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K3 #4407 - dead

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Gary Dezern

K3 #4407 - dead

4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by electrocution (from lightning.)

It turns on, but even after an EE INIT, I'm still getting a KP3IO error. There's a god awful noise coming from the speaker when its turned on even with no antenna attached. Sounds like wind howling or something. The autotuner sounds like marbles rattling around instead of relays clicking. The KPA100 tests are all whacked out: PAIO TST turns on the fans. FN1 turns them both on at full speed. FN2 turns them both off. FN3 turns them back on again. FN4 drops the fans back off again.

I opened the top, but there's no obvious damage inside... nothing is burned that I can see.

I also lost the computer that was attached to the K3... as a matter of fact, the USB/serial adapter actually blew apart. The shell of the DB9 was scattered on the floor under my desk and the little circuit board inside is scorched. That computer won't turn on. No visible damage I can see inside.

Another machine, a NAS, that wasn't connected to the radio or even on the same power circuit also died.

I haven't seen any other obvious damage yet.

I hope my insurance covers this... if so, Elecraft can be expecting to see another order from me soon. (Strange way to get a repeat customer, eh?)

Gary / k3wow (formally k3 4407)

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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

Ouch, and such a young one too! There's a message here - when Ma Nature
visits with lightning, unless you're an electrical engineer with a
perfect station configuration, the only relatively secure way to do
things is to disconnect everything. Even a relatively short length of
cable (RS-232, network, whatever) can pick up enough induced voltage
from a nearby strike to do damage.

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

On 8/12/2010 7:13 AM, Gary Dezern wrote:

> 4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by electrocution (from lightning.)
>
> It turns on, but even after an EE INIT, I'm still getting a KP3IO error. There's a god awful noise coming from the speaker when its turned on even with no antenna attached. Sounds like wind howling or something. The autotuner sounds like marbles rattling around instead of relays clicking. The KPA100 tests are all whacked out: PAIO TST turns on the fans. FN1 turns them both on at full speed. FN2 turns them both off. FN3 turns them back on again. FN4 drops the fans back off again.
>
> I opened the top, but there's no obvious damage inside... nothing is burned that I can see.
>
> I also lost the computer that was attached to the K3... as a matter of fact, the USB/serial adapter actually blew apart. The shell of the DB9 was scattered on the floor under my desk and the little circuit board inside is scorched. That computer won't turn on. No visible damage I can see inside.
>
> Another machine, a NAS, that wasn't connected to the radio or even on the same power circuit also died.
>
> I haven't seen any other obvious damage yet.
>
> I hope my insurance covers this... if so, Elecraft can be expecting to see another order from me soon. (Strange way to get a repeat customer, eh?)
>
> Gary / k3wow (formally k3 4407)
>
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>
>

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MontyS

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

Hear, hear. Second the motion. I have 16 cables to disconnect and do it
religiously - Florida is the lightning capital of the universe. (Of course,
when my K3 s/n# 699 was brand new, I didn't bother. Thank you, Gary and
Elecraft, for restoring it 2 years ago.)

Monty K2DLJ

> Ouch, and such a young one too! There's a message here - when Ma Nature
> visits with lightning, unless you're an electrical engineer with a
> perfect station configuration, the only relatively secure way to do
> things is to disconnect everything. Even a relatively short length of
> cable (RS-232, network, whatever) can pick up enough induced voltage
> from a nearby strike to do damage.
>
>
> 73, Pete N4ZR

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N7US

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by Gary Dezern

Dont assume that you have to replace the radio. Several boards had to be
replaced (over $1600) in mine after an April strike, but the modularity of
the radio made it possible to repair it. I wanted to keep the insurance
claim as low as I could as I had other damage, but I would have replaced the
radio if it were necessary. René at Elecraft did a great job.

I had what I thought was a very good ground system, but it was a huge strike
and I hadn't disconnected. (That was an expensive lesson!)

