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K3 Erratic output power

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n7ws

K3 Erratic output power

Has anyone come up with a permanent fix for the erratic output power problem? I'm not talking about the 100W PA issue, but the issue "solved" (temporarily) by loosening and re-tightening the screws in the metal standoff on the output board near the coax connector.

According to Murphy's Law, mine failed during the DX contest and the chase for TX5K QSOs. The screw technique worked for awhile but then I had to resort to tapping on the top of the case near the connector.

Maybe Elecraft can offer an optional hammer to be used for this purpose? (K3HAMMMER?)
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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Erratic output power

Wes,

I believe Elecraft has already implemented a fix for that in later K3s
(starting about a year ago) - at least there was talk about doing it and
supplying one 2D connector that was different then the others (with
threads removed from thee hole).
Removing the threads from the center hole of the 2D connector eliminates
the dependency for first tightening the screw (really tight) into the 2D
connector and then tightening the standoff (without loosening the screw).

So if you want to fix yours, drill out the center hole of the 2D
connector so the 1/2 inch screw can pass through it (1/8 inch drill
bit). The screw is then tightened when the standoff is added to the end
of the screw.

Be certain to hold the 2D connector in a vise or otherwise secure it
while drilling so it does not spin and cause injury.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/3/2013 8:45 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:

> Has anyone come up with a permanent fix for the erratic output power problem? I'm not talking about the 100W PA issue, but the issue "solved" (temporarily) by loosening and re-tightening the screws in the metal standoff on the output board near the coax connector.
>
> According to Murphy's Law, mine failed during the DX contest and the chase for TX5K QSOs. The screw technique worked for awhile but then I had to resort to tapping on the top of the case near the connector.
>
> Maybe Elecraft can offer an optional hammer to be used for this purpose? (K3HAMMMER?)
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n7ws

Re: K3 Erratic output power

I'll give that a try. Believe it or not, I worked TX5K on 20m RTTY while thumping the case during my exchange transmission.

--- On Sun, 3/3/13, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Erratic output power
To: "Wes Stewart" <[hidden email]>
Cc: "Elecraft Reflector" <[hidden email]>
Date: Sunday, March 3, 2013, 7:11 PM

Wes,

I believe Elecraft has already implemented a fix for that in later K3s (starting about a year ago) - at least there was talk about doing it and supplying one 2D connector that was different then the others (with threads removed from thee hole).
Removing the threads from the center hole of the 2D connector eliminates the dependency for first tightening the screw (really tight) into the 2D connector and then tightening the standoff (without loosening the screw).

So if you want to fix yours, drill out the center hole of the 2D connector so the 1/2 inch screw can pass through it (1/8 inch drill bit). The screw is then tightened when the standoff is added to the end of the screw.

Be certain to hold the 2D connector in a vise or otherwise secure it while drilling so it does not spin and cause injury.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/3/2013 8:45 PM, Wes Stewart wrote:

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gm3sek

Re: K3 Erratic output power

In reply to this post by n7ws

When first assembling the RF output connector and the KANT3/KAT3 board,
I didn't like the idea of using the long standoff pillar as a "ground"
return for large RF currents. The end of the pillar is actually quite
close to one of the mounting holes of the SO239, so a much shorter
return path can be made by using two solder tags, bent carefully so that
they overlap and then soldered together.

If Elecraft could supply a suitably drilled and twisted bit of metal,
problems in that upper rear right corner of the K3 might disappear.

73 from Ian GM3SEK

>-----Original Message-----
>From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
>[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wes Stewart
>Sent: 04 March 2013 01:45
>To: Elecraft Reflector
>Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Erratic output power
>
>Has anyone come up with a permanent fix for the erratic output power
>problem? I'm not talking about the 100W PA issue, but the issue
"solved"
>(temporarily) by loosening and re-tightening the screws in the metal
standoff
>on the output board near the coax connector.
>
>According to Murphy's Law, mine failed during the DX contest and the
chase
>for TX5K QSOs. The screw technique worked for awhile but then I had to
>resort to tapping on the top of the case near the connector.

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ke9uw

Re: K3 Erratic output power

I don't think I ever had the problem, but I drilled 7/64 out the 2D spacer and easily replaced it with only the cover removed.

Chuck, KE9UW
AARL, CCA
Lionel Trains TCA, LCCA, LRRC
aka Jack, BMW Motorcycles BMWRA, BMWMOA #224
________________________________________
From: [hidden email] [[hidden email]] on behalf of Ian White [[hidden email]]
Sent: Monday, March 04, 2013 1:06 AM
To: 'Wes Stewart'; 'Elecraft Reflector'
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Erratic output power

When first assembling the RF output connector and the KANT3/KAT3 board,
I didn't like the idea of using the long standoff pillar as a "ground"
return for large RF currents. The end of the pillar is actually quite
close to one of the mounting holes of the SO239, so a much shorter
return path can be made by using two solder tags, bent carefully so that
they overlap and then soldered together.

If Elecraft could supply a suitably drilled and twisted bit of metal,
problems in that upper rear right corner of the K3 might disappear.

73 from Ian GM3SEK

>-----Original Message-----
>From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
>[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wes Stewart
>Sent: 04 March 2013 01:45
>To: Elecraft Reflector
>Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Erratic output power
>
>Has anyone come up with a permanent fix for the erratic output power
>problem? I'm not talking about the 100W PA issue, but the issue
"solved"
>(temporarily) by loosening and re-tightening the screws in the metal
standoff
>on the output board near the coax connector.
>
>According to Murphy's Law, mine failed during the DX contest and the
chase
>for TX5K QSOs. The screw technique worked for awhile but then I had to
>resort to tapping on the top of the case near the connector.

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
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Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
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Chuck, KE9UW

n7ws

Re: K3 Erratic output power

In reply to this post by gm3sek

Thanks for this. I installed a couple of solder lugs (tags), bent them until they touched and soldered them together. I did this in situ on the operating bench. Probably could have done a better job in the workshop but DX was calling.

--- On Mon, 3/4/13, Ian White <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Ian White <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 Erratic output power
To: "'Wes Stewart'" <[hidden email]>, "'Elecraft Reflector'" <[hidden email]>
Date: Monday, March 4, 2013, 12:06 AM

When first assembling the RF output connector and the KANT3/KAT3 board,
I didn't like the idea of using the long standoff pillar as a "ground"
return for large RF currents. The end of the pillar is actually quite
close to one of the mounting holes of the SO239, so a much shorter
return path can be made by using two solder tags, bent carefully so that
they overlap and then soldered together.

If Elecraft could supply a suitably drilled and twisted bit of metal,
problems in that upper rear right corner of the K3 might disappear.

73 from Ian GM3SEK

>-----Original Message-----
>From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
>[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Wes Stewart
>Sent: 04 March 2013 01:45
>To: Elecraft Reflector
>Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Erratic output power
>
>Has anyone come up with a permanent fix for the erratic output power
>problem? I'm not talking about the 100W PA issue, but the issue
"solved"
>(temporarily) by loosening and re-tightening the screws in the metal
standoff
>on the output board near the coax connector.
>
>According to Murphy's Law, mine failed during the DX contest and the
chase
>for TX5K QSOs. The screw technique worked for awhile but then I had to
>resort to tapping on the top of the case near the connector.

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

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