Elecraft

K3 Lost power

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Gary Smith-2

K3 Lost power

Was in the middle of the CQ 160 contest and the K3 shut down. There
is power to the radio but it is dead in the water.

The power supply is working fine, power getting to the rig, but
nothing. No fuse on the chassis, any suggestions? Lousy time to lose
the rig.

Thanks,

Gary
KA1J

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Gary Smith-2

Re: K3 Lost power

I did to see if there was voltage at the plug & there is. I was in
the middle of transmitting and the radio went dead. No sign of life.
Power supply is working just fine.

Darn, I have put so much work into being ready for this contest.

Gary
KA1J

>
> Tried pulling the power cord and reconnecting? - GL - Steve WB6RSE
>
>
> On Jan 23, 2015, at 5:49 PM, Gary Smith <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Was in the middle of the CQ 160 contest and the K3 shut down. There
> is power to the radio but it is dead in the water.
>
> The power supply is working fine, power getting to the rig, but
> nothing. No fuse on the chassis, any suggestions? Lousy time to lose
> the rig.
>

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Gary Smith-2

Re: K3 Lost power

In reply to this post by Gary Smith-2

Hi Hank,

Just removed the K3 from its harness and tested the RCA jack to see
if it's shorted; Using the fluke it shows 500 ohms & when the probes
are reversed, there's an infinite reading so I'm assuming the diode
is intact.

Guess that's not this issue. Thanks for the idea though.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> Gary I had my K3 die in middle of qso - its turned out to be the reverse
> polarity diode that hangs from the 12v RCA jack to ground - it shorted dead
> (not a damn thing hanging on that RCA nor had there EVER been anything on
> it ) so that keeps the FET from letting the radio turn on -- check DCR
> from RCA jack to ground - just a chance --Its D35 a SMD 1N4007 or something
> like that if I remember -
>
> GL what a BUMMER -- 73 Hank
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gary Smith
> Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 6:49 PM
> To: [hidden email]
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Lost power
>
> Was in the middle of the CQ 160 contest and the K3 shut down. There
> is power to the radio but it is dead in the water.
>
> The power supply is working fine, power getting to the rig, but
> nothing. No fuse on the chassis, any suggestions? Lousy time to lose
> the rig.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Gary
> KA1J
>
>
> ---
> This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> http://www.avast.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
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> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>
>

Gary Smith-2

Re: K3 Lost power

Just a follow-up,

I found the problem and it is in the DC terminal strip that must have
a faulty component inside. It shows 13.8 V at the end of the wiring
harness but when I connected it to the K-3 it dropped down to .5 V. I
bypassed the terminal strip and connected to the power supply
directly and the radio turns on with no issues. The connections to
the terminal are tight so it has to be something internal.

No chance to really compete in the contest but at least I can get
back in the game and don't have to send the K-3 back home for
surgery.

Thanks again for the suggestion, I appreciate it.

73,

Gary, KA1J

> Hi Hank,
>
> Just removed the K3 from its harness and tested the RCA jack to see
> if it's shorted; Using the fluke it shows 500 ohms & when the probes
> are reversed, there's an infinite reading so I'm assuming the diode
> is intact.
>
> Guess that's not this issue. Thanks for the idea though.
>
> 73,
>
> Gary
> KA1J
>
>
> > Gary I had my K3 die in middle of qso - its turned out to be the reverse
> > polarity diode that hangs from the 12v RCA jack to ground - it shorted dead
> > (not a damn thing hanging on that RCA nor had there EVER been anything on
> > it ) so that keeps the FET from letting the radio turn on -- check DCR
> > from RCA jack to ground - just a chance --Its D35 a SMD 1N4007 or something
> > like that if I remember -
> >
> > GL what a BUMMER -- 73 Hank
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Gary Smith
> > Sent: Friday, January 23, 2015 6:49 PM
> > To: [hidden email]
> > Subject: [Elecraft] K3 Lost power
> >
> > Was in the middle of the CQ 160 contest and the K3 shut down. There
> > is power to the radio but it is dead in the water.
> >
> > The power supply is working fine, power getting to the rig, but
> > nothing. No fuse on the chassis, any suggestions? Lousy time to lose
> > the rig.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Gary
> > KA1J
> >
> >
> > ---
> > This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software.
> > http://www.avast.com
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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
> > Message delivered to [hidden email]
> >
> >
>
>
>
>
> ---
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> http://www.avast.com
>
> ______________________________________________________________
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Phil Wheeler-2

Re: K3 Lost power

"don't have to send the K-3 back home for
surgery": Good to hear, Gary!

Phil W7OX

On 1/23/15 8:07 PM, Gary Smith wrote:

> Just a follow-up,
>
> I found the problem and it is in the DC terminal strip that must have
> a faulty component inside. It shows 13.8 V at the end of the wiring
> harness but when I connected it to the K-3 it dropped down to .5 V. I
> bypassed the terminal strip and connected to the power supply
> directly and the radio turns on with no issues. The connections to
> the terminal are tight so it has to be something internal.
>
> No chance to really compete in the contest but at least I can get
> back in the game and don't have to send the K-3 back home for
> surgery.
>
> Thanks again for the suggestion, I appreciate it.
>
> 73,
>
> Gary, KA1J

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Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 Lost power

In reply to this post by Gary Smith-2

Gary,

I would submit that it is something internal -- but internal to the
wiring harness or the terminal strip that you are using.

The direct connection to the power source should indicate that this is
not a K3 problem.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/23/2015 11:07 PM, Gary Smith wrote:

Gary Smith-2

Re: K3 Lost power

Hi Don,

Yes, the problem is indeed in the terminal strip. Interesting that no
load shows 13.8V but when connected to the K3 and the K3 is off, it
then shows .5V at the terminal strip. Apparently everything else
running off that strip is doing fine so it has to be at that
junction.

Now I'm just running it off the Astron directly and it's doing fine.
Never had a problem with the strip before, something new to get my
VOM & soldering rig onto!

:)

73,

Gary
KA1J

> Gary,
>
> I would submit that it is something internal -- but internal to the
> wiring harness or the terminal strip that you are using.
>
> The direct connection to the power source should indicate that this is
> not a K3 problem.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 1/23/2015 11:07 PM, Gary Smith wrote:
> > Just a follow-up,
> >
> > I found the problem and it is in the DC terminal strip that must have
> > a faulty component inside. It shows 13.8 V at the end of the wiring
> > harness but when I connected it to the K-3 it dropped down to .5 V. I
> > bypassed the terminal strip and connected to the power supply
> > directly and the radio turns on with no issues. The connections to
> > the terminal are tight so it has to be something internal.
> >
> > No chance to really compete in the contest but at least I can get
> > back in the game and don't have to send the K-3 back home for
> > surgery.
> >
> >
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>
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>