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K-3 with High Current Problem on 20 meters

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RLVZ

K-3 with High Current Problem on 20 meters

My K-3 has a high current problem on 20 and 30 meters but all of the other
bands are normal.

Example currents into a Dummy Load as read on both the K-3 and Astron PS
ammeters are:

-20 meters @ 40 watts draws 19 amps.
-20 meters @ 100 watts the "High Current" warning message comes on and
draws 28 amps on the Astron.

All other bands 160-6 meters, 40 watts draws an average of 12 amps and 100
watts an average of 20 amps.

Any idea what the K-3's problem is on 20 & 30 meters?

Thanks,

Dick- K9OM
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Jim Rogers, W4ATK

Re: K-3 with High Current Problem on 20 meters

My K3 exhibits the same problem on 20M. I have to reduce power down to 90W to run without the Hi Current warning with an antenna match of 1.1:1. All other bands, no problem. I upgraded from a 30A switcher to a 35A linear supply to see if that helped and there was no appreciable difference. I do run my station power through a RigRunner for power distribution. I am considering building a properly fused cable and trying a direct connection to the power supply, although the voltage sag on key down appears to be only about 0.8VDC.

73s Jim, W4ATK
On Jun 1, 2011, at 11:35 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> My K-3 has a high current problem on 20 and 30 meters but all of the other
> bands are normal.
>
> Example currents into a Dummy Load as read on both the K-3 and Astron PS
> ammeters are:
>
> -20 meters @ 40 watts draws 19 amps.
> -20 meters @ 100 watts the "High Current" warning message comes on and
> draws 28 amps on the Astron.
>
> All other bands 160-6 meters, 40 watts draws an average of 12 amps and 100
> watts an average of 20 amps.
>
> Any idea what the K-3's problem is on 20 & 30 meters?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dick- K9OM
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

JIM ROGERS, W4ATK
[hidden email]
http://web.me.com/jimrogers_w4atk
K3/100 P3
K2/10

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K5SM

Re: K-3 with High Current Problem on 20 meters

In reply to this post by RLVZ

Dick,

I have a similar problem on 20 meters, and (in my case) it seems to be
antenna related (although the swr is below 1.5:1). When I check it on a
dummy load, the current on 20 is normal.

Bob K5SM

On 6/1/2011 11:35 PM, [hidden email] wrote:

> My K-3 has a high current problem on 20 and 30 meters but all of the other
> bands are normal.
>
> Example currents into a Dummy Load as read on both the K-3 and Astron PS
> ammeters are:
>
> -20 meters @ 40 watts draws 19 amps.
> -20 meters @ 100 watts the "High Current" warning message comes on and
> draws 28 amps on the Astron.
>
> All other bands 160-6 meters, 40 watts draws an average of 12 amps and 100
> watts an average of 20 amps.
>
> Any idea what the K-3's problem is on 20& 30 meters?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Dick- K9OM
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Olli Tuppurainen

Re: K-3 with High Current Problem on 20 meters

I had the same problem on 10m.

My power supply ( 30A max ) had a voltage drop from 13.8V to 12.5V on 100W
output. I was instructed by Elecraft to " increase the power supply voltage
to 14.0 to 14.5VDC under no load, and make sure the is as direct of
connection as possible between the power supply " Then my power supply
voltage was dropping from 14.5V to 13.8V ( looking from K3 DC voltage meter
)

This cured my problem at least in home use.

B.R

Olli
OH6CT

> -----Alkuperäinen viesti-----
> Lähettäjä: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
> [hidden email]] Puolesta Robert Redmon
> Lähetetty: 2. kesäkuuta 2011 14:45
> Vastaanottaja: [hidden email]
> Kopio: [hidden email]
> Aihe: Re: [Elecraft] K-3 with High Current Problem on 20 meters
>
> Dick,
>
> I have a similar problem on 20 meters, and (in my case) it seems to be
> antenna related (although the swr is below 1.5:1). When I check it on a
> dummy load, the current on 20 is normal.
>
> Bob K5SM
>
> On 6/1/2011 11:35 PM, [hidden email] wrote:
> > My K-3 has a high current problem on 20 and 30 meters but all of the
> other
> > bands are normal.
> >
> > Example currents into a Dummy Load as read on both the K-3 and Astron
> PS
> > ammeters are:
> >
> > -20 meters @ 40 watts draws 19 amps.
> > -20 meters @ 100 watts the "High Current" warning message comes on
> and
> > draws 28 amps on the Astron.
> >
> > All other bands 160-6 meters, 40 watts draws an average of 12 amps
> and 100
> > watts an average of 20 amps.
> >
> > Any idea what the K-3's problem is on 20& 30 meters?
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Dick- K9OM
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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