K3 Switching to 10W

[Irwin KD3TB]

In the RTTY contest, my K3 is turning off the 100W amp.

I set the FP Temp to 19C and the PA to Nor. I set the power to 60W output.
After contesting for a while, I would get a ERR=12V error and the rig would
shut off the 100W amp. The Circuit Breaker does not open.  I switched out
Power Cords to make sure one did not develop a short? The K3 Fans would
occasionally turn on so I know the fans are working.

My first thoughts are my Astron Switching Power Supply was starting to give
me problems. Its over 10 years old and maybe it can not keep up.

To test that, I will need to wait until I can replace with another Power
Supply.

Any other suggestions on what to look for?

Thanks,
Irwin KD3TB
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[Don Wilhelm-4]

Irwin,

OK, the power supply is one possibility, but the ERR+12V is more telling.
Is your K3 an older one?  If so the pins which supply the 12V power to
the KPA3 may have been tin-plated.  Those were changed to gold pins in
later K3s.
The symptom is the ERR=12V message and KPA3 turning off.

That would explain your "fan" problem - the KPA3 would turn off before
it heated enough to cause the fans to turn on.

Contact Elecraft parts or K3support and ask that the gold pins for the
KPA3 be sent to you.
You may want to download the document at
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/KPA3%20Power%20Connector%20Replacement.pdf for
review.
The parts kit that you need is KPA3CONMDKT.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 1/3/2016 12:24 PM, Irwin Darack wrote:

> In the RTTY contest, my K3 is turning off the 100W amp.
>
> I set the FP Temp to 19C and the PA to Nor. I set the power to 60W output.
> After contesting for a while, I would get a ERR=12V error and the rig would
> shut off the 100W amp. The Circuit Breaker does not open.  I switched out
> Power Cords to make sure one did not develop a short? The K3 Fans would
> occasionally turn on so I know the fans are working.
>
> My first thoughts are my Astron Switching Power Supply was starting to give
> me problems. Its over 10 years old and maybe it can not keep up.
>
> To test that, I will need to wait until I can replace with another Power
> Supply.
>
> Any other suggestions on what to look for?
>
> Thanks,
> Irwin KD3TB
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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[Gary Smith-2]

Don probably gave you the correct answer, he has consistently good
advice.

You might though want to also check your Astron, if it is one of the
ones with adjustable current & voltage, Mine is the VS-35M. The
adjustment knobs are easy to bump and unexpectedly change the voltage
or current output. I've bumped mine before and caused my K3 to shut
down unexpectedly yet the K3 was lit up just fine.

I now have a piece of tape on the knobs so it won't happen again.

73,

Gary
KA1J

> In the RTTY contest, my K3 is turning off the 100W amp.
>
> I set the FP Temp to 19C and the PA to Nor. I set the power to 60W output.
> After contesting for a while, I would get a ERR=12V error and the rig would
> shut off the 100W amp. The Circuit Breaker does not open.  I switched out
> Power Cords to make sure one did not develop a short? The K3 Fans would
> occasionally turn on so I know the fans are working.
>
> My first thoughts are my Astron Switching Power Supply was starting to give
> me problems. Its over 10 years old and maybe it can not keep up.
>
> To test that, I will need to wait until I can replace with another Power
> Supply.
>
> Any other suggestions on what to look for?
>
> Thanks,
> Irwin KD3TB

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