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K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

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Christopher Hoover

K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

I went to bed last night leaving the radio on to decode 6m meteor scatter.

This morning I found the LCD blank.

The backlight is on, but there are no segments lit.

Power cycle does not change anything.

All the settings seem reasonable:

MN002;
MP;MP007;
MN003;
MP;MP005;
MN004;
MP;MP003;

Elecraft support says to send it in -- possibly a problem solder joint.
The current repair backlog is 2-3 weeks.

I am leaving for a trip on Monday and I was intended to take the radio with
me, so sending it in would be ... inconvenient. I'd be frustrated about
losing the radio for 2-3 weeks even without the trip.

Has anyone seen this problem and fixed it themselves?

-ch
73 de AI6KG
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Wes Stewart-2

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

You're an hour away from Elecraft. Your options:

1) Drive it down and tell them you'll wait.

2) Drive it down and ask for a loaner.

3) Come by my house in Tucson and I'll loan you one.

Wes N7WS

8/2/2017 6:06 PM, Christopher Hoover wrote:

> I went to bed last night leaving the radio on to decode 6m meteor scatter.
>
> This morning I found the LCD blank.
>
> The backlight is on, but there are no segments lit.
>
> Power cycle does not change anything.
>
> All the settings seem reasonable:
>
> MN002;
> MP;MP007;
> MN003;
> MP;MP005;
> MN004;
> MP;MP003;
>
> Elecraft support says to send it in -- possibly a problem solder joint.
> The current repair backlog is 2-3 weeks.
>
> I am leaving for a trip on Monday and I was intended to take the radio with
> me, so sending it in would be ... inconvenient. I'd be frustrated about
> losing the radio for 2-3 weeks even without the trip.
>
> Has anyone seen this problem and fixed it themselves?
>
> -ch
> 73 de AI6KG

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Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

Administrator

Better yet, email [hidden email]

Our tech support team is here ti help!

73,
Eric
elecraft.com
_..._

> On Aug 2, 2017, at 7:06 PM, Wes Stewart <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> You're an hour away from Elecraft. Your options:
>
> 1) Drive it down and tell them you'll wait.
>
> 2) Drive it down and ask for a loaner.
>
> 3) Come by my house in Tucson and I'll loan you one.
>
> Wes N7WS
>
> 8/2/2017 6:06 PM, Christopher Hoover wrote:
>> I went to bed last night leaving the radio on to decode 6m meteor scatter.
>>
>> This morning I found the LCD blank.
>>
>> The backlight is on, but there are no segments lit.
>>
>> Power cycle does not change anything.
>>
>> All the settings seem reasonable:
>>
>> MN002;
>> MP;MP007;
>> MN003;
>> MP;MP005;
>> MN004;
>> MP;MP003;
>>
>> Elecraft support says to send it in -- possibly a problem solder joint.
>> The current repair backlog is 2-3 weeks.
>>
>> I am leaving for a trip on Monday and I was intended to take the radio with
>> me, so sending it in would be ... inconvenient. I'd be frustrated about
>> losing the radio for 2-3 weeks even without the trip.
>>
>> Has anyone seen this problem and fixed it themselves?
>>
>> -ch
>> 73 de AI6KG
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Christopher Hoover

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

Hi Eric,

Thanks for the response.

As I mentioned in my positing, I'm on "the line" with the support people
and have an active thread.

They want my rig for 2-3 weeks, which is not compatible with my travel
plans, so I'm looking for other ways to fix the problem.

-christopher.
73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:09 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <
[hidden email]> wrote:

