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K3 always 100 W

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Pedro, EA4KD

K3 always 100 W

From yesterday my k3 always gives 100 w in any band although select any
other power from 0 to 100, always 100 w in the external meter.

Also the swr display shows "- -" and power 0 in any case.

Does anyone know where I can look for the problem?

73 DX de Pedro, EA4KD

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Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 always 100 W

Pedro,

If it were a K2, I could tell you that the diodes in the wattmeter have
been damaged and need to be replaced. Those symptoms are almost the same.

The K3 controls power in a similar manner, and I would suggest you start
with the wattmeter - I believe it is on the KAT3 board in the K3.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/8/2020 2:39 PM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:
>>From yesterday my k3 always gives 100 w in any band although select any
> other power from 0 to 100, always 100 w in the external meter.
>
> Also the swr display shows "- -" and power 0 in any case.
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Pedro, EA4KD

Re: K3 always 100 W

Thank you very much Don;

I have been testing and when do a tune the power is always 100 w although I have it set to 15 w in the TUN PWR menu., always 100 w.

In normal operation, cw or ssb, I can choose the power between 0 and 100 w without problem.

I will start checking the wattmeter.

Thank you very much for your help.

73 DX de Pedro, EA4KD

-----Mensaje original-----
De: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Enviado el: sábado, 08 de febrero de 2020 20:55
Para: Pedro, EA4KD; [hidden email]
Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W

Pedro,

If it were a K2, I could tell you that the diodes in the wattmeter have
been damaged and need to be replaced. Those symptoms are almost the same.

The K3 controls power in a similar manner, and I would suggest you start
with the wattmeter - I believe it is on the KAT3 board in the K3.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/8/2020 2:39 PM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:
>>From yesterday my k3 always gives 100 w in any band although select any
> other power from 0 to 100, always 100 w in the external meter.
>
> Also the swr display shows "- -" and power 0 in any case.

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Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 always 100 W

Pedro,

If it is not present with a long keydown in CW, and only in TUNE, the
wattmeter is NOT the problem.
Check your K3 menu for the setting of TUN PWR.
What does ATU TUNE do?

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/9/2020 2:56 AM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:

> Thank you very much Don;
>
> I have been testing and when do a tune the power is always 100 w although I have it set to 15 w in the TUN PWR menu., always 100 w.
>
> In normal operation, cw or ssb, I can choose the power between 0 and 100 w without problem.
>
> I will start checking the wattmeter.
>
> Thank you very much for your help.
>
> 73 DX de Pedro, EA4KD
>
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Enviado el: sábado, 08 de febrero de 2020 20:55
> Para: Pedro, EA4KD; [hidden email]
> Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W
>
> Pedro,
>
> If it were a K2, I could tell you that the diodes in the wattmeter have
> been damaged and need to be replaced. Those symptoms are almost the same.
>
> The K3 controls power in a similar manner, and I would suggest you start
> with the wattmeter - I believe it is on the KAT3 board in the K3.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/8/2020 2:39 PM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:
>> >From yesterday my k3 always gives 100 w in any band although select any
>> other power from 0 to 100, always 100 w in the external meter.
>>
>> Also the swr display shows "- -" and power 0 in any case.

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Pedro, EA4KD

Re: K3 always 100 W

Don;

TUN PWR it´s on 15 and haven´t ATU.

Pedro, EA4KD

-----Mensaje original-----
De: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
Enviado el: domingo, 09 de febrero de 2020 14:02
Para: Pedro, EA4KD; [hidden email]
Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W

Pedro,

If it is not present with a long keydown in CW, and only in TUNE, the
wattmeter is NOT the problem.
Check your K3 menu for the setting of TUN PWR.
What does ATU TUNE do?

