ERR 12V on K3

[Derek Cohn/WB0TUA]

Hi Everyone,

I'm still learning how to use my K3 and thanks to the help of everyone on this list, I've been able to sprinkle in a few RTTY contacts with my CW.

A couple of days ago, I was on RTTY and ran into a problem.  I'm pretty sure (but not 100% certain) I had cranked the power down so it showed about 50W out on the K3 meter and was yapping away.  I had essentially finished the QSO and tried to send a couple of farewell characters and the transmitter didn't turn on.  I looked at the display and saw ERR 12V displayed.  I got out the manual and read the error could be do to the PA module dropping into bypass mode.  I power cycled the radio, and tried it in CW...I had about 5 watts out.  I think adjusted the power control until I had full power again.  So, I have two questions:

1) Did I overheat the K3 running it in RTTY to cause the ERR 12V to be displayed?

2) If I overheated the radio, should that have happened with the output at 50w on the K3 internal meter?

Thanks for any help you guys can give me!

73,

Derek Cohn
Morse Telegraph Club - Alton Chapter
Office UD, Sine DJ
Amateur Radio Station - WBØTUA
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[Bill VanAlstyne W5WVO]

Derek,

This exact failure mode happened to my K3 #888. An interesting commonality
is the fact that I also run digital modes (WSJT modes on 6 meters, in my
case) quite a bit. On mine, the failure mode was intermittent, though about
95% on the "fail" side. (I.e., it would only occasionally work correctly,
always when it was stone cold, and then would fail again quickly.) The
problem was traced with the help of Elecraft tech support to a faulty KPAIO3
board. They sent me one, I swapped it out, and the problem has never
recurred.

It's possible that running a 100% duty cycle digital mode caused a marginal
component on the KPAIO3 board to fail, but in any case, I would contact tech
support and get a KPAIO3 board sent out to you. Bet it fixes the problem. Be
prepared for a BEAR of an operation replacing this rather
difficult-to-get-to board. Fun!

Bill W5WVO


--------------------------------------------------
From: "Derek Cohn/WB0TUA" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, April 26, 2010 8:23 PM
To: <[hidden email]>
Subject: [Elecraft] ERR 12V on K3

> Hi Everyone,
>
> I'm still learning how to use my K3 and thanks to the help of everyone on
> this list, I've been able to sprinkle in a few RTTY contacts with my CW.
>
> A couple of days ago, I was on RTTY and ran into a problem.  I'm pretty
> sure (but not 100% certain) I had cranked the power down so it showed
> about 50W out on the K3 meter and was yapping away.  I had essentially
> finished the QSO and tried to send a couple of farewell characters and the
> transmitter didn't turn on.  I looked at the display and saw ERR 12V
> displayed.  I got out the manual and read the error could be do to the PA
> module dropping into bypass mode.  I power cycled the radio, and tried it
> in CW...I had about 5 watts out.  I think adjusted the power control until
> I had full power again.  So, I have two questions:
>
> 1) Did I overheat the K3 running it in RTTY to cause the ERR 12V to be
> displayed?
>
> 2) If I overheated the radio, should that have happened with the output at
> 50w on the K3 internal meter?
>
> Thanks for any help you guys can give me!
>
> 73,
>
> Derek Cohn
> Morse Telegraph Club - Alton Chapter
> Office UD, Sine DJ
> Amateur Radio Station - WBØTUA
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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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