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[K6AER]

Does anyone know what the maximum output the new Mercury LUX will put out?

The Mercury III will do 1200 watts with a single Pallet BLF 188, but the reviews and information in the internet is hedgy of the real output capacity of the LUX unit. It has two blf-188 pallets.  I want to know what kind of head room it is capable of.

Search of the internet and of the reviews from owners has produced no information.

[WW1SS]

https://www.eham.net/reviews/view-product?id=15404

[W9AC]

It's interesting to me that the Lux forward power meter puts 1200W in the caution zone.  So, not sure if that's implemented out of an abundance of caution, or if the Lux is otherwise power-limited during high-duty-cycle operation like FT8 and RTTY. 

If the Lux is truly limited at 1500W when using these modes, then other solid-state amplifiers offer better value.  For example, when considering the price of the Lux with the optional external ATU, the RF-Kit RF2K-S includes an ATU, native Ethernet connectivity, and can withstand these modes while not becoming stressed.  The RF-Kit amp also has the added value of PIN diode QSK operation. 

Paul, W9AC

[K7JQ]

You can download the Lux operation manual on km3km.com.

[WA2EIO]

You can download the Lux operation manual on km3km.com.

And if that is too difficult a thing to search for,  this is from their on-line manual:

".....SPECIFICATIONS
• Intermodulation products (IMD3): tested better than -30dB below the rated PEP output (this all depends on the input signal) GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT...
• Input and output impedances: nominal value: 50 Ohm unbalanced, UHF (SO239) type connectors.
• Input circuit: broadband, SWR below 1.2:1 (1.1:1 typically); 1.8 – 54 MHz continuous range without
retuning or switching.
• Duty cycle in digital mode: Maximum 1 minute of TX, minimum 15 seconds of RX. Note that the output
power may gradually decrease due to heating of components in the amplifier and transceiver. Cycle for
FT8 has been tested by more than 5 hours of QSO.
. Temperature range: 14 F to 167 F (-10 C to +75 C). Do not install the device in environments with
temperatures above +40 C (+104 F)..."

[W9AC]

You can download the Lux operation manual on km3km.com.

From the operating manuals, the Lux is limited to 800W output when using digital modes, but further limited to 700W when used with the optional MercuryAT ATU.  According to the manual specs, the ATU also limits Lux power to 1200W on SSB and 1,000W CW.

https://www.km3km.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AT-Operation-Manual-v1.3.pdf

As a cost comparison between the Lux and RF-Kit amp for a purchase in my state of Florida:

Mercury Lux Amplifier:    $4300
Mercury AT ATU:             $795
7.5% sales tax:              $382

Total:                            $5477 (with free shipping)

RF-Kit with ATU:             $5490 (from my recent invoice)
7.5% sales tax:              $412 (not collected nor invoiced on sale)

Total:                             $5902 (with free shipping from Germany)

Paul, W9AC

[VE7RF]

You can download the Lux operation manual on km3km.com.

From the operating manuals, the Lux is limited to 800W output when using digital modes, but further limited to 700W when used with the optional MercuryAT ATU.  According to the manual specs, the ATU also limits Lux power to 1200W on SSB and 1,000W CW.

https://www.km3km.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/AT-Operation-Manual-v1.3.pdf

As a cost comparison between the Lux and RF-Kit amp for a purchase in my state of Florida:

Mercury Lux Amplifier:    $4300
Mercury AT ATU:             $795
7.5% sales tax:              $382

Total:                            $5477 (with free shipping)

RF-Kit with ATU:             $5490 (from my recent invoice)
7.5% sales tax:              $412 (not collected nor invoiced on sale)

Total:                             $5902 (with free shipping from Germany)

Paul, W9AC

It gets worse with the Mercury AT.   It's only rated for a lousy 300 watts on 6M.  They don't state if that is ssb/cw...or data modes.  Like u mentioned before, there is NO qsk on the LUX amp..and no option for it either.

[K7JQ]

No question that the RF-KIT is the best price on the market for a totally full-featured SS legal limit amp w/built-in ATU. The SPE Expert 1.5K-FA comes in a close second at $5,600. Not sure if they charge sales tax.

But if you don’t need a tuner, and you don’t run QSK nor more than 800W digital, the LUX can shave off a nice chunk of $$$. Unless they changed requirements, they don’t charge sales tax either.

[WA2EIO]

No question that the RF-KIT is the best price on the market for a totally full-featured SS legal limit amp w/built-in ATU. The SPE Expert 1.5K-FA comes in a close second at $5,600. Not sure if they charge sales tax.