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/9/2020 2:56 AM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:

Don Wilhelm

Re: K3 always 100 W

Pedro,

Email support at elecraft.com.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 2/9/2020 8:53 AM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:

> Don;
>
> TUN PWR it´s on 15 and haven´t ATU.
>
> Pedro, EA4KD
>
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
> Enviado el: domingo, 09 de febrero de 2020 14:02
> Para: Pedro, EA4KD; [hidden email]
> Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W
>
> Pedro,
>
> If it is not present with a long keydown in CW, and only in TUNE, the
> wattmeter is NOT the problem.
> Check your K3 menu for the setting of TUN PWR.
> What does ATU TUNE do?
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 2/9/2020 2:56 AM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:
>> Thank you very much Don;
>>
>> I have been testing and when do a tune the power is always 100 w although I have it set to 15 w in the TUN PWR menu., always 100 w.
>>
>> In normal operation, cw or ssb, I can choose the power between 0 and 100 w without problem.
>>
>> I will start checking the wattmeter.
>>
>> Thank you very much for your help.
>>
>> 73 DX de Pedro, EA4KD
>>
>> -----Mensaje original-----
>> De: Don Wilhelm [mailto:[hidden email]]
>> Enviado el: sábado, 08 de febrero de 2020 20:55
>> Para: Pedro, EA4KD; [hidden email]
>> Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W
>>
>> Pedro,
>>
>> If it were a K2, I could tell you that the diodes in the wattmeter have
>> been damaged and need to be replaced. Those symptoms are almost the same.
>>
>> The K3 controls power in a similar manner, and I would suggest you start
>> with the wattmeter - I believe it is on the KAT3 board in the K3.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 2/8/2020 2:39 PM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:
>>> >From yesterday my k3 always gives 100 w in any band although select any
>>> other power from 0 to 100, always 100 w in the external meter.
>>>
>>> Also the swr display shows "- -" and power 0 in any case.
>

KeithWE6R

Re: K3 always 100 W

Administrator

In reply to this post by Pedro, EA4KD

It could be D36 & 37 on the RF board. Earlier ones (1st few thousand)
had weak components. But any of them can fail and usually there is
runaway power out.
If that is not it, look for burned components under the KANT3 board
around T4 or on the underside near D36 & 37 look for burnt traces.
If it is older than about #5500, it could be front panel tin pin
oxidation, replaced them with gold.
Keith
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Pedro, EA4KD

Re: K3 always 100 W

Thank you very much Keith and Don. Until today I haven´t had time to review
the possible failures.
I have checked and the D37 is failing so I am going to replace both D36 and
D37, what kind of diodes should I buy to replace them?
I have also checked the rest of possible and failures and everything seems
ok.

After about 100k QSO this is second fault, firts changed the pin in the back
panel about the 12 V error problem.

K3, great rig.

Pedro, EA4KD
K3 #188

-----Mensaje original-----
De: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] En nombre de Keith Trinity WE6R
Enviado el: martes, 11 de febrero de 2020 1:06
Para: [hidden email]
Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W

It could be D36 & 37 on the RF board. Earlier ones (1st few thousand)
had weak components. But any of them can fail and usually there is
runaway power out.
If that is not it, look for burned components under the KANT3 board
around T4 or on the underside near D36 & 37 look for burnt traces.
If it is older than about #5500, it could be front panel tin pin
oxidation, replaced them with gold.
Keith
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KeithWE6R

Re: K3 always 100 W

Administrator

D36 & 37 on the RF board are;
Elecraft # E560048;
BAS70INCT Diode, 70V, SOT23 Digikey BAS70INTR-ND

On 2/22/2020 5:04 AM, Pedro, EA4KD wrote:

> Thank you very much Keith and Don. Until today I haven´t had time to review
> the possible failures.
> I have checked and the D37 is failing so I am going to replace both D36 and
> D37, what kind of diodes should I buy to replace them?
> I have also checked the rest of possible and failures and everything seems
> ok.
>
> After about 100k QSO this is second fault, firts changed the pin in the back
> panel about the 12 V error problem.
>
> K3, great rig.
>
> Pedro, EA4KD
> K3 #188
>
> -----Mensaje original-----
> De: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] En nombre de Keith Trinity WE6R
> Enviado el: martes, 11 de febrero de 2020 1:06
> Para: [hidden email]
> Asunto: Re: [Elecraft] K3 always 100 W
>
> It could be D36 & 37 on the RF board. Earlier ones (1st few thousand)
> had weak components. But any of them can fail and usually there is
> runaway power out.
> If that is not it, look for burned components under the KANT3 board
> around T4 or on the underside near D36 & 37 look for burnt traces.
> If it is older than about #5500, it could be front panel tin pin
> oxidation, replaced them with gold.
> Keith
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>
>