My K3 damage came from the RS232 as well, I think. I have wireless
internet, a Motorola Canopy unit mounted then on my tower. One of the
lightning paths was down the Ethernet line from the tower, through a
Motorola lightning arrestor on my grounding panel at the house entrance, and
to the computer router, which was damaged. It zapped (technical term) my
computer's NIC and the 4-port ByteRunner serial card and continued on to the
radio, I think. No damage came through the coax (two ICE arrestors).

I moved the internet unit off my tower and made other improvements,
including adding a Tripp-Lite DB9 surge protector (MOVs, I assume) at the
K3. My new computer is connected to the router via RF instead of Ethernet
even though it's only a few feet away.

Jim N7US

-----Original Message-----

4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors
couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by
electrocution (from lightning.)

It turns on, but even after an EE INIT, I'm still getting a KP3IO error.
There's a god awful noise coming from the speaker when its turned on even
with no antenna attached. Sounds like wind howling or something. The
autotuner sounds like marbles rattling around instead of relays clicking.
The KPA100 tests are all whacked out: PAIO TST turns on the fans. FN1
turns them both on at full speed. FN2 turns them both off. FN3 turns them
back on again. FN4 drops the fans back off again.

I opened the top, but there's no obvious damage inside... nothing is burned
that I can see.

I also lost the computer that was attached to the K3... as a matter of fact,
the USB/serial adapter actually blew apart. The shell of the DB9 was
scattered on the floor under my desk and the little circuit board inside is
scorched. That computer won't turn on. No visible damage I can see inside.

Another machine, a NAS, that wasn't connected to the radio or even on the
same power circuit also died.

I haven't seen any other obvious damage yet.

I hope my insurance covers this... if so, Elecraft can be expecting to see
another order from me soon. (Strange way to get a repeat customer, eh?)

Gary / k3wow (formally k3 4407)

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W8JI

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by MontyS

I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when
lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete
disconnect.

The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with
protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99%
of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection
devices we throw into the system.

I'm not saying you should not use protection devices, just that they are not
anywhere near the solution.

We have got to start thinking in terms of ground loops or common mode paths
through the gear, and not depending on devices that let 700 volts in or out
to protect solid state devices. It's the poor lead routing and ground
bonding that really kills our gear. Especially when the power mains ground
and the shack ground have any significant impedance between them.

73 Tom

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Guy, K2AV

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

Totally agree in the majority, but with years in the fire department....

Lightning strikes tree next to house. Single point ground is 80 feet
away on far side of house. Lightning does not go to ground, and jumps
from trunk of tree to side of house leaving extensive burn mark on
trunk and side of house. Sets house on fire where it goes through
wall, follows wiring to bathroom where it jumps to copper water piping
and finally goes out the front. Destroyed power meter, toasted most
appliances, obviously water damage in bedroom end where "hot" sheet
rock had to be pulled down to get at fire in walls. Of the conductors
that were followed, only the copper pipe survived. Mostly charred
holes where the romex was pulled through the walls.

OR,

Lightning strikes power pole in area of very thin soil cover over what
is basically a miles wide rock ledge underneath. Lightning follows a
phone line into the house, ignores "grounds". Jumps from a telephone
jack across an open room, frying radio and computer equipment setting
on a table in the middle of the room with no cords of any sort
connected anywhere. Jumped from there to an inside power outlet,
emerged from a power outlet in the hallway, dissipating in a ball of
fire that chased owner down the hall and out the front door.

There's more...all conductors from top of pole to house, including
power company ground conductor to bottom of pole simply
gone...etc...but entertainment value aside...

So yes there ARE throw up your hands cases. In the above seriously
doubt anything could have been done. These are the folklore strikes.

BUT, BUT...

These kinds of things are way, way the tiny minority of events by
comparison, and seem to be more common because the grapevine
propagates and amplifies the gorilla and T Rex strikes for their
entertainment value. The great majority of events in the gray area can
be seriously reduced by attention as specified below, and allow one to
dodge altogether, or mostly or partly dodge, lesser events. One does
oneself a great service by careful planning for the lessor events.

