SGC SG-500 SmartPowerCube™ User’s Manual, Page 12
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Copyright SGC 2007
8.0
Troubleshooting Guide
The information presented in this manual attempts to cover the most commonly encountered questions
and difficulties in HF station installations. However, conditions may arise when one or more components
in your station may not function properly, causing the amplifier to not operate.
8.1 Fault Analysis
A solid understanding station interconnections and equipment specifications helps in resolving the
problem. The following table analyzes common faults and their correction:
FAULT
ADVICE
CURR trip off-line
VOLT trip off-line
Ensure power supply maintains voltage greater
than 11.0VDC under load. Check DC cable
connections. Use only #6AWG wire or heavier
and make cable lengths as short as possible.
Check batter charge state and voltage droop
under load. Use separate supplies for amp and
transceiver. Reduce input drive level.
VSWR trip off-line
Check integrity of antenna and feedline
connections. Check for evidence of arc-over or
dielectric breakdown of feedline. Ensure
antenna is resonant (<2:1 SWR) at the desired
operating frequency. Check proper
interconnection and operation of the SG-235 or
manual matching network.
TEMP LED flashing
Reduce drive level or duty cycle. Ensure fan
unit is operating by checking FAN plug on
front panel ACCESS connector, or supply
forced cooling to lower heatsink temperature.
No PTT Keying
Ensure transceiver, amplifier and DC supply all
utilize a common ground return. Use
externally-switched relay for PTT line control.
Please note that the SG-500 represents the latest in microprocessor control technology, and the amplifier
is designed to shut off in the event that any critical parameter is outside pre-determined values. This
insures that the amplifier will give many years of maintenance-free service and optimum performance.
This also means that particular attention must be given to the amplifiers environment and associated
systems. Most particular, the power supply and antenna. The next section addresses specific
troubleshooting steps to isolate a fault experienced with the amplifier.
8.2 Troubleshooting Guidelines
SGC has determined that many reports of amplifier ‘difficulties’ actually stem from problems relating to
the power supply voltage, interconnection cables, and antenna installations. If a quick review of your
installation and the above table does not provide solution, we advise making the following checks before
contacting SGC for technical support: