Elecraft › [K3]

K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

Classic

List

Threaded

8 messages Options

Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

Hi there, I have a K3 (s/n in the 400's with most upgrades done)
intermittantly turns it self on, and sometimes won't shut down (via
the front panel power switch).

I believe my PS is in good order, and nothing but antenna, PS and
paddle are connected to the back. It doesn't appear to be related to
anything external, and it's not dependable, just intermittant. It
started doing this a few months ago, then went away, and now started
up again.

Maybe one of the boards needs to be reseated? Anyone else seen issues
like this? For now, I'm just powering off the PS when the radio is not
in use, and when it won't shut off, I have to turn the PS off to shut
the radio off. If I turn the PS back on at that point, the radio comes
back on.

I have not yet tried another PS or battery to see if that's the
culprit but that will be my next step if this isn't a common problem.

Thanks,

Jeff N6GQ
______________________________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

Jeff,

It sounds like the Remote Power ON signal (on the ACC connector) is
becoming active for some reason or another. If anything external to the
K3 or internal is pulling ACC pin 8 to ground, the behavior will be as
you describe. If you have a cable plugged into the ACC connector it
should be checked for that condition.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/9/2011 6:47 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:

> Hi there, I have a K3 (s/n in the 400's with most upgrades done)
> intermittantly turns it self on, and sometimes won't shut down (via
> the front panel power switch).
>
> I believe my PS is in good order, and nothing but antenna, PS and
> paddle are connected to the back. It doesn't appear to be related to
> anything external, and it's not dependable, just intermittant. It
> started doing this a few months ago, then went away, and now started
> up again.
>
> Maybe one of the boards needs to be reseated? Anyone else seen issues
> like this? For now, I'm just powering off the PS when the radio is not
> in use, and when it won't shut off, I have to turn the PS off to shut
> the radio off. If I turn the PS back on at that point, the radio comes
> back on.
>
> I have not yet tried another PS or battery to see if that's the
> culprit but that will be my next step if this isn't a common problem.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff N6GQ
>

______________________________________________________________
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

Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

Hi Don, yes, I have checked this - there is nothing connected to the
ACC connector or the RS232 port when this occurs.

Perhaps the board that the ACC connector is attached to needs to be
reseated? Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Jeff

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 16:51, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> It sounds like the Remote Power ON signal (on the ACC connector) is becoming
> active for some reason or another. If anything external to the K3 or
> internal is pulling ACC pin 8 to ground, the behavior will be as you
> describe. If you have a cable plugged into the ACC connector it should be
> checked for that condition.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/9/2011 6:47 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:
>>
>> Hi there, I have a K3 (s/n in the 400's with most upgrades done)
>> intermittantly turns it self on, and sometimes won't shut down (via
>> the front panel power switch).
>>
>> I believe my PS is in good order, and nothing but antenna, PS and
>> paddle are connected to the back. It doesn't appear to be related to
>> anything external, and it's not dependable, just intermittant. It
>> started doing this a few months ago, then went away, and now started
>> up again.
>>
>> Maybe one of the boards needs to be reseated? Anyone else seen issues
>> like this? For now, I'm just powering off the PS when the radio is not
>> in use, and when it won't shut off, I have to turn the PS off to shut
>> the radio off. If I turn the PS back on at that point, the radio comes
>> back on.
>>
>> I have not yet tried another PS or battery to see if that's the
>> culprit but that will be my next step if this isn't a common problem.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jeff N6GQ
>>
>

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

> Perhaps the board that the ACC connector is attached to needs to be
> reseated? Any other ideas?

Check the 12V sense mod:
http://www.elecraft.com/K3/mods/KPA3_12V_Sense_Modification_Rev_B.pdf

Symptoms sound exactly like what you describe and I suspect your s/n
is well before the modification was added to routine production.

73,

... Joe, W4TV

On 3/9/2011 7:58 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:

> Hi Don, yes, I have checked this - there is nothing connected to the
> ACC connector or the RS232 port when this occurs.
>
> Perhaps the board that the ACC connector is attached to needs to be
> reseated? Any other ideas?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jeff
>
> On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 16:51, Don Wilhelm<[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Jeff,
>>
>> It sounds like the Remote Power ON signal (on the ACC connector) is becoming
>> active for some reason or another. If anything external to the K3 or
>> internal is pulling ACC pin 8 to ground, the behavior will be as you
>> describe. If you have a cable plugged into the ACC connector it should be
>> checked for that condition.
>>
>> 73,
>> Don W3FPR
>>
>> On 3/9/2011 6:47 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:
>>>
>>> Hi there, I have a K3 (s/n in the 400's with most upgrades done)
>>> intermittantly turns it self on, and sometimes won't shut down (via
>>> the front panel power switch).
>>>
>>> I believe my PS is in good order, and nothing but antenna, PS and
>>> paddle are connected to the back. It doesn't appear to be related to
>>> anything external, and it's not dependable, just intermittant. It
>>> started doing this a few months ago, then went away, and now started
>>> up again.
>>>
>>> Maybe one of the boards needs to be reseated? Anyone else seen issues
>>> like this? For now, I'm just powering off the PS when the radio is not
>>> in use, and when it won't shut off, I have to turn the PS off to shut
>>> the radio off. If I turn the PS back on at that point, the radio comes
>>> back on.
>>>
>>> I have not yet tried another PS or battery to see if that's the
>>> culprit but that will be my next step if this isn't a common problem.
>>>
>>> Thanks,
>>>
>>> Jeff N6GQ
>>>
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