> Better yet, email [hidden email]
>
> Our tech support team is here ti help!
>
> 73,
> Eric
> elecraft.com
> _..._
>
>
>
> > On Aug 2, 2017, at 7:06 PM, Wes Stewart <[hidden email]> wrote:
> >
> > You're an hour away from Elecraft. Your options:
> >
> > 1) Drive it down and tell them you'll wait.
> >
> > 2) Drive it down and ask for a loaner.
> >
> > 3) Come by my house in Tucson and I'll loan you one.
> >
> > Wes N7WS
> >
> > 8/2/2017 6:06 PM, Christopher Hoover wrote:
> >> I went to bed last night leaving the radio on to decode 6m meteor
> scatter.
> >>
> >> This morning I found the LCD blank.
> >>
> >> The backlight is on, but there are no segments lit.
> >>
> >> Power cycle does not change anything.
> >>
> >> All the settings seem reasonable:
> >>
> >> MN002;
> >> MP;MP007;
> >> MN003;
> >> MP;MP005;
> >> MN004;
> >> MP;MP003;
> >>
> >> Elecraft support says to send it in -- possibly a problem solder joint.
> >> The current repair backlog is 2-3 weeks.
> >>
> >> I am leaving for a trip on Monday and I was intended to take the radio
> with
> >> me, so sending it in would be ... inconvenient. I'd be frustrated
> about
> >> losing the radio for 2-3 weeks even without the trip.
> >>
> >> Has anyone seen this problem and fixed it themselves?
> >>
> >> -ch
> >> 73 de AI6KG
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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]
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>

Christopher Hoover

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

Gary AB7MY from Elecraft suggested that it was likely a shorted C102.
Indeed it was. Thanks, Gary! 73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:22 PM, Christopher Hoover <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Hi Eric,
>
> Thanks for the response.
>
> As I mentioned in my positing, I'm on "the line" with the support people
> and have an active thread.
>
> They want my rig for 2-3 weeks, which is not compatible with my travel
> plans, so I'm looking for other ways to fix the problem.
>
> -christopher.
> 73 de AI6KG
>
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:09 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <
> [hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Better yet, email [hidden email]
>>
>> Our tech support team is here ti help!
>>
>> 73,
>> Eric
>> elecraft.com
>> _..._
>>
>>
>>
>> > On Aug 2, 2017, at 7:06 PM, Wes Stewart <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> >
>> > You're an hour away from Elecraft. Your options:
>> >
>> > 1) Drive it down and tell them you'll wait.
>> >
>> > 2) Drive it down and ask for a loaner.
>> >
>> > 3) Come by my house in Tucson and I'll loan you one.
>> >
>> > Wes N7WS
>> >
>> > 8/2/2017 6:06 PM, Christopher Hoover wrote:
>> >> I went to bed last night leaving the radio on to decode 6m meteor
>> scatter.
>> >>
>> >> This morning I found the LCD blank.
>> >>
>> >> The backlight is on, but there are no segments lit.
>> >>
>> >> Power cycle does not change anything.
>> >>
>> >> All the settings seem reasonable:
>> >>
>> >> MN002;
>> >> MP;MP007;
>> >> MN003;
>> >> MP;MP005;
>> >> MN004;
>> >> MP;MP003;
>> >>
>> >> Elecraft support says to send it in -- possibly a problem solder joint.
>> >> The current repair backlog is 2-3 weeks.
>> >>
>> >> I am leaving for a trip on Monday and I was intended to take the radio
>> with
>> >> me, so sending it in would be ... inconvenient. I'd be frustrated
>> about
>> >> losing the radio for 2-3 weeks even without the trip.
>> >>
>> >> Has anyone seen this problem and fixed it themselves?
>> >>
>> >> -ch
>> >> 73 de AI6KG
>> >
>> > ______________________________________________________________
>> > 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]
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>>
>
>

Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

Administrator

Great news! I'm glad Gary was able to nail it for you.

I apologize for missing your note about already talking to Tech support. Sometimes email
overload takes its toll on this end too! I personally receive and respond to daily emails many times the volume seen on this list and as a result read too fast from time to time.

I'm also learning that typing replies to list postings on my phone with my reading glasses off is a great way to create interesting typos..

73,
Eric
elecraft.com
---
Sent from my iPhone 6S

> On Aug 3, 2017, at 10:06 AM, Christopher Hoover <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Gary AB7MY from Elecraft suggested that it was likely a shorted C102. Indeed it was. Thanks, Gary! 73 de AI6KG
>
>
>> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:22 PM, Christopher Hoover <[hidden email]> wrote:
>> Hi Eric,
>>
>> Thanks for the response.
>>
>> As I mentioned in my positing, I'm on "the line" with the support people and have an active thread.
>>

Charlie T, K3ICH

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

In reply to this post by Christopher Hoover

One thing (among MANY) that impresses me about Elecraft's service is that
they'll trust an owner to change a cap without requiring a lengthy and
expensive return process.
Not saying this is always the case, since some problems DO require a return.
That said, it's a LOT cheaper to send a K3 in than a 70+ pound "monster"
radio.