At my house the lightning events that damaged something, mostly the
electronics in my HVA outside units, were strikes out in the woods
somewhere and all was an induced strike. HVA guys insist that my
units were 100% code-wired and I was lucky to have damage confined to
a single circuit board. My misfortune is to have them nearly 100' from
the SPG with long copper coolant pipes to the air handlers. And no,
wife will not hear of relocating them to front side of house near SPG.
Strategically, the error was not routing power to the west end of the
house. This happened because the original owner who was also the
builder, built the house in stages, middle first, east end, then west
end.

The most recent lightning event on my property involved a gorgeous
120' poplar tree where lightning literally turned the top half of the
tree into toothpicks in an explosion that scattered leftover poplar
all over a hundred foot radius. The base of the tree was near where my
driveway goes over the creek, and so also where where phone lines
cross the creek (54 inch drainage pipe under driveway). The lightning
fused conductors in the 4 and 6 pair cables enough that they had to
pick single conductors at the end of the cables to find two undamaged.

The lightning did NOT make it past the single point ground and the
telco gas tube protectors and did NOT damage the PILE of stuff
connected inside the house. MAYBE, just MAYBE a DSL modem that failed
a year later was related. But probably not. The little Motorola
beastie was one of a model which were failing of heat related problems
by the thousands, with which the repair guy was well acquainted.

Learn how to do grounds and protection right and just do it. In the
end, FAR less trouble to do it right. Only a hand's count or so of
the readers on this reflector will ever in their lifetimes have to
deal with the gorilla or T Rex strike that swamps protections blowing
up everything in its path.

73, Guy.

On Thu, Aug 12, 2010 at 10:32 AM, Tom W8JI <[hidden email]> wrote:

> I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when
> lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete
> disconnect.
>
> The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with
> protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99%
> of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection
> devices we throw into the system.
>
> I'm not saying you should not use protection devices, just that they are not
> anywhere near the solution.
>
> We have got to start thinking in terms of ground loops or common mode paths
> through the gear, and not depending on devices that let 700 volts in or out
> to protect solid state devices. It's the poor lead routing and ground
> bonding that really kills our gear. Especially when the power mains ground
> and the shack ground have any significant impedance between them.
>
> 73 Tom

Gary Dezern

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by N7US

I'm kind of new to this whole insurance claim thing... The person I spoke to on the phone from the insurance company was pretty insistent that they just wanted "replacement cost."

I asked the guy about one of the computers that I built myself from parts, and he didn't want to know about all that. He kept saying "just write down how much it will cost you to replace the whole computer." In that case, he suggested I put down the computer model as "Gary's Built" or something. It's possible, I guess, that some insurance companies just assume any electronic devices impacted by a lightning strike are considered a total loss. It's also possible that what I was told on the phone was wrong and once I get all the paperwork to fill out, the instructions will say something completely different. Whatever...

I'm not assuming I have to replace the radio, but if thats what my insurance company wants then I'm not going to argue with them. It'd certainly be much faster to order a brand new radio (even one pre-built) when compared to sending one in for repair with unknown damage resulting from a lightning strike.

I can add together the cost of all the parts in my kit preassembled, but that number will be invalid in a couple weeks when the prices go up. I called Elecraft and they don't have or can't give out the new price list, so I just have to give the "current" cost with a note saying that by the time they process the claim, the replacement cost will have gone up.

Oh well, my wife and children are safe, and there appears to be no damage to my home. The rest, while sad, doesn't really matter too much.

Take care / 73
Gary / k3wow (RIP k34407)

On Aug 12, 2010, at 8:58 AM, Jim McDonald wrote:

> Don’t assume that you have to replace the radio. Several boards had to be
> replaced (over $1600) in mine after an April strike, but the modularity of
> the radio made it possible to repair it.
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by Guy, K2AV

This was exactly my point - unless you have a letter-perfect
installation, leaving things connected and relying on a bunch of gas
tubes is a recipe for disaster. As Guy suggested, disconnection won't
always prevent damage, but remaining connected with less than
professionally designed and installed bonding schemes is just inviting it.

