I have also. The K3IO module is pretty fragile, it seems. Of all the
requests I've seen here on the reflector over the years for a
replacement item, the K3IO tops the list from my memory ... you can't
just buy a replacement from Mouser or Digi-Key like you can the input
diodes. And when it goes bad, the K3 becomes essentially useless for
contesting.
I keep saying that Elecraft should pass on the PC board artwork and
component specs (I assume that not all of them are standard devices) for
key discontinued modules to someone who might be interested in offering
replacement as a 3rd party. It's one of my key gripes with Elecraft
that they seem to have no interest in doing so.
Dave AB7E
On 6/22/2022 5:13 AM, Robie Elms wrote:
I have K3IO failures as well.
Robie AJ4F
On Wed, Jun 22, 2022, 6:57 AM Dr. William J. Schmidt <b...@wjschmidt.com>
wrote:
My K3 failures always come in the form of either K3IOx failures (extremely
common) or the 10W module. Everything else seems to hang together.
-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net <elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net>
On
Behalf Of Geert Jan de Groot
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 3:30 AM
To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net
Subject: [POSSIBLE SPAM] [Elecraft] Common K3 failure modes???
On 22/06/2022 02:50, elecraft-requ...@mailman.qth.net wrote:
With more K3 radios broken on the bench than working at my contest
station
(J68HZ) and NO spare modules to work with,
I am actually wondering about that. One of the magazines I read, the German
Funkamateur magazine, has a story each month about a group doing some
DXpedition and nearly every month they report about equipment getting
broken
during such an event. As these things often use Elecraft, there are reports
of K3's failing.
But I wonder the failure mode because the stories don't report anything
about that. I know of a few failure modes:
- Diodes at input blown up because of extremely strong signals
near-frequency. Bandfilters may help, as does careful frequency planning
and
some antenna distance. (ages ago I used a FT747 which uses a light bulb as
protection - after a heavy radio weekend I had the lightbulb open and one
of
the input coils fused!)
- PA kickback causing the low-power amplifier transistors to fail - there
has been discussion on the list to add transzorb diodes
- Encoders for filter settings etc may fail - easy to replace
- volume knob was bumped on, causing potmeter broken - just replaced it
- Plastic knobs cracked - partially solved by Elecraft warranty, partly
solved by buying new ones myself ($$$$ with shipping and customs)
- Audio amplifier dying because of a short circuit at the output. There is
a
mod kit for that.
I wonder about other failure modes. How does a K3 die at a contest station,
or a DXpedition, and what can be done to prevent?
What are the failures on the broken radios you are reporting about?
73,
Geert Jan PE1HZG
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