K3 power drop and ERR 12V

[Mark Pride]

First time having an issue with my K3 - have the 100 watt module and today, got an error on the display indicating ERR12V and the power dropped.  Had to adjust upward to only reach 12 watts.
 
Need some guidance from the group - I hope the 100 watt module is not blown.  Please advise and thanks!

Regards,

Mark, K1RX 
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[W2RU - Bud Hippisley]

Mark --

Having gone through the "ERR 12V" experience a year ago, I can suggest:

1.  It might the a high resistance in the circuit breaker on the rear panel.
2.  It might be high resistance in the card edge connector pins that transport high-current 12VDC for the 100-w KPA3 module into and out of the KPAIO3 which is vertically positioned at the rear of the K3.  
3.  There are some other esoteric possibilities that are extremely low probability, so I won't go into them.

My circuit breaker was fine, but the contacts on the KPAIO3 board were not doing the job.  Elecraft sent me replacement pins for the connectors but in the interest of time I simply soldered two short jumpers (#12 or #14 insulated stranded wire) across the offending pin-pairs.  It takes longer to describe it than to do it.  It's an hour, start to finish, including taking one side panel off the K3 to get at the appropriate pins on the KPAIO3 and mating boards.

Support (Gary Surrency) at Elecraft has detailed info and pictures.  

Bud, W2RU



On Jan 4, 2013, at 7:14 AM, Mark Pride <[hidden email]> wrote:

> First time having an issue with my K3 - have the 100 watt module and today, got an error on the display indicating ERR12V and the power dropped.  Had to adjust upward to only reach 12 watts.
>  
> Need some guidance from the group - I hope the 100 watt module is not blown.  Please advise and thanks!
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark, K1RX

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[Mark Pride]

Found issue - when disassemblying the radio to access the multi pin connector, had to removed the wires from the circuit breaker.  One wire pulled out of the "crimped" lug connector.  Ended up removing some of the insulation on that connector and soldered the wire on (the crimp area was pretty messed up).  Works perfect now.  Thankfully did not have to go the full route of replacing pins but did see the discoloring, so at some point, this will probably rear its ugly head again.
 
Got a lot of help here - thanks great resource!  HNY all.

Regards,
 
Mark, K1RX

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: John <[hidden email]>
To: Mark Pride <[hidden email]>
Sent: Friday, January 4, 2013 8:23 PM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 power drop and ERR 12V

On 1/4/2013 6:14 AM, Mark Pride wrote:

> First time having an issue with my K3 - have the 100 watt module and today, got an error on the display indicating ERR12V and the power dropped.  Had to adjust upward to only reach 12 watts.
>  Need some guidance from the group - I hope the 100 watt module is not blown.  Please advise and thanks!
>
> Regards,
>
> Mark, K1RX
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Mark- Did you find the problem?  Have you checked the header connector on the main RF board for corrosion?  Some early k3's have had this problem.  Connector is where the KPA100 hooks up to RF Board.  You have to remove the KPA100 to check this.
A friend of mine had this problem with his k3 and he did the field fix for this, which is to solder across certain pins.  If this is it, let me know and I will try to find the information on how to fix it or maybe the reflector archives might have this.

Hope this helps
km5ps
john
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