My Select-O-Matic Two

Jack6600

As homebrew project I designed and built a device I called the Select-O-Matic Two.

It's an Arduino based controller box for my shack that selects a remote controlled relay box. When I press the PTT on my Icom 7300, for example, it selects relay 3 and connects it to the KPA500 amplifier. When I key my Flex6600, it selects relay 2. Using a Visual Studio console I wrote on my shack computer, I can also remotely control the SOM2.

There are two Auxillary ports to control the FLex 6600 power. Aux1 turns off the Remote On/Off BNC and 10 seconds, when the Flex6600 shuts down (the power button is amber), it kills the 12v power supply. Aux2 controls the Flex On/Off remote without turning off the 12v power supply. To save money on my electric bill, at night I always shut down the power in my Shack.

I'm wondering if I'm harming the Flex 6600 my shutting down the power every night?

KD0RC

Wow Jack, that is very impressive!

The question of whether to shut down the Flex or leave it running 24/7 has been discussed many times here. I don't think it makes much difference in the longevity of the radio either way. I shut mine down every night and typically power it up when I get up in the morning. I don't usually power it up and down between uses during the day.

We get afternoon thunderstorms here during the summer, so I usually shut everything down for that, then power back on when the storm passes.