In reply to this post by Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Jeff,

Certainly you could try re-seating that board, but I would be more
inclined to look for something on that board which could cause a short.
Re-seating will often correct an open circuit condition, but a short to
ground is a different animal. If you find any bits of conductive
material floating around, that would be suspect.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/9/2011 7:58 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:

Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

In reply to this post by Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Hi Joe, yes, I actually do have that mod installed (it was done by
Elecraft last time the radio was back to meet it's maker).

Thanks,

-J

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 17:08, Joe Subich, W4TV <[hidden email]> wrote:

>
>> Perhaps the board that the ACC connector is attached to needs to be
>> reseated? Any other ideas?
>
> Check the 12V sense mod:
> http://www.elecraft.com/K3/mods/KPA3_12V_Sense_Modification_Rev_B.pdf
>
> Symptoms sound exactly like what you describe and I suspect your s/n
> is well before the modification was added to routine production.
>
> 73,
>
> ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> On 3/9/2011 7:58 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:
>>
>> Hi Don, yes, I have checked this - there is nothing connected to the
>> ACC connector or the RS232 port when this occurs.
>>
>> Perhaps the board that the ACC connector is attached to needs to be
>> reseated? Any other ideas?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>> On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 16:51, Don Wilhelm<[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Jeff,
>>>
>>> It sounds like the Remote Power ON signal (on the ACC connector) is
>>> becoming
>>> active for some reason or another. If anything external to the K3 or
>>> internal is pulling ACC pin 8 to ground, the behavior will be as you
>>> describe. If you have a cable plugged into the ACC connector it should
>>> be
>>> checked for that condition.
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Don W3FPR
>>>
>>> On 3/9/2011 6:47 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Hi there, I have a K3 (s/n in the 400's with most upgrades done)
>>>> intermittantly turns it self on, and sometimes won't shut down (via
>>>> the front panel power switch).
>>>>
>>>> I believe my PS is in good order, and nothing but antenna, PS and
>>>> paddle are connected to the back. It doesn't appear to be related to
>>>> anything external, and it's not dependable, just intermittant. It
>>>> started doing this a few months ago, then went away, and now started
>>>> up again.
>>>>
>>>> Maybe one of the boards needs to be reseated? Anyone else seen issues
>>>> like this? For now, I'm just powering off the PS when the radio is not
>>>> in use, and when it won't shut off, I have to turn the PS off to shut
>>>> the radio off. If I turn the PS back on at that point, the radio comes
>>>> back on.
>>>>
>>>> I have not yet tried another PS or battery to see if that's the
>>>> culprit but that will be my next step if this isn't a common problem.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks,
>>>>
>>>> Jeff N6GQ
>>>>
>>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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
>

Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm-4

Ok Don, I'll take a looksy and see if anything is floating around in there.

73,

Jeff

On Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 17:12, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Jeff,
>
> Certainly you could try re-seating that board, but I would be more inclined
> to look for something on that board which could cause a short. Re-seating
> will often correct an open circuit condition, but a short to ground is a
> different animal. If you find any bits of conductive material floating
> around, that would be suspect.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 3/9/2011 7:58 PM, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote:
>>
>> Hi Don, yes, I have checked this - there is nothing connected to the
>> ACC connector or the RS232 port when this occurs.
>>
>> Perhaps the board that the ACC connector is attached to needs to be
>> reseated? Any other ideas?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Jeff
>>
>

Ian Maude

Re: K3 turns it self on, won't turn off

In reply to this post by Jeff Kinzli N6GQ

Remove the RS232 board and wash it with clean water and a light brush. Make sure it is well dried out and replace. I am 99% sure this will solve your problem. Some boards had some fluid left on after manufacture and developed this fault, mine included. Washing the board removes the film. I have had no problems since. Use just water of course, no detergents :)

73 Ian
--
Ian J Maude, G0VGS
SysOp GB7MBC & HB9DRV-9 DX Clusters
Member RSGB, GQRP 9838, FISTS 14077 | K3 #455
http://www.m0scg.org.uk

On 9 Mar 2011, at 23:47, Jeff Kinzli N6GQ wrote: