Icom iPW1 Car Amplifier User Manual


 
17
3
OPERATION
This linear amplier has various protection circuits.
D ALC circuit
The ALC (Automatic Level Control) circuit automati-
cally limits RF output power by controlling the input
level of the exciter. This prevents transmission of dis-
torted signals when the input signal level exceeds the
allowable level.
The ALC activates under the following conditions:
- Output power of the linear amplier exceeds 1 kW
- Antenna SWR becomes 2:1 or more
- Output power of the exciter exceeds 100 W
D Cooling fans
The power supply cooling fans activate when the lin-
ear amplier is activated and while transmitting.
The antenna tuner cooling fans activate when the
antenna tuner is activated and while transmitting.
All cooling fans activate when the heatsink temper-
ature of the nal FETs reaches 50 °C (122 °F) or
more.
D Circuit breaker
If the circuit breaker activates or the linear amplier
stops functioning, try to nd the source of the prob-
lem, then push the circuit breaker button to ll the
white parts.
- Circuit breaker capacity: 20 A (U.S.A. version)
15 A (Europe version)
D Linear amplier protection circuit
When a protection circuit is activated, a band indica-
tor blinks to show a problem as described below.
[AMP/PROTECT] lights red when a protection cir-
cuit is activated.
- Push [AMP/PROTECT] to cancel the protection circuit.
The built-in automatic antenna tuner can match the
antenna feed line impedance to 50 when the feed
line impedance is within 16.7 to 150 for HF bands
(VSWR 3:1) or within 20 to 125 for 50 MHz bands
(VSWR 2.5:1).
Once the tuner matches an antenna, the tuning cir-
cuit condition is memorized as a preset point for each
frequency range (100 kHz steps, 70 ranges).
Therefore, when you change the frequency range,
the tuning circuit is automatically preset to the mem-
orized point.
This antenna tuner is also used when the linear
amplier is turned OFF.
Push [TUNER] for 2 sec. to start manual antenna
tuning.
When the tuner cannot tune the antenna (SWR 1.5:1 or
greater), the tuning circuit is bypassed automatically
after 20 sec.
While operating in the 50 MHz band, the antenna
tuner does not start automatically. Push [TUNER]
for 2 sec. to tune the antenna manually.
Protection circuit
Antenna tuner operation
Item Indication Possible cause
1
[TEMP]
The heatsink temperature of the
final FETs exceeds 100°C
(212°F).
2
[AUTO]
Power level of the 4 PA units
becomes unbalanced.
3
[ALC]
ALC control level exceeds the
control range.
4 [VD]
Output voltage of the internal
power supply exceeds 55 V DC.
5 [ID]
Current of the nal FETs (I
D
)
exceeds 50 A.
6
Current bands
indicator
Gain of the nal FETs drops.
7
Selected and
current bands
indicator
When transmitting with different
band selections between the lin-
ear amplier and exciter.
8
[AMP/PROTECT]
The power supply has a malfunc-
tion.