But if you don’t need a tuner, and you don’t run QSK nor more than 800W digital, the LUX can shave off a nice chunk of $$$. Unless they changed requirements, they don’t charge sales tax either.

Also, the units have a transferrable warranty, and for out-of warranty repairs owner pays for shipping and parts, but there is NO labor charge.   

Both units have their advantages and dis-advantages (as do most products!) and I like the idea of supporting a small, U.S. based company that apparently makes a (reasonably!) good product.

An interesting article:
https://www.qrz.com/articles/an-innovator-of-today

[VE7RF]

No question that the RF-KIT is the best price on the market for a totally full-featured SS legal limit amp w/built-in ATU. The SPE Expert 1.5K-FA comes in a close second at $5,600. Not sure if they charge sales tax.

But if you don’t need a tuner, and you don’t run QSK nor more than 800W digital, the LUX can shave off a nice chunk of $$$. Unless they changed requirements, they don’t charge sales tax either.

The extra $400.00 for the RF-kit  from Germany is an absolute bargain..and then some.  For that u get qsk, 1.5 kw out on digital modes, and an ant tuner that's good for 1.5 kw.

Island amplifier in W6 land now handles the sales and any warranty work.  https://islandamplifier.com/product/rf-kit/

[W9AC]

...and I like the idea of supporting a small, U.S. based company that apparently makes a (reasonably!) good product.

It's probably more accurate to say that the Mercury products are assembled and distributed in the U.S., but designed in Russia:

http://www.rz1zr.ru/

As such, we should be mindful that we may be supporting a U.S. company and a Russian company.  I've no issue with that so long as there's full disclosure.

Paul, W9AC

[K7JQ]

No question that the RF-KIT is the best price on the market for a totally full-featured SS legal limit amp w/built-in ATU. The SPE Expert 1.5K-FA comes in a close second at $5,600. Not sure if they charge sales tax.

But if you don’t need a tuner, and you don’t run QSK nor more than 800W digital, the LUX can shave off a nice chunk of $$$. Unless they changed requirements, they don’t charge sales tax either.

The extra $400.00 for the RF-kit  from Germany is an absolute bargain..and then some.  For that u get qsk, 1.5 kw out on digital modes, and an ant tuner that's good for 1.5 kw.

Island amplifier in W6 land now handles the sales and any warranty work.  https://islandamplifier.com/product/rf-kit/

Yes, a bargain. But I refer you back to the second paragraph of what you're quoting me on . The difference is $1,190.

[K0UA]

...and I like the idea of supporting a small, U.S. based company that apparently makes a (reasonably!) good product.

It's probably more accurate to say that the Mercury products are assembled and distributed in the U.S., but designed in Russia:

http://www.rz1zr.ru/

As such, we should be mindful that we may be supporting a U.S. company and a Russian company.  I've no issue with that so long as there's full disclosure.

Paul, W9AC

Not designed in Russia.  It was designed and manufactured in Florida.  The Russian wrote the firmware. That is why the display looks nearly the same. The boards don't look alike at all.

[W9AC]

Not designed in Russia.  It was designed and manufactured in Florida.  The Russian wrote the firmware. That is why the display looks nearly the same. The boards don't look alike at all.

So, just to be clear, the Mercury IIIS shown in all the RZ1ZR videos in the link above were designed, assembled, and distributed in the U.S. then sent to RZ1ZR in Russia?

And RZ1ZR had no part whatsoever in the hardware design? 

Paul, W9AC

[VE7RF]

No question that the RF-KIT is the best price on the market for a totally full-featured SS legal limit amp w/built-in ATU. The SPE Expert 1.5K-FA comes in a close second at $5,600. Not sure if they charge sales tax.

But if you don’t need a tuner, and you don’t run QSK nor more than 800W digital, the LUX can shave off a nice chunk of $$$. Unless they changed requirements, they don’t charge sales tax either.

The extra $400.00 for the RF-kit  from Germany is an absolute bargain..and then some.  For that u get qsk, 1.5 kw out on digital modes, and an ant tuner that's good for 1.5 kw.

Island amplifier in W6 land now handles the sales and any warranty work.  https://islandamplifier.com/product/rf-kit/

Yes, a bargain. But I refer you back to the second paragraph of what you're quoting me on . The difference is $1,190.

How many typ ham ants are ruler flat across all 10 bands... none of em.  So a tuner will be required. The RF-kit comes with the tuner, so it's not optional...(like it used to be).  Any tube amp will handle a 2:1 swr.    SS amps won't.

IMO, if I'm spending that kind of money, I may as well spend a tiny bit more..and get the real deal.