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Author Topic: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio  (Read 388 times)

W9WQA

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #15 on: December 03, 2022, 02:30:42 PM »

some of longest zed threads are about connecting a red and a black wire.
some long posts too...
thats dc. 

then you go to ac, 3 wires,,,and....@!!!dont mention...ground.....
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KD6VXI

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #16 on: December 03, 2022, 06:38:35 PM »

I have a Kenwood TS440 amp board I just purchased.  It came with the entire rear end of the radio. As such, it has all the connectors still on it.

I will not be using the molex power  connector... It's free to you, with a caveat......

I'm sitting at the airport right now getting ready to go to a funeral back in the states.  I'll be gone a week.

If you can wait a week, like I said, it's yours, for free.  I'll leave however long wiring I can from the molex connector to wherever it goes on the board.

If you want it, email me.  My_call@gmail.com   I plan on building an external amplifier with the amp and low pass filter boards.

Hope this helps.


--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI

Use my WP call for the email.

Email sent. Thanks. Very kind of you.
Safe travels.

Thanks.  So far, it's been 'eventful'.  Always nice to wake up to a fraud prevention notice on your ATM card on a day you're traveling...  Lol.  NO ATM FOR YOU!

Anyway, I'll get that out as soon as I get home.  Be about 8 days or so.

--Shane
WP2ASS / ex KD6VXI
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WB6BYU

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #17 on: December 04, 2022, 05:26:45 PM »

Molex plugs are pretty standard, and available from many
different sources.  You need to measure the pin spacing
and pay attention to the keying tabs on the plastic housing.
In one case, for the plug on the back of a TS-450, I had to
shave off a couple of the tabs with a pocket knife to make
a standard plug fit, but it has worked for 10+ years now.

The specific Kenwood plugs for the transceiver end are
available from a number of sources, but I don't know
about the plugs for the power supply end:  I checked
my Kenwood power supply, but it had been converted
to an Anderson connector before I acquired it.

But, unless it is an unusual type, I'd probably check
the major suppliers like Mouser or DigiKey and you
should find something that will work.

WB0CJB

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #18 on: December 06, 2022, 01:29:59 PM »

If you try to use the PS-50 on a radio that requires a 20 amp supply you will wipe out the pass transistors in a short time. Especially if you transmit for long periods of time on CW, FM, FT8, or phone. Even though the PS has a cooling fan it isn't enough to adequately cool the PS.

I just repaired a PS-50 that had blown pass transistors. It was powering up a TS-440S. The radio draws 21A on transmit at 100 watts. I bet that the ham who owned it wasn't aware of the limitation of the PS. I haven't seen the ICAS rating of the PS-50 but I bet it's 20A ICAS (intermittent) and 16A continuous, as like an Astron  RS-20.

People go out and buy a nice new radio and get sold a PS that barely handles the current capability. Why? Because the PS was a "great deal" (CHEAP). Then in the heat of a contest or Field Day the PS blows up due to overheating trying to power the radio at 100W.
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K1KIM

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #19 on: December 06, 2022, 03:44:31 PM »

If you try to use the PS-50 on a radio that requires a 20 amp supply you will wipe out the pass transistors in a short time. Especially if you transmit for long periods of time on CW, FM, FT8, or phone. Even though the PS has a cooling fan it isn't enough to adequately cool the PS.

I just repaired a PS-50 that had blown pass transistors. It was powering up a TS-440S. The radio draws 21A on transmit at 100 watts. I bet that the ham who owned it wasn't aware of the limitation of the PS. I haven't seen the ICAS rating of the PS-50 but I bet it's 20A ICAS (intermittent) and 16A continuous, as like an Astron  RS-20.

People go out and buy a nice new radio and get sold a PS that barely handles the current capability. Why? Because the PS was a "great deal" (CHEAP). Then in the heat of a contest or Field Day the PS blows up due to overheating trying to power the radio at 100W.

Manual States 20A Max for 1 hour continuous. But units can fail.
This was bought new with my TS-430 years ago. Hasn't failed yet.
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WA8NVW

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #20 on: December 12, 2022, 02:37:06 PM »

K1KIM -
Might this longtime Kenwood user recommend two improvements to your repurposing plan? 
1) Do some hamfest & fleamarket shopping for a large low voltage electrolytic capacitor that you can add in parallel with your PS-50 power supply's 14 VDC output.  I would look for one rated at least 10,000 mfd at something over 25 volts.  It will smooth the current peaks when you are running SSB or CW and reduce hum and ripple which can sometimes get into the audio chain.  Be sure you parallel the main power cable leads, do NOT use the screw terminal strip - the wire connecting to it is too small.
2) Another tip is to replace the existing 15 or 20 Amp glass fuse in the 14 VDC output line with a 20 Amp (Yellow) automotive blade fuse in a plastic holder.  It's MUCH easier to change if it ever blows due to accidental reverse polarity or excessive current into the radio.
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K1KIM

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #21 on: December 12, 2022, 04:58:33 PM »

K1KIM -
Might this longtime Kenwood user recommend two improvements to your repurposing plan? 
1) Do some hamfest & fleamarket shopping for a large low voltage electrolytic capacitor that you can add in parallel with your PS-50 power supply's 14 VDC output.  I would look for one rated at least 10,000 mfd at something over 25 volts.  It will smooth the current peaks when you are running SSB or CW and reduce hum and ripple which can sometimes get into the audio chain.  Be sure you parallel the main power cable leads, do NOT use the screw terminal strip - the wire connecting to it is too small.
2) Another tip is to replace the existing 15 or 20 Amp glass fuse in the 14 VDC output line with a 20 Amp (Yellow) automotive blade fuse in a plastic holder.  It's MUCH easier to change if it ever blows due to accidental reverse polarity or excessive current into the radio.

I just happen to have a MEPCO/ELECTRA 19000 UF  25 VDC 30 Surge capacitor in my parts box.
It's about the size of a small Red Bull can. I can't remember what it came out of. Maybe a non-working Ten-Tec switching PS I bought for the enclosure to put a switcher I built in a few years ago.

Should be perfect. It'll need a sizable project box to contain. Molex in and Anderson Power Plus or banana plugs out.

Thx
« Last Edit: December 12, 2022, 05:04:05 PM by K1KIM »
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VE7DQ

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #22 on: December 13, 2022, 08:53:04 PM »

I wouldn't put a big honking capacitor like that on the output of the PS-50.  At power supply turn-on the discharged capacitor will look like a short-circuit and with no current limiting circuitry in the PS-50 the cap's inrush current may be enough to blow the PS-50's internal fuse, or at worst, could short the pass transistors.  The extra cap is just. not. needed.  Period.

The Japanese 'Molex-like' plugs and sockets are NOT Molex connectors, but are available from a few ham radio retailers.
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W1VT

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #23 on: December 14, 2022, 07:21:13 AM »

I just checked Quicksilver Radio and they seem to have everything except the connector you want!
Everyone sells 6 pin plugs but not the 6 pin Japanese ham radio socket. 
Quicksilver does sell matching sockets for other Japanese power connectors.

I think the digital mode FT8 has killed a lot of ham radio equipment. 
It has a higher duty cycle than SSB/CW but hams want to run as much power as they can.
An inexpensive IR cooking thermometer can be used to measure how hot your equipment gets.

Alternately, a lot of 100W transmitters will operate just fine at 80 watts output.
« Last Edit: December 14, 2022, 07:25:47 AM by W1VT »
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W9GB

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #24 on: January 04, 2023, 05:28:15 PM »

Quote from: K1KIM
The question is where to find the equivalent of the chassis side of the
Kenwood Molex plug and then attach the other radio's plug to the opposite end.
POWERWERX OEM DC Connectors
https://powerwerx.com/oem-connectors-terminals

HF6 : HF 6-pin Power connector for HF Power cords $4.99
https://powerwerx.com/hf-6-pin-power-connector-power-cords

HF6SOC : HF 6-pin Power connector for HF chassis mounting $4.99
https://powerwerx.com/hf6soc-molex-power-connector-radio-side

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N8YX

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #25 on: January 05, 2023, 06:50:28 AM »

The connectors in question (Japanese) are made by JRC.

Mouser and Digikey carry them. They use 0.093" pins. I bought a number of male and female plus pins and strain reliefs this time last year, so I know they're still being stocked.
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K8AXW

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #26 on: January 05, 2023, 09:44:57 AM »

As an aside, VT touched on a point.  Thermometers.  A fantastic addition to any present day ham shack that uses solid state power supplies, amplifiers, etc., is an IR thermometer.

I bought a very small Radio Shack IR thermometer many years ago. It's fast, no-contact operation will make you wonder how you've ever been without one!

An example is comparing the operating temperature of multiple pass transistors. No more feeling and "thinking" one is running warmer than another.  Just point, press a button and the temp is displayed!

Is your heat sink running "hot?" Whatever "hot" means. With the IR thermometer you get a readout of the temp in a second.

My last use was to check my hot water after making a change on my hot water tank thermostat!

The uses seem endless.
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K1KIM

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #27 on: January 08, 2023, 09:21:50 AM »

The connectors in question (Japanese) are made by JRC.

Mouser and Digikey carry them. They use 0.093" pins. I bought a number of male and female plus pins and strain reliefs this time last year, so I know they're still being stocked.

I can't seem to find them on Mouser's website. If you happen to find it, please send me a part number for the male and female sides.
Thanks.
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N8YX

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Re: Kenwood PS-50 20A Output Conversion to Power Non-Kenwood Radio
« Reply #28 on: January 09, 2023, 07:15:15 AM »

The connectors in question (Japanese) are made by JRC.

Mouser and Digikey carry them. They use 0.093" pins. I bought a number of male and female plus pins and strain reliefs this time last year, so I know they're still being stocked.

I can't seem to find them on Mouser's website. If you happen to find it, please send me a part number for the male and female sides.
Thanks.
When I unpack the box I put them in for my shack move I'll check the numbers then post links in this thread.
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