts to drop and then
set ALC THR above this setting so it does not affect the output power in normal operation.
The Elecraft K3 or K3S ALC intentionally has a slow attack and much slower decay to avoid adding more
distortion or dynamics problems than necessary. However, not all of the negative effects of ALC action can be
avoided. It is still best to set the ALC threshold and then adjust the drive to avoid ALC action in normal
operation.
12
Automatic Antenna Tuner (ATU)
Hold AT U M O D E to select whether the ATU is active (IN) or bypassed. The corresponding LED above the
switch will light.
Tap AT U T U N E to initiate an ATU tune cycle.
Monitoring
KPA1500 operation is monitored by the LEDs
and
and reported in text on the LCD.
LEDs
The SWR of the load and the output power are displayed on LED bar graphs. The bar graphs are color-coded:
green for normal operating range, yellow for marginal levels and red for excessive levels. Excessive levels may
trigger a fault and shut the KPA1500 off (see Fault Conditions below). The FAULT LEDlights if a fault
condition occurs. Also two LEDs indicate whether the amplifier is in standby ( STBY) or operating (OPER)
mode.
LCD
Normally the LCD displays the band currently selected. The four switches around the LCD select other
information to be displayed on the screen and the behavior of the LEDs. Note that these switches have both tap
and hold functions (pg 2). Repeat the tap or hold action to return the LCD to the band display.

HV
displays the PA voltage on the LCD. Must be TBD when the KPA1500 is in STBY.

CURRENT

TEMP
displays the heat sink temperature on the LCD. Must be less than 90C.

PWR
displays the output power numerically on the LCD. Must not exceed TBD W.

MENU

EDIT

PK HOLD

SWR
displays the PA current on the LCD. Must never exceed TBD.
displays the menu system (see pg. 15).
enables editing menu parameters (see pg. 15).
toggles the peak power output display on the bar graph. When enabled, the LED
corresponding to the peak power output remains lighted for one second.
displays the load SWR numerically on the LCD.
Remote Operation
The KPA1500 can be controlled remotely using a personal computer connected to the RJ45 Ethernet port or to
the USB port. A basic remote operating capability is built into the KPA1500 Utility program (see pg 17). For
those who may wish to develop their own software, a Command Reference Manual is available on the Elecraft
web site. (www.elecraft.com).
13
Fault Conditions
The FAULT indicator lights and the speaker sounds to indicate a fault condition has occurred. To avoid
unnecessarily interrupting amplification because of moderately abnormal conditions, there are two levels of
faults that may occur, attenuator faults and hard faults.
Attenuator Faults
Relatively minor faults such as excessive reflected power cause an internal 3dB attenuator to be switched into
the RF path that reduces the output to protect the KPA1500. When an attenuator fault occurs, the FAULT LED
blinks and the cause is displayed on the LCD for about 1 second. The KPA500 tests the condition at intervals
and will return to normal operation automatically after the cause of the fault is removed. The interval between
tests is set with the ATTEN REL menu (pg 15). If the fault persists over time or if it is severe enough, a hard
fault will occur.
Unauthorized Frequency (INVALID) Fault
If you try to transmit on an unauthorized frequency the KPA1500 will automatically switch to STBY and
INVALID will be displayed on the LCD until RF drive is removed.
Hard Faults
Hard faults are those that require switching the KPA1500 to STBY to protect it, such as conditions of extremely
high reflected power or high drive power, or because a critical component such as a power supply has failed.
When a Hard Fault occurs, the cause of the fault is displayed on the LCD. When the condition has been
corrected, tap the OP/STBY switch to return the KPA1500 to normal operation, or tap the I N F O switch to return
the KPA1500 to STBY mode.
LCD Display
GAIN ERR
Fault
Excessive overall amplifier gain.
HI CURR
Excessive power amplifier current.2
HI TEMP
Power amplifier temperature over limit.2
PWRIN HI
Excessive driving power.
Fault Type
Fault No.1
Hard
15
Attenuator→Hard
Hard
Attenuator→Hard
Hard
11
PA DISS
Power amplifiers are dissipating excessive power. 2
POUT HI
Excessive power output.
Attenuator→Hard
12
REFL HI
Excessive reflected power (high SWR).
Attenuator→Hard
60V HIGH
50 volt supply over limit
Hard
60V FAIL
500 volt supply failure. Requires cycling KPA1500 mains power after
it is corrected.3 TBD
Hard
13
270V ERR
HV volt supply failure. Requires cycling KPA1500 mains power after
it is corrected.3
Hard
14
Communication failure between KPA1500 and K3 or K3S.
N/A
N/A
NOTES:
1. When the KPA1500 is used with the Elecraft K3 or K3 S transceiver, and the optional K3 interface
cable (see Elecraft KPAK3AUX Interface Cable , pg 23) is used to connect the K3 or K3 S to the
KPA1500, these numbers will be displayed on the K3’s LCD briefly if a hard fault occurs.
2. These faults are commonly caused by excessive power output or excessive reflected power.
14
Menu
Holding M E N U
enables the menu function to allow the following parameters to be set. With the menu
function enabled, the MENU, EDIT and switches next to the
and symbols all respond to a simple tap. Use
them to scroll through the menu items. Tap E D I T and then the
and switches to select the parameter and tap
M E N U again to save the parameter. Tap M E N U to exit the menu.
To reset all the parameters to the default value, press and hold the E D I T switch while tapping the O N switch to
turn the KPA1500 on.
Menu Entry
De
fa
ult
Description
ALC THR
21
ALC Threshold Adjustment: 0 to 210. See Using ALC on pg 12.
ATTN REL
Attenuator Release Time: 1.4 – 5 seconds.
BAND CHG
NOR: OPER/STBY status the same after band change.
STBY: Switches amp to standby after band change.
DEMO
Factory Use Only.
FAN CTL
FW REV
Sets minimum fan speed.
NOR: fan is off when not needed.
1 to 6: selects various minimum speeds. Fan speed increases automatically as
needed for cooling.
Displays firmware revision.
INHIB IN
DI
BL
LCD ADJ
30
LCD Contrast Adjustment.
LCD BRT
LCD Backlight Brightness. Use DAY in bright sunlight and 2 to 8 for indoor lighting.
LED BRT
LED Brightness.
PWR ADJ
10
Per-Band Wattmeter Calibration, range 80 to 120. These are percentages of the
measured value.See Wattmeter Calibration Procedure on page 18.
PWR ON
ST
BY
STBY: Amp is in standby mode when first turned on.
OPER: Amp is in operate mode when first turned on.
ENABLE allows the amplifier operation to be inhibited (won’t amplify) when a logic low is
applied to pin 11 of the AUX Connector (see pg 22). When amplification is inhibited,
INHIBIT appears on the LCD display.
Specifies driving transceiver interface:
K3: Allows use of Auxbus interface which allows the KPA1500 band switches to
change bands on the K3 or K3S; sends KPA1500 mode to the K3 or K3S so the K3
can automatically select correct drive power when the KPA1500 is in OPER (see
11); reports KPA1500 faults to K3.
RADIO
K3
BCD: Signals provided by Yaesu transceivers.
ANALOG: Signals provided by Icom transceivers. Note that Icom transceivers do not
identify WARC bands, but KPA1500 frequency sensing will switch the KPA1500 to
the correct band upon transmit.
SERIAL: Kenwood/Elecraft compatible interface using TBD? RS232X port. If
transceiver is in split mode, the transmit frequency will select proper band at
KPA1500.
RS232 P
38
40
PC Serial Port Speed: 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400 bps
RS232 X
48
00
Transceiver Serial Port Speed: 4800, 9600, 19200, 38400 bps. Set RADIO to
SERIAL.
15
Menu Entry
De
fa
ult
Description
SER NUM
Displays the unit serial number.
SER POLL
N/
ON: Enables KPA1500 polling of the transceiver for frequency band via RS232X port
(e.g. for Kenwood/Elecraft compatible interface). Note: RADIO menu entry must be
set to SERIAL.
OFF: Other device (PC, etc.) polls transceiver for frequency band.
N/A: RADIO menu not set to SERIAL.
SPEAKER
Speaker (fault annunciator) ON or OFF.
TR TIME
QSK Delay Time: 0 to 50 ms; Slows T/R release time for transceivers with poor
transmit timing characteristics.
16
Firmware Updates
From time to time updated and improved firmware may become available for the KPA1500.
To update firmware you will need:

The KPA Utility Program available free from Elecraft at www.elecraft.com.

Connect the USB A to B interface cable supplied with your KPA1500 between the USB port on the
KPA1500 and a USB port on your personal computer.
Your PC must be connected directly to the USB port. You cannot ‘daisy
chain’ the KPA1500 with the K3 or K3S through the AUX port.

Launch the KPA Utility program.
Updated firmware may be obtained in two ways.
1. Click on Firmware tab and then the Click on Copy Firmware Files from Elecraft to download the latest
production released firmware or,
2. Download the new file from the Elecraft web site manually and place it in a local folder, then click on
Browse… to locate the folder on your computer. This is the way to access the latest Beta firmware
available from Elecraft.
To install new firmware in your KPA1500, click on the utility Send Firmware to the KPA1500 button to start the
transfer. Follow any on-screen instructions. During download the LCD will display MCU LOAD and the STBY
LED will flash rapidly. The KPA1500 will return to its normal power on state when the transfer is completed.
Be sure to check the notes supplied with the new firmware. They may include changes that affect the
instructions in this manual.
If you don’t have Internet access, you can obtain a firmware upgrade on CD. If you don't have a computer,
you can send your KPA1500 to Elecraft to be upgraded. See Customer Service, pg.20.
Checking your Firmware Revision
Use the MENU entry FW Rev to determine your firmware revision.
17
Wattmeter Calibration Procedure
The KPA1500 wattmeter is factory-calibrated. However, if you have a wattmeter that you feel is more accurate,
you can adjust the KPA1500 wattmeter to match its readings as follows. The calibration is done per-band so you
can make adjustments for individual bands without affecting the others.
In addition to your wattmeter, you will need a good dummy load capable of handling 1500 watts.

Connect your wattmeter to the KPA1500 one of the ANT connectors using short, direct 50 ohm coaxial
cable.

Tap AN T E N N A on the KPA1500 to select the ANT output where you connected the wattmeter.

Connect your dummy load to the wattmeter.

Select the band that you wish to calibrate.

Tap P W R on the KPA1500 to display the RF power output on the LCD.

Transmit briefly at 1500 watts output into the external wattmeter and dummy load

and compare the reading on the external wattmeter with the KPA1500 wattmeter.

If you wish the adjust the power displayed on the KPA1500 LCD and LEDs, hold M E N U and tap
switches next to the
and symbols until PWR ADJ is displayed on the LCD.

Hold E D I T . A number between 80 and 120 will be displayed on the LCD.

If the power displayed on the KPA1500 wattmeter needs to be higher, tap the
switch. If the power
displayed on the KPA1500 needs to be lower, tap the switch. The number displayed indicates the
percentage change in the power reading. For example, changing 100 to 110 will result in a 10% increase
in the power indicated.

Tap M E N U twice to exit the menu. The current band will be displayed on the LCD.

Tap P W R on the KPA1500 to display the RF power output on the LCD.