Oh, and pass me some more of that Kool-Aid too.

73, Charlie k3ICH

-----Original Message-----
From: [hidden email]
[mailto:[hidden email]] On Behalf Of Christopher Hoover
Sent: Thursday, August 03, 2017 1:06 PM
To: Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <[hidden email]>
Cc: Wes Stewart <[hidden email]>; Elecraft Reflector
<[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

Gary AB7MY from Elecraft suggested that it was likely a shorted C102.
Indeed it was. Thanks, Gary! 73 de AI6KG

On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:22 PM, Christopher Hoover <[hidden email]>
wrote:

______________________________________________________________
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]

Christopher Hoover

Re: K3S: LCD backlight is on, but no segments are lit

In reply to this post by Christopher Hoover

Replacement part is:

C37,102 10 uF,10V,20%,CERM,0805,SMD E530223 Panasonic
ECJ-2FF1A106Z Digikey PCC2233TR-ND PCC2233CT-ND

This is Y5V dielectric.

It looks easy to get a 16V part in 0805 (and X5R at that).

I've bodged in a 10u 10V Y5V 1206 for the time being.

On Thu, Aug 3, 2017 at 10:06 AM, Christopher Hoover <[hidden email]>
wrote:

> Gary AB7MY from Elecraft suggested that it was likely a shorted C102.
> Indeed it was. Thanks, Gary! 73 de AI6KG
>
>
> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:22 PM, Christopher Hoover <[hidden email]>
> wrote:
>
>> Hi Eric,
>>
>> Thanks for the response.
>>
>> As I mentioned in my positing, I'm on "the line" with the support people
>> and have an active thread.
>>
>> They want my rig for 2-3 weeks, which is not compatible with my travel
>> plans, so I'm looking for other ways to fix the problem.
>>
>> -christopher.
>> 73 de AI6KG
>>
>>
>>
>> On Wed, Aug 2, 2017 at 10:09 PM, Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft <
>> [hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>>> Better yet, email [hidden email]
>>>
>>> Our tech support team is here ti help!
>>>
>>> 73,
>>> Eric
>>> elecraft.com
>>> _..._
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> > On Aug 2, 2017, at 7:06 PM, Wes Stewart <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > You're an hour away from Elecraft. Your options:
>>> >
>>> > 1) Drive it down and tell them you'll wait.
>>> >
>>> > 2) Drive it down and ask for a loaner.
>>> >
>>> > 3) Come by my house in Tucson and I'll loan you one.
>>> >
>>> > Wes N7WS
>>> >
>>> > 8/2/2017 6:06 PM, Christopher Hoover wrote:
>>> >> I went to bed last night leaving the radio on to decode 6m meteor
>>> scatter.
>>> >>
>>> >> This morning I found the LCD blank.
>>> >>
>>> >> The backlight is on, but there are no segments lit.
>>> >>
>>> >> Power cycle does not change anything.
>>> >>
>>> >> All the settings seem reasonable:
>>> >>
>>> >> MN002;
>>> >> MP;MP007;
>>> >> MN003;
>>> >> MP;MP005;
>>> >> MN004;
>>> >> MP;MP003;
>>> >>
>>> >> Elecraft support says to send it in -- possibly a problem solder
>>> joint.
>>> >> The current repair backlog is 2-3 weeks.
>>> >>
>>> >> I am leaving for a trip on Monday and I was intended to take the
>>> radio with
>>> >> me, so sending it in would be ... inconvenient. I'd be frustrated
>>> about
>>> >> losing the radio for 2-3 weeks even without the trip.
>>> >>
>>> >> Has anyone seen this problem and fixed it themselves?
>>> >>
>>> >> -ch
>>> >> 73 de AI6KG
>>> >
>>> > ______________________________________________________________
>>> > 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]
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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]
>>>
>>
>>
>