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

On 8/12/2010 12:50 PM, W8JI wrote:
> The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with
> > protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99%
> > of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection
> > devices we throw into the system.
>
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Pete Smith N4ZR

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by N7US

Just FYI, Tripp Lite says their DB9R uses avalanche diodes. From Wikipedia:

"A common application is protecting electronic circuits
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_circuit> against damaging high
voltages <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Overvoltage>. The avalanche diode
is connected to the circuit so that it is reverse-biased. In other
words, its cathode <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cathode> is positive
with respect to its anode <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anode>. In this
configuration, the diode is non-conducting and does not interfere with
the circuit. If the voltage increases beyond the design limit, the diode
suffers avalanche breakdown
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avalanche_breakdown>, causing the harmful
voltage to be conducted to earth. When used in this fashion they are
often referred to as clamper diodes
<http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clamper_diodes&action=edit&redlink=1>
or Transient voltage suppression diode
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transient_voltage_suppression_diode>
because they "clamp" the maximum voltage to a predetermined level.
Avalanche diodes are normally specified for this role by their clamping
voltage /V/_BR and the maximum size of transient they can absorb,
specified by either energy (in joules
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joule>) or /i/^2 /t/. Avalanche breakdown
is not destructive, as long as the diode is not allowed to overheat."

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

On 8/12/2010 8:58 AM, Jim McDonald wrote:
> I moved the internet unit off my tower and made other improvements,
> including adding a Tripp-Lite DB9 surge protector (MOVs, I assume) at the
> K3. My new computer is connected to the router via RF instead of Ethernet
> even though it's only a few feet away.
>
>
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Jim Brown-10

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by W8JI

On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:32:59 -0400, Tom W8JI wrote:

>I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when
>lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete
>disconnect.

>The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with
>protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99%
>of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection
>devices we throw into the system.

I strongly agree. Proper bonding is probably more important than protection
devices (although I wouldn't do without either). And IMPROPER bonding, or
missing bonding, is a common CAUSE of lightning damage. This is especially
true when shunt mode protection is in use (MOVs, for example).

73, Jim Brown K9YC

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Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

> I strongly agree. Proper bonding is probably more important than
> protection devices (although I wouldn't do without either). And
> IMPROPER bonding, or missing bonding, is a common CAUSE of lightning
> damage.

Not to be piling on ... but improper bonding will GUARANTEE lightning
damage. Any system that lacks proper bonding will assure that the
transceiver and computer are connected to two grounds that WILL have
a significant voltage difference in the event of a nearby lightning
strike or significant power surge.

As soon as the ground potentials diverge by more than 5 Volts you have
the possibility that logic devices will be damaged due to "reverse
voltage" when the chassis ("ground potential") in one device goes
above the power supply voltage in the other device. This can happen
if the RF ground (coax shield) goes positive with respect to the
safety ground (grounding pin on the power cable) or if the safety
ground goes high with respect to the RF ground.

> This is especially true when shunt mode protection is in use (MOVs,
> for example).

MOVs on power distribution circuits can very easily cause the "safety
ground" to reach several hundred volts in improperly wired (open ground
or reversed ground and neutral) installations. Unless you are 100%
sure that your home/shack is properly wired and bonded, the *ONLY*
place you should have shunt mode protection is at the service entrance
(meter) or primary circuit breaker panel (what is known as "whole
house" protection).

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 8/12/2010 3:09 PM, Jim Brown wrote:

> On Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:32:59 -0400, Tom W8JI wrote:
>
>> I'm going to disagree with the popular but misplaced notion that when
>> lightning hits nothing can be done to prevent damage other than a complete
>> disconnect.
>
>> The real problem is almost always that people pepper the station with
>> protection devices but use poor wiring layouts or poor entrance schemes. 99%
>> of the protection is in the layout and bonding, not in the protection
>> devices we throw into the system.
>
> I strongly agree. Proper bonding is probably more important than protection
> devices (although I wouldn't do without either). And IMPROPER bonding, or
> missing bonding, is a common CAUSE of lightning damage. This is especially
> true when shunt mode protection is in use (MOVs, for example).
>
> 73, Jim Brown K9YC
>
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>

P.B. Christensen

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

If one absolutely insists on branch circuit protection at the AC receptacle,
MOV shunt mode from line-to-neutral, rather than line-to-ground, is
generally acceptable. These are referred to as "single-mode" surge
protection devices (SPD). By contrast, most receptacle and power strip SPDs
utilize the so-called "3-mode" MOV shunting and can produce the disastrous
results that Joe and K9YC have described.

