A broken K3

[David Olean]

Hello again

I finally sorted out the problem with my brother , K0ZK's Elecraft K3.
It was an oldie with a serial number in the 300s and it died on him in
the middle of a QSO. It has been dead for about six months and he is not
in the best of health, so I figured I would try to fix it for him. 
Elecraft Tech Support came through even with all of the Virus conditions
rocking the entire economy. Symptoms were no TX or RX, but everything
seemed to be working as relays clicked as you changed bands, and the
dial indications seemed OK. I traced the problem to a missing
synthesizer signal to the first mixer and also the 2nd mixer on TX.  I
tried swapping out the synthesizer, but had no luck as the 2nd
synthesizer did not work either.  With the expert help and advice from
Tech Support I found that my synthesizer was missing the 8 VDC on one of
the connector pins. Checking the 8 volt rail, the resistance to ground
seemed OK, so I removed the 8 V regulator and supplied 8 volts from an
external current regulated power supply.  It pulled about 230 ma at 8
volts. The K3 took off and started working again with 8 volts supplied.
I had to do another synthesizer CAL, but after doing that, the rig is
good to go on all bands.

I was hoping that I had a new 8 volt regulator in my junque box. After
an exhaustive search I found everything BUT and 8 volt regulator, so I
will have to order one. I'll also get some upgrade kits from Elecraft to
bring K3 #387 into the 21st century. Gold pins are on top of the list.

Thanks for the excellent tech support help, Elecraft!

73

Dave K1WHS

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[Dave wo2x]

Great news Dave!
Your brother will be happy to get back on the air.

Tech support from Elecraft and the users on this group is excellent. Lots of knowledge that they are willing to share.

Dave wo2x

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of David Olean
Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2020 11:17 PM
To: Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] A broken K3

Hello again

I finally sorted out the problem with my brother , K0ZK's Elecraft K3.
It was an oldie with a serial number in the 300s and it died on him in the middle of a QSO. It has been dead for about six months and he is not in the best of health, so I figured I would try to fix it for him. Elecraft Tech Support came through even with all of the Virus conditions rocking the entire economy. Symptoms were no TX or RX, but everything seemed to be working as relays clicked as you changed bands, and the dial indications seemed OK. I traced the problem to a missing synthesizer signal to the first mixer and also the 2nd mixer on TX.  I tried swapping out the synthesizer, but had no luck as the 2nd synthesizer did not work either.  With the expert help and advice from Tech Support I found that my synthesizer was missing the 8 VDC on one of the connector pins. Checking the 8 volt rail, the resistance to ground seemed OK, so I removed the 8 V regulator and supplied 8 volts from an external current regulated power supply.  It pulled about 230 ma at 8 volts. The K3 t
 ook off and started working again with 8 volts supplied.
I had to do another synthesizer CAL, but after doing that, the rig is good to go on all bands.

I was hoping that I had a new 8 volt regulator in my junque box. After an exhaustive search I found everything BUT and 8 volt regulator, so I will have to order one. I'll also get some upgrade kits from Elecraft to bring K3 #387 into the 21st century. Gold pins are on top of the list.

Thanks for the excellent tech support help, Elecraft!

73

Dave K1WHS

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html Message delivered to [hidden email]

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to [hidden email]