Re: [Elecraft] My poor K3
Thanks Victor Will check all that today when I get back home Ron W5SUM Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 4, 2022, at 2:16 AM, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP > wrote: > > The guy who said to measure the voltage at the K3 gave you good advice. An > easy way to do this is to tap the DISP button and turn the VFO B knob until > it shows the voltage. Then see how much it drops during transmit. Since the > K3 tries to produce the requested power with whatever voltage it gets, low > voltage can cause excessive current draw. You should have at least 12v, > preferably more than 13v when transmitting a steady carrier. If it drops more > than half a volt when you transmit, there may be too much resistance > somewhere in the connection to the power supply. > > The other thing is that some combinations of resistance and reactance seen by > the final amplifier produce higher current draw than others. Maybe you are > seeing a combination of these effects. > > 73, > Victor, 4X6GP > Rehovot, Israel > Formerly K2VCO > CWops no. 5 > http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ >> On 03-Feb-2022 23:11, Ronnie Hull wrote: >> I have had my K3 back to Elecraft repair TWICE in less than a year >> Got it back finally yesterday and put it on the air this afternoon >> Running 80w on CW on 20M and getting a high current alarm. >> What the heck? Does it have to go back AGAIN? >> Man I was close to pulling the trigger on a K4 but all thoughts out the >> window now >> Anyone know what this might be? Using a 50Amp power supply >> Ron W5SUM >> Sent from my iPhone >> __ >> Elecraft mailing list >> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >> Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html >> Message delivered to k2vco@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] My poor K3
The guy who said to measure the voltage at the K3 gave you good advice. An easy way to do this is to tap the DISP button and turn the VFO B knob until it shows the voltage. Then see how much it drops during transmit. Since the K3 tries to produce the requested power with whatever voltage it gets, low voltage can cause excessive current draw. You should have at least 12v, preferably more than 13v when transmitting a steady carrier. If it drops more than half a volt when you transmit, there may be too much resistance somewhere in the connection to the power supply. The other thing is that some combinations of resistance and reactance seen by the final amplifier produce higher current draw than others. Maybe you are seeing a combination of these effects. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel Formerly K2VCO CWops no. 5 http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 03-Feb-2022 23:11, Ronnie Hull wrote: I have had my K3 back to Elecraft repair TWICE in less than a year Got it back finally yesterday and put it on the air this afternoon Running 80w on CW on 20M and getting a high current alarm. What the heck? Does it have to go back AGAIN? Man I was close to pulling the trigger on a K4 but all thoughts out the window now Anyone know what this might be? Using a 50Amp power supply Ron W5SUM Sent from my iPhone __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to k2vco@gmail.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] My poor K3
Are you sure that you are not causing it?My limited experience with Elecraft service is the best.I received a printed out report what had been done, why and by who.73, Lou KE1F. Sent from my Galaxy Tab® A Original message From: Ronnie Hull Date: 2/3/22 4:11 PM (GMT-05:00) To: Elecraft Subject: [Elecraft] My poor K3 I have had my K3 back to Elecraft repair TWICE in less than a yearGot it back finally yesterday and put it on the air this afternoonRunning 80w on CW on 20M and getting a high current alarm. What the heck? Does it have to go back AGAIN?Man I was close to pulling the trigger on a K4 but all thoughts out the window now Anyone know what this might be? Using a 50Amp power supplyRon W5SUM Sent from my iPhone__Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:elecr...@mailman.qth.netThis list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.htmlMessage delivered to lmecs...@cfl.rr.com __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com
Re: [Elecraft] My poor K3
Ronnie, Two thoughts: 1. What is your power supply output voltage with the K3 transmitting. This measurement should be made at the K3. It should be approximately 13 volts. 2. Try transmitting into a 50 ohm dummy load vs. your antenna. Is there any difference? 3. Repeat 1 with the K3 connected to the dummy load. These measurements may help you identify if you have a problem with the K3, your antenna or your power supply + cabling from the power supply to the K3. Robie AJ4F On Thu, Feb 3, 2022 at 3:13 PM Ronnie Hull wrote: > I have had my K3 back to Elecraft repair TWICE in less than a year > Got it back finally yesterday and put it on the air this afternoon > Running 80w on CW on 20M and getting a high current alarm. > What the heck? Does it have to go back AGAIN? > Man I was close to pulling the trigger on a K4 but all thoughts out the > window now > Anyone know what this might be? Using a 50Amp power supply > Ron W5SUM > > Sent from my iPhone > __ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to rule...@gmail.com > __ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com