Transmit again and compare the readings on the KPA1500 and your external wattmeter. Repeat the
procedure as needed until you are satisfied with the readings.
18
Specifications
Frequency Range
All Amateur Bands from 1.8 to 29.7 MHz and 50 to 54 MHz
Supply Voltage and
Current
195 to 250 VAC, 50/60 Hz
Weight
26 lbs (12 kilograms)
Size
Enclosure only, 4.5 x 13.5 x 11.5 in., HWD (11.5 x 34 x 29 cm).
Power Output
1500 watts PEP CW/SSB/Data
Duty Cycle at 1500 Watts
10 minutes key down / 5 minutes standby
Drive Power
50-70 watts, typical, for 1500 watts output
Input VSWR
Less than 1.5:1
ALC Out
Negative-going, adjustable
Metering
Power Output, SWR (bargraph and on the LCD display), supply voltage and current,
temperature, frequency band
Heat Sink Temperature
90°C, maximum
Key In
+5V maximum, open circuit on receive, closed to ground on transmit (1 mA max.)
Efficiency
Approximately 50%
19
Customer Service and Support
Technical Assistance
You can send e-mail to k3support@elecraft.com and we will respond quickly – typically the same day
Monday through Friday. If you need replacement parts, send an e-mail to parts@elecraft.com. Telephone
assistance is available from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Pacific time (weekdays only) at 831-763-4211. Please use e-mail
rather than calling when possible since this gives us a written record of the details of your problem and allows
us to handle a larger number of requests each day.
Repair / Alignment Service
If necessary, you may return your Elecraft product to us for repair or alignment. (Note: We offer unlimited email
and phone support, so please try that route first as we can usually help you find the problem quickly.)
IMPORTANT: You must contact Elecraft before mailing your product to obtain authorization for the
return, what address to ship it to and current information on repair fees and turnaround times. (Frequently we
can determine the cause of your problem and save you the trouble of shipping it back to us.) Our repair location
is different from our factory location. We will give you the address to ship your kit to at the time of repair
authorization. Packages shipped without authorization will incur an additional shipping charge for reshipment
to our repair depot.
Elecraft 1-Year Limited Warranty
This warranty is effective as of the date of first consumer purchase (or if shipped from the factory, the date the
product is shipped to the customer). It covers both our kits and fully assembled products. For kits, before
requesting warranty service, you should fully complete the assembly, carefully following all instructions in the
manual.
Who is covered: This warranty covers the original owner of the Elecraft product as disclosed to Elecraft at the
time of order. Elecraft products transferred by the purchaser to a third party, either by sale, gift, or other
method, who is not disclosed to Elecraft at the time of original order, are not covered by this warranty. If the
Elecraft product is being bought indirectly for a third party, the third party’s name and address must be
provided at time of order to ensure warranty coverage.
What is covered: During the first year after date of purchase, Elecraft will replace defective or missing parts
free of charge (post-paid). We will also correct any malfunction to kits or assembled units caused by defective
parts and materials. Purchaser pays inbound shipping to us for warranty repair; we pay shipping to return the
repaired equipment to you by UPS ground service or equivalent to the continental USA and Canada. For
Alaska, Hawaii, and other destinations outside the U.S. and Canada, actual return shipping cost is paid by the
owner.
What is not covered: This warranty does not cover correction of kit assembly errors. It also does not cover
misalignment; repair of damage caused by misuse, negligence, or builder modifications; or any performance
malfunctions involving non-Elecraft accessory equipment. The use of acid-core solder, water-soluble flux
solder, or any corrosive or conductive flux or solvent will void this warranty in its entirety. Also not covered is
reimbursement for loss of use, inconvenience, customer assembly or alignment time, or cost of unauthorized
service.
Limitation of incidental or consequential damages: This warranty does not extend to non-Elecraft equipment
or components used in conjunction with our products. Any such repair or replacement is the customer. Elecraft
will not be liable for an special indirect, incidental or consequential damages, including but not limited to any
loss of business or profits.
20
Theory of Operation
TBD – Update block diagram to show 2 RF out and new power supply voltages.
When the KPA1500 is in operating (OPER) mode, RF is routed by the transmit-receive (TR) switch to the
power amplifier (PA) module where it is amplified by a pair of dual power MOS FETs.
The PA module output is routed to the low pass filter (LPF) bank input. The LPF bank provides filters for each
frequency band. The frequency of the incoming signal is monitored and the appropriate filter is automatically
switched into the signal path. The filter also may be selected by band data provided by the transceiver or by
front panel switches on the KPA1500. However, the automatic selection based on the incoming signal frequency
overrides either of those inputs to ensure the correct bandpass filter is always in the signal path.
The output of the LPF bank is routed to the RF output via the TR switch.
During receive or when the KPA1500 is in Standby (STBY), the TR switch routes the RF input directly to the
RF output, bypassing both the PA module and the low pass filter bank.
The MCU in the display and control module monitors and makes critical measurements of a number of
operating conditions including two levels of fault conditions that automatically alter the operation of the
KPA1500 (see pg 14).
21
AUX Connector Interface
Do not attach a common VGA cable to the AUX connector.
The AUX connector provides an optional interface that more closely integrates the KPA1500 with the driving
transceiver. Below are the signals available at the AUX connector. Specific cable connections for Elecraft, Icom
and Yaesu equipment follow.
Refer to the RADIO entry in the menu (pg 15) to enable communications via the AUX connector.
KPA1500 AUX Connector Pinout (DE-15 Male)
Signal Name
Pin
Direction
Notes
Band VRef (Icom)
In
AuxBus I/O
Out
K3/K3S
Band1 In
In
BCD Band Input – Bit 1*
NC
GND
Band V (Icom)
In
Uses Icom standard band voltages
Alarm Out
Out
Power On/Off
In
Pulse low to turn KPA on or off – do not hold low!
Band2 In
In
BCD Band Input – Bit 2*
Key
10
In
Low enables amplification. Internally pulled up to
+5V. Sources 1 mA when pulled to ground. Diode
isolated from the KEY IN RCA jack.
Inhibit#
11
In
Low inhibits amplifier operation
GND
12
Band0 In
13
In
BCD Band Input – Bit 0*
Band3 In
14
In
BCD Band Input – Bit 3*
ALC
15
Out
ALC output to transceiver
Reference for Icom input – connect to 8V
Drives low for fault input Not used by K3/K3S. Must
not be connected to K3/K3S.
* See pg 24 for the BCD band codes used.
Details of Aux Connector wiring cables for popular transceivers are shown on the following pages.
22
Elecraft KPAK3AUX Interface Cable
This is available direct from Elecraft (pg 20): order KPAK3AUX for the complete set:



KPAK3AUX Cable, 59.5” (1.5 m) long. May be ordered separately. Order E850463.
15 pin Y cable that allows access to the K3 or K3S Aux port for other devices. May be ordered
separately. Order E980190.
15 pin male-female Key Line Interrupter.
KPAK3AUX cable wiring. Pins not shown have no connection.
KPA1500 AUX
CONN. PIN
K3 AUX
CONN. PIN
SIGNAL
AUXBUS
BAND 1
GND
BAND 2
10
10
PTT (See Note)
11
11
Inhibit
12
12
GND
13
13
BAND0
14
14
BAND3
15
15
ALC (Optional, see pg 12)
Notes:
1. If you have devices that need access to the PTT line (e.g. some ATUs, SteppIR controllers, etc.), use
the key line interrupter supplied with your KPAK3AUX cable set. The interrupter breaks the pin 10
line so you can use the separate KEY IN cable (see Figure 4 on page 9).
2. Pin 4 is not used but the wire is included in the KPAK3AUX cable.
Icom Cable
Various models of Icom radios use either a 13-pin DIN or a 8-pin DIN connector. Be sure to use the connector
that is correct for your radio. Pins not shown have no connection.
KPA1500
AUX CONN.
PIN
ICOM DIN13
CONN. PIN
ICOM DIN7
CONN. PIN
SIGNAL
8V Reference
Gnd
Band Voltage (Not CI-V)
10
HSEND
15
ALC (Optional, see pg 12)
23
Yaesu Cable
Although various models of Yaesu radios use either DIN8/262 or a MiniDIN8 connector, the pin connections
are the same. Pins not shown have no connection.
KPA1500
AUX CONN.
PIN
YAESU
CONN. PIN
SIGNAL
Bit 1
3&8
GND Note: Yaesu pin 8 must be grounded or TX is inhibited.
Bit 2
10
Key
13
Bit 0
14
Bit 3
BCD Interface
The following are the band codes used by the KPA1500:
Band (Meters)
BCD Code
60
0x0
160
0x1
80
0x2
40
0x3
30
0x4
20
0x5
17
0x6
15
0x7
12
0x8
10
0x9
0xA
24

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