HF + 6 m LINEAR AMPLIFIER OPERATING MANUAL
ACOM 600S HF + 6 m SOLID STATE LINEAR AMPLIFIER OPERATING MANUAL CONTENTS 1. GENERAL INFORMATION....................................................................................................................... 2 1-1. 1-2. 1-3. 1-4. 1-5. 2. INSTALLATION ........................................................................................................................................ 4 2-1. 2-2. 2-3. 2-4. 3. Periodic maintenance; general checks and cleaning ...................................
1. GENERAL INFORMATION 1-1. Inroduction and description This manual describes the installation, operation, and maintenance of the HF+6m solid-state linear power amplifier ACOM 600S. ACOM 600S is a state-of-the art linear amplifier which covers all amateur bands from 1.8 through 54MHz and provides more than 600 W output power (PEP or continuous carrier) with less than 30W of drive. The working parameters of the amplifier are indicated on a multi-functional, high resolution color display.
Remotely controlled by RS232 interface. Takes care of itself during operation due to the continuously working protection circuits in all modes. The operator can monitor digitally more than 10 parameters concerning the working regime of the amplifier. Easy maintenance – detailed data (55 parameters) about each of the last 28 hard-fault protection trips is stored in the amplifier’s nonvolatile memory.
Do not undertake your own repairs or changes in hardware or firmware of your ACOM 600S amplifier. Doing so will endanger your or others' health or life or damage the amplifier and the equipment connected to it. Such repairs or changes are not covered by warranty and may void the warranty. The manufacturer is not liable for any such repairs or changes. Any such repairs or changes are strictly the responsibility of the person or persons engaging therein.
2-3. Connecting the amplifier within the shack WARNING Before you connect the amplifier to external grounding, you should advise with a licensed electrician and check-up whether such kind of connection is allowed by the national and local electrical code, safety rules, and regulations in force. Simultaneous connection to the earth grounding and bonding may be inadmissible or may fall under special requirements in some countries! WARNING Never use the gas installation tubing as grounding.
Fig. 2-1 Rear panel connections c) KEY-OUT jack - transmit-enabling control output from amplifier to the transceiver. The KEY-OUT jack on the rear panel provides an additional control signal from amplifier toward transceiver. It can be used for improving reliability of the receive/transmit (RX/TX) switching. When the amplifier is not powered up, KEY-OUT is connected internally to KEY-IN through the contacts of a relay inside the amplifier, thus always enabling transceiver transmission.
CAUTION If you use an amplifier for the first time in your shack, pay serious attention to the size of coaxial cable from your amplifier output to the antenna. The cable must be capable of handling the increased power safely, particularly on the 10m and 6 m bands. This warning refers equally to the antenna switch, tuner, and the whole antenna system, for example, for multi-band antennas with resonance circuits (traps etc).
connector of ACOM 600S. This will allow the amplifier to follow the changes of the frequency bands automatically and without any transmission, while the operator is operating with the transceiver. For control of the amplifier through the CAT/AUX interface you need a special cable between the transceiver and CAT/AUX connector (type HD-15) on the rear panel of the amplifier – Fig. 2-1.
b) RS232 Interface. Table 2-2 shows signals and pin out of the RS232 connector on the rear panel of the amplifier. Details about connecting and using the RS232 interface are given in the Technical compact disk (CD) – option to the amplifier and / or in the respective control programs. This connector can remain unconnected until you decide to use the amplifier with remote control. Table 2-2 RS 232 interface PIN NO.
Fig. 3-1 Front panel During operation with the amplifier the display is illuminated and the red LED above the ON/OFF button indicates the button location which can be very useful in case of fast switching off in poor light conditions. c) Keyboard with 6 buttons for manual (local) control of the amplifier. The function of each button is prompted on the display above it. Depending on the menu displayed, the buttons may have different functions.
Fig. 3-2 Basic screen b) Information area for measurements or alarm messages. Any two operator-chosen parameters will be normally displayed in this area on black background – see the list in S. 5-1 Measurements in the amplifier – AMP MEASURE. The alarm messages (either type WARNING or SOFT FAULT) appear with black font on yellow background on the area for measurements and are flashing frequently in order to attract the operator's attention (Fig. 4-1).
