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Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

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Pete Smith N4ZR

Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

Is this problem on anyone's radar screen at Elecraft? We're in
lightning season again, and while I've done everything I can think of, I
live in fear of another U1 failure.

--
73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

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VE3GNO Daniel

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

Hi
I tried to use serial port isolator with 5 wires to get better lightning protection. I have 5 of these
http://www.ebay.ca/itm/RS-232-serial-port-photoelectric-isolator-/140677527776?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c108b8e0
with 5 wires dc separation. With my FT5K worked fine but for some reason with K3 is not working. I should investigate closer the root cause, maybe levels or maybe something else, that sounds like a plan for the next "electrostatic" season. THe idea to get separation on serial port makes me feel safer when comes to lightning.

73
VE3GNO Daniel

________________________________
From: Pete Smith N4ZR <[hidden email]>
To: Elecraft List <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 9:43:30 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

Is this problem on anyone's radar screen at Elecraft? We're in
lightning season again, and while I've done everything I can think of, I
live in fear of another U1 failure.

--
73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

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Mike Reublin

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

In reply to this post by Pete Smith N4ZR

Pete,

Two step process.

1) Watch the WX report.
2) If step 1 raises anxiety level above preset maximum, disconnect the
rig from everything.

<[;-o{>

73, Mike NF4L

On 5/24/12 9:43 AM, Pete Smith N4ZR wrote:
> Is this problem on anyone's radar screen at Elecraft? We're in
> lightning season again, and while I've done everything I can think of, I
> live in fear of another U1 failure.
>

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Jim Brown-10

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

In reply to this post by VE3GNO Daniel

On 5/24/2012 7:29 AM, VE3GNO Daniel wrote:
> I tried to use serial port isolator with 5 wires to get better lightning protection.

It would be hard to beat a K9YC serial cable -- CAT5 cable, with one
pair per circuit, the return of each pair bonded to the DB9 shell at
each end -- AND every chassis bonded together with short, fat copper.

see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf for details

73, Jim K9YC
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

In reply to this post by VE3GNO Daniel

I was using a serial port protector made by Tripp-lite when I lost my
second KIO3A, but the wire connecting my computer to a single-point
ground had come adrift, and several people commented that this probably
caused the failure. On the other hand, I have been using serial-port
controlled radios for 15 years at this QTH, and never had sucha failure
- perhaps the transceiver chips in those radios are just made tougher.

73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 5/24/2012 10:29 AM, VE3GNO Daniel wrote:

> Hi
> I tried to use serial port isolator with 5 wires to get better
> lightning protection. I have 5 of these
> http://www.ebay.ca/itm/RS-232-serial-port-photoelectric-isolator-/140677527776?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c108b8e0
> <http://www.ebay.ca/itm/RS-232-serial-port-photoelectric-isolator-/140677527776?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20c108b8e0>
> with 5 wires dc separation. With my FT5K worked fine but for some
> reason with K3 is not working. I should investigate closer the root
> cause, maybe levels or maybe something else, that sounds like a plan
> for the next "electrostatic" season. THe idea to get separation on
> serial port makes me feel safer when comes to lightning.
> 73
> VE3GNO Daniel
> *From:* Pete Smith N4ZR <[hidden email]>
> *To:* Elecraft List <[hidden email]>
> *Sent:* Thursday, May 24, 2012 9:43:30 AM
> *Subject:* [Elecraft] Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP
>
> Is this problem on anyone's radar screen at Elecraft? We're in
> lightning season again, and while I've done everything I can think of, I
> live in fear of another U1 failure.
>
> --
> 73, Pete N4ZR
> The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at
> www.conteststations.com
> The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net
> <http://reversebeacon.net/>, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
> spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
> arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
> Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]>
>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/>
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>
>

VE3GNO Daniel

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

Hi Pete,

Look for serial port isolators that are not only on signal wires but also isolating grounds, optically. Tripplite are jokes when comes to real protection, just some MOV's and that's all . I've seen few years ago a switching power supply blowing up the serial port because of bad decoupling inside of it, so I learned my lesson to always spend more on computer PS to avoid expensive damage on my shack caused by crappy design. Is well known the comp PS, laptops or desktops are very very cheap, design is minimal and noise is maximal :-)). Sometimes I wonder how they passed UL on the other hand surprisingly the older PS's are more robust and better engineered. If you look on price/watt no wonder are so crappy, my biggest concern is not the lighning but the computer connection to radios, look how much costs price/watt from Astron and how much is a regular 650W or more PS and you'll see the difference in quality. On my computer now I've placed all kind
of snappon ferrites inside of computer, AC filters and replaced marginal electrolitics caps and MOV's with better ones and the RF noise is waaay down now.

73
VE3GNO Daniel

________________________________
From: Pete Smith N4ZR <[hidden email]>
To: Elecraft List <[hidden email]>
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 2:52:00 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

I was using a serial port protector made by Tripp-lite when I lost my
second KIO3A, but the wire connecting my computer to a single-point
ground had come adrift, and several people commented that this probably
caused the failure. On the other hand, I have been using serial-port
controlled radios for 15 years at this QTH, and never had sucha failure
- perhaps the transceiver chips in those radios are just made tougher.

73, Pete N4ZR
The World Contest Station Database, updated daily at www.conteststations.com
The Reverse Beacon Network at http://reversebeacon.net, blog at reversebeacon.blogspot.com,
spots at telnet.reversebeacon.net, port 7000 and
arcluster.reversebeacon.net, port 7000

On 5/24/2012 10:29 AM, VE3GNO Daniel wrote:

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VE3GNO Daniel

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

In reply to this post by Jim Brown-10

Yapp, this is the way, use twisted CAT5/6/7 as serial cables, Jim is 100% correct.
The document on audiosystemsgroup is one of my RFI bibles, a "must read" by all hams
Tnx Jim,

VE3GNO Daniel

________________________________
From: Jim Brown <[hidden email]>
To: [hidden email]
Sent: Thursday, May 24, 2012 12:28:37 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

On 5/24/2012 7:29 AM, VE3GNO Daniel wrote:
> I tried to use serial port isolator with 5 wires to get better lightning protection.

It would be hard to beat a K9YC serial cable -- CAT5 cable, with one
pair per circuit, the return of each pair bonded to the DB9 shell at
each end -- AND every chassis bonded together with short, fat copper.

see http://audiosystemsgroup.com/HamInterfacing.pdf for details

73, Jim K9YC
______________________________________________________________
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
______________________________________________________________
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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John Bekema

Re: Improved KIO3A Immunity to EMP

In reply to this post by Pete Smith N4ZR

What about this solution:

http://www.hjelmslund.dk/USB232.asp

John OH2GBA

2012/5/24 Pete Smith N4ZR <[hidden email]>:
> Is this problem on anyone's radar screen at Elecraft? We're in
> lightning season again, and while I've done everything I can think of, I
> live in fear of another U1 failure.
______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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