Paul, W9AC

> Unless you are 100%
> sure that your home/shack is properly wired and bonded, the *ONLY*
> place you should have shunt mode protection is at the service entrance
> (meter) or primary circuit breaker panel (what is known as "whole
> house" protection).

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Gary Dezern

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

In reply to this post by Gary Dezern

Got a call from the insurance company today - they approved my claim. Probably a week or so before I see the check, and then I'll be calling up Elecraft for a replacement. Looks like I'll make it in time to avoid the price increase as well!

I'll likely configure the new one identically to the old: K3/100, KAT3, KBPF3, TCXO upgrade, KXV3A, KDVR3 and 2.8k/1.8k/6k/400 8 pole filters. This seemed to work out well for me.

The insurance company told me I could do whatever I want with the old K3 (and everything else that was damaged.) I wonder if I could salvage the 8pole filters and put them in the new radio... the savings would almost cover the deductible.

Take care and 73's
Gary / k3wow

On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:13 AM, Gary Dezern wrote:

> 4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very early death by electrocution (from lightning.)

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M0XDF

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

I advise sending your K3 to elecraft for them to look at with a view to replacing damaged parts, you could be looking at a 50% saving. Enough to purchase a P3 or KPA500 when available.
73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108
--
A child, like your stomach, doesn't need all you can afford to give it.
-Frank A. Clark, writer (1911- )

On 17 Aug 2010, at 07:56, Gary Dezern wrote:

> Got a call from the insurance company today - they approved my claim. Probably a week or so before I see the check, and then I'll be calling up Elecraft for a replacement. Looks like I'll make it in time to avoid the price increase as well!
>
> I'll likely configure the new one identically to the old: K3/100, KAT3, KBPF3, TCXO upgrade, KXV3A, KDVR3 and 2.8k/1.8k/6k/400 8 pole filters. This seemed to work out well for me.
>
> The insurance company told me I could do whatever I want with the old K3 (and everything else that was damaged.) I wonder if I could salvage the 8pole filters and put them in the new radio... the savings would almost cover the deductible.

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Guy, K2AV

Re: K3 #4407 - dead

Second that. Insurance is providing full replacement value and
probably a good deal is reuseable. Let Elecraft figure it out for
you. You will find you will be able to sell the busted radio if you
know what is bad, even if you decide to go with full replacement. All
the case and hardware, at minimum.

73,

On Tue, Aug 17, 2010 at 3:55 AM, David Ferrington, M0XDF
<[hidden email]> wrote:

> I advise sending your K3 to elecraft for them to look at with a view to replacing damaged parts, you could be looking at a 50% saving. Enough to purchase a P3 or KPA500 when available.
> 73 de M0XDF, K3 #174, P3 #108
> --
> A child, like your stomach, doesn't need all you can afford to give it.
> -Frank A. Clark, writer (1911- )
>
> On 17 Aug 2010, at 07:56, Gary Dezern wrote:
>
>> Got a call from the insurance company today - they approved my claim. Probably a week or so before I see the check, and then I'll be calling up Elecraft for a replacement. Looks like I'll make it in time to avoid the price increase as well!
>>
>> I'll likely configure the new one identically to the old: K3/100, KAT3, KBPF3, TCXO upgrade, KXV3A, KDVR3 and 2.8k/1.8k/6k/400 8 pole filters. This seemed to work out well for me.
>>
>> The insurance company told me I could do whatever I want with the old K3 (and everything else that was damaged.) I wonder if I could salvage the 8pole filters and put them in the new radio... the savings would almost cover the deductible.
>
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Gary Dezern

Re: K3 #4407 - dead; Long Live 4638!

In reply to this post by Gary Dezern

Had a visit from the Santa Clause in Brown (UPS man) today. Kit 4638 is
spread in front of me and I'm doing the part inventory!

I considered (very seriously) having Elecraft assemble this one for me, but
two things stopped me:

1. I didn't want to wait an extra week to get it preassembled

2. On my first build, the TCXO-1 was doing "strange" things that kept the
radio from working. It wasn't possible to diagnose over the phone, so I
had to send the entire thing back to California for them to look at it. As
a result, I was denied that first "It Works!" excitement and I'm hoping I
get that thrill this time.

Off to count screws I go!

Take care
Gary / k3wow

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Gary Dezern" <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 2:56 AM
To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 #4407 - dead

> Got a call from the insurance company today - they approved my claim.
> Probably a week or so before I see the check, and then I'll be calling up
> Elecraft for a replacement. Looks like I'll make it in time to avoid the
> price increase as well!
>
> I'll likely configure the new one identically to the old: K3/100, KAT3,
> KBPF3, TCXO upgrade, KXV3A, KDVR3 and 2.8k/1.8k/6k/400 8 pole filters.
> This seemed to work out well for me.
>
> The insurance company told me I could do whatever I want with the old K3
> (and everything else that was damaged.) I wonder if I could salvage the
> 8pole filters and put them in the new radio... the savings would almost
> cover the deductible.
>
>
> Take care and 73's
> Gary / k3wow
>
>
>
> On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:13 AM, Gary Dezern wrote:
>
>> 4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge
>> protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very
>> early death by electrocution (from lightning.)
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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
>
>

Phil Hystad-3

Re: K3 #4407 - dead; Long Live 4638!

Gary, the one thing I want to know is how did you create that lightning strike?

On Aug 27, 2010, at 3:54 AM, Gary Dezern wrote:

> Had a visit from the Santa Clause in Brown (UPS man) today. Kit 4638 is
> spread in front of me and I'm doing the part inventory!
>
> I considered (very seriously) having Elecraft assemble this one for me, but
> two things stopped me:
>
> 1. I didn't want to wait an extra week to get it preassembled
>
> 2. On my first build, the TCXO-1 was doing "strange" things that kept the
> radio from working. It wasn't possible to diagnose over the phone, so I
> had to send the entire thing back to California for them to look at it. As
> a result, I was denied that first "It Works!" excitement and I'm hoping I
> get that thrill this time.
>
>
> Off to count screws I go!
>
> Take care
> Gary / k3wow
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Gary Dezern" <[hidden email]>
> Sent: Tuesday, August 17, 2010 2:56 AM
> To: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 #4407 - dead
>
>> Got a call from the insurance company today - they approved my claim.
>> Probably a week or so before I see the check, and then I'll be calling up
>> Elecraft for a replacement. Looks like I'll make it in time to avoid the
>> price increase as well!
>>
>> I'll likely configure the new one identically to the old: K3/100, KAT3,
>> KBPF3, TCXO upgrade, KXV3A, KDVR3 and 2.8k/1.8k/6k/400 8 pole filters.
>> This seemed to work out well for me.
>>
>> The insurance company told me I could do whatever I want with the old K3
>> (and everything else that was damaged.) I wonder if I could salvage the
>> 8pole filters and put them in the new radio... the savings would almost
>> cover the deductible.
>>
>>
>> Take care and 73's
>> Gary / k3wow
>>
>>
>>
>> On Aug 12, 2010, at 7:13 AM, Gary Dezern wrote:
>>
>>> 4 grounding rods and two of those alpha delta gas discharge surge
>>> protectors couldn't stop mother nature. It appears my K3 has met a very
>>> early death by electrocution (from lightning.)
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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

Chuck Shefflette

Re: K3 #4407 - dead; Long Live 4638!

