Elecraft

KRC-2 Possible Lightning Failure

Classic

List

Threaded

4 messages Options

Brian F. Wruble-2

KRC-2 Possible Lightning Failure

Hi all:

I have had my K-Line (K3, KPA500, KAT500, P3) all working brilliantly, both
local and remote using my new K3/0 Mini.

While I was away, a severe electrical storm passed through the QTH in
Maryland. I returned, moved cables around to get local operations geared
up. The KRC-2 band decoder seems to have failed.

I have 5 volts after the voltage regulator, U3, but I cannot get 12V at any
of the "high side" driver outputs on J6, J7, J8 and J9.

The unit communicates with the configuration program, and I have firmware
version 1.6. I have re-loaded the firmware.

What should I try next?

Tnx es 73 de Brian W3BW

*Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
______________________________________________________________
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]

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: KRC-2 Possible Lightning Failure

Brian,

The best way to attack a KRC2 that has been subjected to a strong
lightning surge is to replace all the ICs (and possibly other active
devices). If you have a good desoldering tool it is not a difficult
task to remove the ICs. Lacking that, assume the ICs are bad and clip
the leads from the IC bodies and remove the pins one at a time.

Wholesale replacement takes less time than trying to troubleshoot what
could be multiple failure, and is not really that expensive.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 6/20/2014 1:19 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote:

> Hi all:
>
> I have had my K-Line (K3, KPA500, KAT500, P3) all working brilliantly, both
> local and remote using my new K3/0 Mini.
>
> While I was away, a severe electrical storm passed through the QTH in
> Maryland. I returned, moved cables around to get local operations geared
> up. The KRC-2 band decoder seems to have failed.
>
> I have 5 volts after the voltage regulator, U3, but I cannot get 12V at any
> of the "high side" driver outputs on J6, J7, J8 and J9.
>
> The unit communicates with the configuration program, and I have firmware
> version 1.6. I have re-loaded the firmware.
>
> What should I try next?
>
> Tnx es 73 de Brian W3BW
>
> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Brian F. Wruble-2

Re: KRC-2 Possible Lightning Failure

Tnx. I will order a new one!

Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
From my iPad

> On Jun 20, 2014, at 1:48 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Brian,
>
> The best way to attack a KRC2 that has been subjected to a strong lightning surge is to replace all the ICs (and possibly other active devices). If you have a good desoldering tool it is not a difficult task to remove the ICs. Lacking that, assume the ICs are bad and clip the leads from the IC bodies and remove the pins one at a time.
>
> Wholesale replacement takes less time than trying to troubleshoot what could be multiple failure, and is not really that expensive.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>> On 6/20/2014 1:19 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote:
>> Hi all:
>>
>> I have had my K-Line (K3, KPA500, KAT500, P3) all working brilliantly, both
>> local and remote using my new K3/0 Mini.
>>
>> While I was away, a severe electrical storm passed through the QTH in
>> Maryland. I returned, moved cables around to get local operations geared
>> up. The KRC-2 band decoder seems to have failed.
>>
>> I have 5 volts after the voltage regulator, U3, but I cannot get 12V at any
>> of the "high side" driver outputs on J6, J7, J8 and J9.
>>
>> The unit communicates with the configuration program, and I have firmware
>> version 1.6. I have re-loaded the firmware.
>>
>> What should I try next?
>>
>> Tnx es 73 de Brian W3BW
>>
>> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>>
>

Fred Townsend-2

Re: KRC-2 Possible Lightning Failure

In reply to this post by Brian F. Wruble-2

The fastest fuse in the world is a transistor. Actually that's not quite true. Tunnel diodes are even faster but ICs don't contain TDs. Don your suggestions make good sense where massive currents have flown.
73
Fred, AE6QL

-----Original Message-----

>From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]>
>Sent: Jun 20, 2014 10:48 AM
>To: [hidden email], Elecraft Reflector <[hidden email]>
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KRC-2 Possible Lightning Failure
>
>Brian,
>
>The best way to attack a KRC2 that has been subjected to a strong
>lightning surge is to replace all the ICs (and possibly other active
>devices). If you have a good desoldering tool it is not a difficult
>task to remove the ICs. Lacking that, assume the ICs are bad and clip
>the leads from the IC bodies and remove the pins one at a time.
>
>Wholesale replacement takes less time than trying to troubleshoot what
>could be multiple failure, and is not really that expensive.
>
>73,
>Don W3FPR
>
>On 6/20/2014 1:19 PM, Brian F. Wruble wrote:
>> Hi all:
>>
>> I have had my K-Line (K3, KPA500, KAT500, P3) all working brilliantly, both
>> local and remote using my new K3/0 Mini.
>>
>> While I was away, a severe electrical storm passed through the QTH in
>> Maryland. I returned, moved cables around to get local operations geared
>> up. The KRC-2 band decoder seems to have failed.
>>
>> I have 5 volts after the voltage regulator, U3, but I cannot get 12V at any
>> of the "high side" driver outputs on J6, J7, J8 and J9.
>>
>> The unit communicates with the configuration program, and I have firmware
>> version 1.6. I have re-loaded the firmware.
>>
>> What should I try next?
>>
>> Tnx es 73 de Brian W3BW
>>
>> *Brian F. Wruble, C.F.A.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]