3-5. a) Control system – buttons and menus The OPR/STB and the BAND (up and down) buttons are used for manual (local) control of the amplifier in the basic screen (Fig.
SWR at the transceiver output are too high (over 5W or SWR over 2:1) immediately release the actuator and search for the reason as follows: - check again whether the output control is set at minimum; - check whether the frequency on which you are transmitting is within the operating range of the selected antenna; - check the good working order of the connecting coaxial cables, connectors, and feed lines from the transceiver antenna jack through the amplifier, the antenna switch or external tuner (if th
d) Check of the RX/TX switching and the amplifier idling current without RF power. Put the transceiver in such a regime that at pressed PTT or TX button a transmit request is applied to the amplifier but with no RF power on the transceiver output. For example, select SSB mode with microphone gain control reduced to zero or CW mode with Morse key up to avoid any RF power while requesting transmit mode to the amplifier by pressing the PTT or the TX button (do not use automatic CW keyer or VOX).
Enter menu MEASURE and check-up additionally: - the drive power from the transceiver must be between 20 and 30W; - PA BIAS must be between 2.5 and 2.9V (typically 2.8V); - PA TEMPERATURE must be between the ambient and 80ºC (176ºF) depending on the power level and the duration of transmission. When possible, listen to the quality of the amplified signal using a monitoring receiver or ask some regular correspondents for signal assessment and comparison with and without amplifier.
the size, consider the frequency range in which the offered ferrites are effective – normally they are optimized for suppression of interferences on HF (with larger permeability), with medium permeability for HF-VHF or with low permeability - only the VHF range.
NOTE Access to the Operate mode can be banned in the menu AMP SERVICE, the OPERATE ACCESS option (S. 5-2 and Fig. 5-2). The ban is universal. c) AUTO OPERATE option - can be activated or deactivated by the operator in the USER PREFERENCES menu – S. 5-4 and Fig. 5-4 - or through remote commands by the RS232 interface. When the AUTO OPERATE option is deactivated, the two modes Operate and Stand-by can be changed alternatively via the OPR/STB button or by commands OPR and STB by the RS232 interface.
If the new frequency is out of the range admissible for the amplifier (S. 8-1(a)), the transmission request is denied and the following fault message appears on the screen: “FREQUENCY OUT OF RANGE” The standard frequency bands within which all amplifier parameters are guaranteed are listed in S. 8-1(a)). Extension or changes of the bands could be negotiated with the manufacturer. 4-3.
Fig. 4-1 – Appearance of an alarm message a) The first protection level is the WARNING type. Only a warning message appears on the screen accompanied by a sound signal, but without any physical reaction from the amplifier – Fig. 4-1. This occurs when some of the values monitored by the control unit approach too close the threshold of tripping the respective protection. The transmission is not interrupted, but a message appears – for example “Drive Power too High”, “Drain Current too High”, or another.
If it is not obvious due to what reason the protection has tripped, you can try to turn on the amplifier again. If the amplifier allows turning on after the fault, the display will be lit but instead of the basic screen, a fault message will appear with information about the reason for the latest automatic turning off (for example, overheating of the power supply unit or of the final stage and others). After pressing any button, the fault message will disappear; the display will show the basic screen – Fig.
5-1. Menu “Measurements in the amplifier” – AMP MEASURE The menu AMP MEASURE (Fig. 5-1) is accessible from the MENU SELECTION screen (Fig. 5) in all modes. It is possible to measure digitally 11 parameters in it, characterizing the amplifier operation and its regime. Fig. 5-1 Menu “Measurements in the amplifier” – AMP MEASURE Two identical lists appear on the left and the right halves of the screen, each one having the 11 parameters, whose values are refreshed continuously.
Fig. 5.2 Menu “Service functions in the amplifier” – AMP SERVICE Blocking access to the Operate mode can be controlled using the OPERATE ACCESS option. When the amplifier is locked (LOCK is selected), it remains in the Stand-by mode and cannot be turned to Operate mode by random actions unless unlocked by the selection of UNLOCK before that. Passwords are not used - only simple protection is envisaged against possible child actions, or involuntary switching to Operate mode.
Fig. 5-3 Menu “Selection of CAT/AUX interface” – CAT/AUX SETTINGS At leaving the menu (by pressing the EXIT button), the parameters enclosed currently within square brackets remain selected (become effective). 5-4. Menu “USER PREFERENCES” Here the operator can adjust some secondary (minor) functions of the amplifier according to his personal preferences. Fig.
In order to select the user preference which has to be changed, first with the ITEM buttons (up and down) position the large colored window. Afterwards with the SELECT buttons (left or right) position the marker onto the desired value – Fig. 5-4. a) AUTOMATIC MENU EXIT. To activate or deactivate the option, first select menu USER PREFERENCES (S. 5-4 and Fig. 5-4) and position the large colored window upon the AUTOMATIC MENU EXIT option with the ITEM buttons (up and down).
Fig. 5-5 Function FAULTS LOG Pressing the button FILE, the data can be downloaded in a plain text format through the built-in RS232 interface see S. 7-4 for details. 5-6. Menu "RESTORE DEFAULT SETTINGS" The factory default settings for the user preferences and some other data can be reset here. While selecting the menu (Fig. 5-6) the bottom part of the screen is empty (no warning).
Fig. 5-6 Menu : RESTORE DEFAULT SETTINGS 6. REMOTE MONITORING AND CONTROL 6-1. General information Remote monitoring and control can be done with a computer connected to the RS232 interface of the amplifier.
7. MAINTENANCE W A R N I N G HIGH VOLTAGE! The mains line voltage plus a high DC voltage up to 500V inside the ACOM 600S amplifier are LETHAL! For your safety, pull the amplifier power plug out of the mains wall outlet and WAIT AT LEAST three minutes EACH TIME BEFORE servicing the amplifier! 7-1.
CAUTION Never replace any fuses inside the amplifier without special instructions from your dealer! Blown internal fuses can be a symptom of a more serious problem, which should be resolved beforehand. Unauthorized replacement of inside fuses infringes the warranty conditions! 7-3. Simplified schematic diagram; theory of operation a) Power Amplifier Module. See Fig. 7-1 – ACOM 600S Simplified Schematic Diagram.
Fig.
The Wattmeter unit is based on a bridge circuit which comprises the current transformer T401 and some other components (not shown in the block diagram). It measures the forward and the reflected power at the amplifier output and feeds information to the Control unit for indication and development of the protection functions of the amplifier. The DC bias voltages for the gates of the final transistors are produced by the “Bias control and Measurement” circuit.
The main Power Supply Unit (PSU) consists of two main assemblies: - a rectifier and switching mode stage, not insulated from the mains; they provide a preliminary regulation at 390V and power factor correction (PFC); the latter serves to minimize the mains-frequency harmonics currents, thus ensuring a high power factor of the consumed current, and also limiting the start-up mains current during shifting of the amplifier to the operating mode; - mains-separated switching mode converter “390/50V” which sup
7-5. FIRMWARE UPDATES CAUTION Before you change the built-in firmware version, check its compatibility with the revisions of the hardware and of the boot loader in your amplifier - see S. 5-5 for establishing the proper version. If you have any doubts about the versions, please consult your dealer before you undertake any action. When ACOM publishes a new version of the built-in firmware, the user can upload it in the amplifier after he checks their compatibility – see the note above.
i) Mains power consumption in Low Energy (waiting) mode: less than 1VA; j) Complies with EU safety regulations and electromagnetic compatibility standards, as well as with the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules; k) Environment working conditions: - temperature range: -10ºC to +40ºC (14ºF to 104ºF); - relative air humidity: up to 95% @ 35ºC (95ºF); l) Dimensions (projections not included) and weight, operating: (W x H x D) 330 x 165 x 380 mm (13 x 6.5 x 15 In); 12 kg (26.5 Lbs). 8-2.
ACOM OOD Blvd. Nikola Mushanov 151 1330 Sofia, Bulgaria phone: +359 2 920 96 55 fax: +359 2 920 96 56 e-mail: acom@acom-bg.com acom@mail.orbitel.bg www.acom-bg.
