KX1 and KXB3080 Builder Alert regarding TX on 80-m (L3 heating)

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KX1 and KXB3080 Builder Alert regarding TX on 80-m (L3 heating)

wayne burdick
Administrator
It has been reported that L3 on the KX1's main board can become hot to
the touch when using the KX1 on 80 meters at full power (3 to 4 watts).
We verified this in the lab. The temperature rises enough after a few
seconds of continuous key-down time to cause a decrease in transmit
power output and efficiency. The remedy is to increase the number of
turns on L3 from 6 turns to 18 turns. This has no negative effect on
any other band. Both the KX1 and KXB3080 manuals will be updated
immediately to reflect this.

We recommend that this change be made to all KX1s to be used on 80
meters. The change to L3 is best accomplished by removing the KX1's PC
board from the case. All that is necessary is to remove the original
6-turn winding and rewind L3 with 18 turns of #26 enamel wire.

If you don't have enough #26 enamel wire left over from the KX1 or
another kit, we'll send you some upon request (send your request to
[hidden email]).

73,
Wayne
N6KR

---

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KX1 and KXB3080 L3 Mod

Chuck Gehring
My KXB3080 L3 Modification

The L3 Mod is complete and working fine.

Before I installed the R11, R30 resistors, my KX1 power out with 13.7 VDC
was:

80m   3.1 watts
40m   2.9 watts
30m   3.4 watts
20m   2.6 watts

With the R11, R30 resistors installed and 13.7 VDC power out was:

80m   3.7 watts
40m   3.6 watts
30m   4.2 watts
20m   3.3 watts

I just completed the L3 modification and my KX1 power out is:

80m   3.9 watts
40m   3.7 watts
30m   4.3 watts
20m   3.4 watts

Power out was measured with into a DL1 (Dummy Load) and measured with a DMM.
Granted the power out from beginning to end was not really that significant
in the big scheme of things. It was simply an opportunity to burn some
solder and learn a little more about my radios.

I really do appreciate everything Wayne, Eric, Gary Surrency and everyone
else at Elecraft continues to do for Elecraft builders, the general Ham
population and myself.

Three years ago I would have never dreamed of building a radio.  Two years
ago when I built my KX1, I prayed that I got everything right the first
time, because I didn't think I would be able to find and fix any problems.
Just thinking about winding Toroids put me into a sweat.  Now it seems like
one of the best things about being a ham is the tweaking, and fixing.

Thank you so very much

73 KI4DGH
Chuck Gehring
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Re: KX1 and KXB3080 L3 Mod

Alexandra Carter
Now I'm a little less worried about the 3080 module, I guess it won't
turn the KX1 into a QRPp rig after all! 73 de Alex NS6Y

On Apr 10, 2006, at 6:15 PM, Chuck Gehring wrote:

> My KXB3080 L3 Modification
>
> The L3 Mod is complete and working fine.
>
> Before I installed the R11, R30 resistors, my KX1 power out with 13.7
> VDC
> was:
>
> 80m   3.1 watts
> 40m   2.9 watts
> 30m   3.4 watts
> 20m   2.6 watts
>
> With the R11, R30 resistors installed and 13.7 VDC power out was:
>
> 80m   3.7 watts
> 40m   3.6 watts
> 30m   4.2 watts
> 20m   3.3 watts
>
> I just completed the L3 modification and my KX1 power out is:
>
> 80m   3.9 watts
> 40m   3.7 watts
> 30m   4.3 watts
> 20m   3.4 watts
>
> 73 KI4DGH
> Chuck Gehring

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L3 mod done, no problem

m0bmn
In reply to this post by wayne burdick

Hi Gang
Just done the L3 mod to my KX1 with the 8030 module fitted, I tried the
radio before the mod and L3 did get warm with key down for a few seconds
(about 5-10 secs), it’s a easy mod and didn’t take long to do, afterwards I
did the same test with the new L3 and I can confirm that it certainly runs
much cooler, after about 10 secs key down I could just tell that the core
was slightly warmer than it was when I was in RX mode so I guess that’s
fixed it!.
I checked the power output levels before and after the mod and all seemed ok
I seemed to have dropped about 100mW or so on 80m but gained a couple of
hundred millwatts on other bands , in the real world the power remained
about the same , between 3 and 4 watts on all bands. So im a happy chap.
That’s the lid put back on the KX1 ,never to be removed again (Hi) well not
till the SSB Module comes out! (Don’t Panic Wayne, only kidding)
73
Paul
M0BMN





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