[Elecraft] HI CUR on 15 meters
I get a HI CUR warning on 15 meters when connected to my 40 meter dipole. I can only run about 7 Watts before the limit (2.5 amps) is reached. I am getting full output (12 Watts) and about 2.25 amps draw when the dummy load is connected. My SWR is ok on 15--about 1.4:1--and I am getting out ok. 40 is fine. I have some TVI issues on 15 but I think that is a separate issue. This is a stock K2 with no upgrades. ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] HI CUR on 15 meters
Kirk, There are several possibilities. On the K2 side, you could have one too many turns on L23 and/or L24 causing the LPF to be tuned a bit too low. This usually shows up with a test on a dummy load, but is worth checking anyway. At your antenna, the SWR alone does not tell the whole story - what is the resistance and the reactance when measured with an antenna analyzer? If there is a significant amount of reactance, it could de-tune the low pass filter in the K2, and if the resistive element is not near 50 ohms, that will also tend to cause problems. If the Low Pass filter is found to be OK, you could try lengthing or shortening your feedline and electrical 1/8 wavelength for 15 meters at a time (up to 3/8 wavelength total) to see if you can achieve a feedpoint impedance that will work better. You could also use an antenna tuner with that antenna. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- I get a HI CUR warning on 15 meters when connected to my 40 meter dipole. I can only run about 7 Watts before the limit (2.5 amps) is reached. I am getting full output (12 Watts) and about 2.25 amps draw when the dummy load is connected. My SWR is ok on 15--about 1.4:1--and I am getting out ok. 40 is fine. I have some TVI issues on 15 but I think that is a separate issue. This is a stock K2 with no upgrades. -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.29/607 - Release Date: 12/28/2006 12:31 PM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
[Elecraft] HI CUR on 15 meters
While experimenting with 15 meters today, I noticed that when transmitting a CQ at 10 watts, HI CUR would appear intermittently on the display. I have never seen this on the lower bands (20 meters and down) where I do 99% of my operating. Turning the power down to 8 watts on 15 meters makes the problem go away. Any ideas? Do I just have the threshold set too low? BTW, thanks to those who pointed out, in response to my earlier question about silence on 20 meters, that the problem was likely just propagation rather than the unit. They were definitely correct, and I've worked a lot of 20 meter contacts since then. Cathy N5WVR ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
RE: [Elecraft] HI CUR on 15 meters
Cathy, There could be a variety of reasons for a Hi Cur - one is simply that your threshold is too low, or it could be associated with the particular load that the antenna presents to the K2 or it could be a problem with the low pass filter in the K2, or it could be your power supply voltage. I suggest that you check with a dummy load first to eliminate the antenna consideration - compare the current drawn at 10 watts on 15 meters with the current drawn on 20 and 17 as well as the current on 12 and 10 meters. If your CAL CUR threshold is set less than 2.5 amps then that alone can be adequate explaination - you can safely increase the CAL CUR level up to 3.5 or even a bit more if need be. If your power supply voltage is low, you will need to set the CAL CUR a bit higher than normal - 13.8 volts is considered normal. Check during a full power transmit to be sure you do not have excessive voltage drop in the cable to the K2. 73, Don W3FPR -Original Message- While experimenting with 15 meters today, I noticed that when transmitting a CQ at 10 watts, HI CUR would appear intermittently on the display. I have never seen this on the lower bands (20 meters and down) where I do 99% of my operating. Turning the power down to 8 watts on 15 meters makes the problem go away. Any ideas? Do I just have the threshold set too low? BTW, thanks to those who pointed out, in response to my earlier question about silence on 20 meters, that the problem was likely just propagation rather than the unit. They were definitely correct, and I've worked a lot of 20 meter contacts since then. Cathy N5WVR -- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: 7.5.432 / Virus Database: 268.15.15/580 - Release Date: 12/8/2006 12:53 PM ___ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
