4.4. Automatic Protection System
The ACOM 700S control unit (see Section 7.4 Using the Fault Codes (signatures) for Diagnostics) keeps track of
most amplifier analogue and logic signals in all modes.
Those are the receive/transmit control signal, the output relay contact state and switching times, the RF
drive frequency and drive power (the input power), the final transistors DC current and DC voltage on the
drains as well as, the gates bias voltage and the heat sink temperature, the main power-supply components
temperature, the RF output forward and reflected power, and others. Some derivative parameters, as the
power gain, the antenna SWR, and others, are watched too.
In the event a parameter limit is violated, the amplifier will assess the risk and will trigger one of the three
levels of protection, as described in items (a) to (c) below. Every event is accompanied by a warning text on
the screen (see Figure 4-4 | Appearance of an alarm message). A sound alarm will be also produced, if set on
in the USER PREFERENCES (see Figure 5-5 | Menu USER PREFERENCES).
Figure 4-4 | Appearance of an alarm message
Figure 4-4 | Appearance of an alarm message
a) First protection level - WARNING
The first (most forgiving) protection level is WARNING. When a value watched by the control unit
approaches the protection threshold, the transmission is not interrupted, but a message appears - for
example:
"DRIVE POWER TOO HIGH"
"DRAIN CURRENT TOO HIGH"
or another (see Figure 4-4 | Appearance of an alarm message).
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