K3: power out & V, A readings

[DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL]

Well, prompted by the interesting discourse here, I decided to ignore
my bulk and get on the floor to make some measurements at the PS
(RS35A).

K3 on Receive: 13.60 volts
K3 at 120 watts output:  13.59 volts

Hmmmm.

Okay, so then did voltage (and amp) readings using the K3 itself.
Watts are also read from the K3.

Receive:  13.6  /  0.75

Xmit :
watts output / voltage / amps (xmit is CW, key down)
0.0 / 13.4  /  1.75
1.0 / 13.4  /  2.14
2.0 / 13.4  /  2.49
3.0 / 13.3  /  2.66
4.0 / 13.3  /  2.84
5.0 / 13.3  /  2.96
10 / 13.1  /  3.61
12 / 13.1  /  3.88
13 / 13.3  /  7.48   (KPA kicks in)
20 / 13.3  /  8.64
30 / 13.2  /  10.21
40 / 13.2  /  11.38
50 / 13.1  /  12.45
60 / 13.1  /  13.20
70 / 13.1  /  14.07
80 / 13.1  /  14.83
90 / 13.1  /  15.64
100 / 13.0  /  16.40
110 / 13.0  /  16.97
120 / 12.9 flickering to 13.0  /  17.66

Well, the Astron appears to be VFB after about 3 decades of service.  :-)

So...do these numbers tell us anything?

de Doug KR2Q
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[Joe Subich, W4TV-3]

> Okay, so then did voltage (and amp) readings using the K3
> itself. Watts are also read from the K3.
>
> Receive:  13.6  /  0.75

13.6 is a little low.  I would touch up the trimmer on the
regulator to make the voltage 13.9 or 14.0 on receive.  The
K3 and particularly any accessory connected to the +12V jack
will be much happier.

> 10 / 13.1  /  3.61
> 12 / 13.1  /  3.88
> 13 / 13.3  /  7.48   (KPA kicks in)
> 20 / 13.3  /  8.64

Note the voltage comes back up when the KPA kicks in (the
current through Q2 drops from about 3.8A to around 2.3A).
All of these track what I have been seeing.

73,

   ... Joe, W4TV
 

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [hidden email]
> [mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL
> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2008 1:53 PM
> To: Elecraft Reflector
> Subject: [Elecraft] K3: power out & V, A readings
>
>
> Well, prompted by the interesting discourse here, I decided
> to ignore my bulk and get on the floor to make some
> measurements at the PS (RS35A).
>
> K3 on Receive: 13.60 volts
> K3 at 120 watts output:  13.59 volts
>
> Hmmmm.
>
> Okay, so then did voltage (and amp) readings using the K3
> itself. Watts are also read from the K3.
>
> Receive:  13.6  /  0.75
>
> Xmit :
> watts output / voltage / amps (xmit is CW, key down)
> 0.0 / 13.4  /  1.75
> 1.0 / 13.4  /  2.14
> 2.0 / 13.4  /  2.49
> 3.0 / 13.3  /  2.66
> 4.0 / 13.3  /  2.84
> 5.0 / 13.3  /  2.96
> 10 / 13.1  /  3.61
> 12 / 13.1  /  3.88
> 13 / 13.3  /  7.48   (KPA kicks in)
> 20 / 13.3  /  8.64
> 30 / 13.2  /  10.21
> 40 / 13.2  /  11.38
> 50 / 13.1  /  12.45
> 60 / 13.1  /  13.20
> 70 / 13.1  /  14.07
> 80 / 13.1  /  14.83
> 90 / 13.1  /  15.64
> 100 / 13.0  /  16.40
> 110 / 13.0  /  16.97
> 120 / 12.9 flickering to 13.0  /  17.66
>
> Well, the Astron appears to be VFB after about 3 decades of
> service.  :-)
>
> So...do these numbers tell us anything?
>
> de Doug KR2Q

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[Ignacy]

Can you try it on 10-15m. At 120 set, the power on this band seems to be lower, as measured by LP-100.
Ignacy