K3 #4407 is currently in the ICU on my bench, alongside K3 #4072, my original K3. The interesting is that the strike doesn't appear to have been through the antenna, there is no evidence anywhere in the RF path of any damage. Rather it seems that the entry point was the RS-232 connector since the major damage was to the KIO3 board - the RS-232 driver chip is missing its top! I have a new DSP and KIO3 coming from Aptos and the front panel board left today for repairs. Aside from that, I put the front panel and KIO3 from #4072 onto 4407 and it seems to work, more once I get the FP back from Aptos.

I have to send great thanks to the team at Elecraft, I've traded emails with several of them this week and they have all been very helpful and encouraging. Hopefully #4407 will be back on the air by next weekend and take its place next to #4072!

As a side note, for anyone who read Joel Hallas' (W1ZR) review of the K3 accessories in the August QST, contrary to what he says, the Oak Hills BNC conversion kits work just fine in a K3 with the KAT3. I have two of them with all BNC connectors sitting on my bench!

Phil Hystad-3 wrote

Gary, the one thing I want to know is how did you create that lightning strike?

On Aug 27, 2010, at 3:54 AM, Gary Dezern wrote:

> Had a visit from the Santa Clause in Brown (UPS man) today. Kit 4638 is
> spread in front of me and I'm doing the part inventory!
>
<snip...>

73 - Chuck, AA3CS

John Ragle

Re: K3 #4407 - dead; Long Live 4638!

There is an interesting point here, and perhaps a moral to Chuck's
story, based on a reading of our experiences along these lines. Perhaps
our story is of interest:

Our utilities are underground from the nearest sub-station (about a city
block). Our cable (and ISP) is fiber optic and also underground from the
region of the same sub-station to a utility pod across the street from
our house. The connection from the cable pod to the house is coax, also
buried about 1 ft below ground, but enters the house at the sill level
through a plastic box.

We have fairly frequent electrical storms here in FN32rk and it is our
practice to disconnect all antenna lines and unplug all 110 VAC
connections to our computers, of which there are 4 in the household.
Three of the household computers were (note past tense!) connected to
the router with cat 5e runs of ethernet cable, the longest of which was
about 60 feet long. The fourth was connected via WiFi.

Recently, in July, we had an electrical storm. The closest strike was
ca. 300-400 meters distant, judging from the timing. This strike took
out one of the hard-wired computers and one channel of the router. The
computer was the one most distant from the router, and was not
repairable (extensive damage to the MoBo). It was physically unplugged
from the utility line but was connected to the router.

At first blush, this is a rather peculiar occurrence. It does, however,
illustrate the quixotic nature of large surges/spikes from lightning
strikes. On the positive side, it illustrates the wisdom of using WiFi
connections to a router, rather than hard wiring. WLAN/USB adapters for
811g & n are available for only a few bucks from various dealers (Tiger,
etc.) We have been running our household using these devices for about 2
weeks now, and there doesn't seem to be any noticeable hit in speed. I
think it will remove one source of anxiety regarding lightning damage,
though I will continue to disconnect my antennas.

Apologies for this somewhat off-topic post...I sympathize with the fate
of Chuck's K3.

John Ragle -- W1ZI

=====

On 8/27/2010 2:06 PM, Chuck Shefflette wrote:
> ...interesting is that the strike doesn't appear to have been through
> the antenna, there is no evidence anywhere in the RF path of any damage.
> Rather it seems that the entry point was the RS-232 connector since the
> major damage was to the KIO3 board - the RS-232 driver chip is missing its
> top!

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Post: mailto:[hidden email]

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

Gary Dezern

Re: K3 #4407 - dead; Long Live 4638!

In reply to this post by Gary Dezern

The new rig is built and works fine. No longer 4407, I'm now "k3 - 4638." One thing I discovered while getting this new rig set up: The K3's ATU is amazing. I had nothing but an 8 foot length of RG8x attached to the rig (forgot to reattach at the service entrance) and this thing tuned it to 1:1. On 80m. Wow!

(The coax isn't damaged... I checked..)

On a sad note, I'll now have to wait an extra year or so before I can order a P3 if I want a matching serial number.

Take care and 73
Gary / k3wow

On Aug 27, 2010, at 6:54 AM, Gary Dezern wrote: