Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
 
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I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run.
What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed typically 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. I did check one of the K3S before doing the current Firmware update and saw no difference before and after the up date on 160 and 6 meter power output. Does anyone have any idea as to why I am seeing the lower outputs on 160 and 6 meters. Everett N4CY ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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Everett, I saw a similar thing when I sent my K3 in for updating.
It came back with an indicated power out of 90 watts max, while it went in to the shop showing 106 watts max. It was explained to me that since it met all specs, 90 watts was good. I don't like it but that's what I was left with. 73. John. On 24/06/2019 3:51 p.m., EVERETT SHARP via Elecraft wrote: > I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run. > > What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed typically > 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. > > I did check one of the K3S before doing the current Firmware update and saw no difference before and after the up date on 160 and 6 meter power output. > > Does anyone have any idea as to why I am seeing the lower outputs on 160 and 6 meters. > > Everett N4CY > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] |
Re: Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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From the K3S manual dated 2016:
TRANSMITTER * Output Power K3S/100: 0.1 W –100 W typ. Suggested max from 51-52 MHz, 85 W; 52-54, 70 W. K3S/10 (or K3S/100 with PA bypassed): 0.1 W –12 W, HF-10 m; 8 W max on 6 m. XVTR OUT: HF, -10 to +1.8 dBm; at 472 kHz (630 m), -3 dBm (see pg. 41). K144XV: ~10 W, 144-148 MHz. Note: K3S/100 output can be set up to 110 W. However, IMD and spurious products are specified at 100 W, the recommended maximum (lower on 6 m; see above). I'd say 90 Watts on 6 meters meets the specification. My K3S puts out 100 Watts on 160 and 93 Watts on 6 (50.125) into a Palstar dummy load. Mark, WB9CIF -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of John Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 00:11 To: [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters Everett, I saw a similar thing when I sent my K3 in for updating. It came back with an indicated power out of 90 watts max, while it went in to the shop showing 106 watts max. It was explained me that since it met all specs, 90 watts was good. I don't like it but that's what I was left with. 73. John. On 24/06/2019 3:51 p.m., EVERETT SHARP via Elecraft wrote: > I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run. > > What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters > and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed > typically > 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. > > I did check one of the K3S before doing the current Firmware update and saw no difference before and after the up date on 160 and 6 meter power output. > > Does anyone have any idea as to why I am seeing the lower outputs on 160 and 6 meters. > > Everett N4CY > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Well I have a K3/10 and KXPA100 with fw vers 5.60 (yeah I need to update).
K3/10 gets 10w on 14-MHz and 8w on 50-MHz. KXPA gives 100w on 14-MHz and 80w on 50-MHz using a Bird43 meter with a Bird dummy load. Into an antenna power is dependent on match (as one would expect). The KXPA only needs about 5.6w drive for full output on 14-MHz but requires full 8w drive on 50-MHz. Overdriving causes the 3-dB attenuator to switch on. 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com Dubus-NA Business mail: [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] |
Re: Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Everett,
What is your power supply voltage during transmit at 100 watts as measured with the Alternate VFO B display? With a solid 13.8 volt power supply voltage, you should see no lower than 12.7 volts (there is a diode drop inside the K3). If lower, check the connections in the power cable for tightness. The K3 power cable should run direct from the power supply. Rigrunner and other DC power distribution boxes can be reason for excessive voltage drop. You can increase the power supply voltage up to above 14 volts to help - do not exceed 15 volts. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/24/2019 6:51 PM, EVERETT SHARP via Elecraft wrote: > I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run. > > What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed typically > 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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I see the same output powers on my K3S.
Key down voltage is 13.4 volts on the VFO B display at maximum power out. Elecraft offered to upgrade my PA chain for $100, but I'm not concerned about ~1dB and is within spec for 6m anyway. Glad that diode is in there. I tested its function once. _________ 73, Jim - N4ST -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 08:31 To: EVERETT SHARP <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters Everett, What is your power supply voltage during transmit at 100 watts as measured with the Alternate VFO B display? With a solid 13.8 volt power supply voltage, you should see no lower than 12.7 volts (there is a diode drop inside the K3). If lower, check the connections in the power cable for tightness. The K3 power cable should run direct from the power supply. Rigrunner and other DC power distribution boxes can be reason for excessive voltage drop. You can increase the power supply voltage up to above 14 volts to help - do not exceed 15 volts. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/24/2019 6:51 PM, EVERETT SHARP via Elecraft wrote: > I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run. > > What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters > and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed > typically > 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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Hi Jim,
You brought up a good point that I had not thought of and that is the voltage drop at the K3S itself. So I set up the voltage reading a the VFO B window and noticed that the voltage had dropped down to 12.1V when I keyed down, but the power supply said 13.7V at key down. So I shortened the power cable, by 32" and now it is 24" long. Now I see 13.1V at VFO B window and 100 watt on 160 meters and 105 watts on 6 meters. I increased the power supply voltage to 14V and now I see 13.3V at VFO B window, on key down and now 105 watts out on 160 and 110 out on 6 meters. So to make a long story short, the K3S will put out over 100 watts on 160 and 6 meters if your power supply voltage is at 13.8 volts and you keep the power cord short. The additional 32" of power cord dropped the voltage by 1 volt on key down. Everett N4CY In a message dated 6/25/2019 7:50:32 AM Central Standard Time, [hidden email] writes: I see the same output powers on my K3S. Key down voltage is 13.4 volts on the VFO B display at maximum power out. Elecraft offered to upgrade my PA chain for $100, but I'm not concerned about ~1dB and is within spec for 6m anyway. Glad that diode is in there. I tested its function once. _________ 73, Jim - N4ST -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 08:31 To: EVERETT SHARP <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters Everett, What is your power supply voltage during transmit at 100 watts as measured with the Alternate VFO B display? With a solid 13.8 volt power supply voltage, you should see no lower than 12.7 volts (there is a diode drop inside the K3). If lower, check the connections in the power cable for tightness. The K3 power cable should run direct from the power supply. Rigrunner and other DC power distribution boxes can be reason for excessive voltage drop. You can increase the power supply voltage up to above 14 volts to help - do not exceed 15 volts. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/24/2019 6:51 PM, EVERETT SHARP via Elecraft wrote: > I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run. > > What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters > and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed > typically > 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
Re: Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters
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56" for the original cable is quite long. What gauge cable are you using?
Russ, N3CO Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android On Tue, Jun 25, 2019 at 10:05 AM, Everett via Elecraft<[hidden email]> wrote: Hi Jim, You brought up a good point that I had not thought of and that is the voltage drop at the K3S itself. So I set up the voltage reading a the VFO B window and noticed that the voltage had dropped down to 12.1V when I keyed down, but the power supply said 13.7V at key down. So I shortened the power cable, by 32" and now it is 24" long. Now I see 13.1V at VFO B window and 100 watt on 160 meters and 105 watts on 6 meters. I increased the power supply voltage to 14V and now I see 13.3V at VFO B window, on key down and now 105 watts out on 160 and 110 out on 6 meters. So to make a long story short, the K3S will put out over 100 watts on 160 and 6 meters if your power supply voltage is at 13.8 volts and you keep the power cord short. The additional 32" of power cord dropped the voltage by 1 volt on key down. Everett N4CY In a message dated 6/25/2019 7:50:32 AM Central Standard Time, [hidden email] writes: I see the same output powers on my K3S. Key down voltage is 13.4 volts on the VFO B display at maximum power out. Elecraft offered to upgrade my PA chain for $100, but I'm not concerned about ~1dB and is within spec for 6m anyway. Glad that diode is in there. I tested its function once. _________ 73, Jim - N4ST -----Original Message----- From: [hidden email] <[hidden email]> On Behalf Of Don Wilhelm Sent: Tuesday, June 25, 2019 08:31 To: EVERETT SHARP <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Low Power Output on 160 and 6 meters Everett, What is your power supply voltage during transmit at 100 watts as measured with the Alternate VFO B display? With a solid 13.8 volt power supply voltage, you should see no lower than 12.7 volts (there is a diode drop inside the K3). If lower, check the connections in the power cable for tightness. The K3 power cable should run direct from the power supply. Rigrunner and other DC power distribution boxes can be reason for excessive voltage drop. You can increase the power supply voltage up to above 14 volts to help - do not exceed 15 volts. 73, Don W3FPR On 6/24/2019 6:51 PM, EVERETT SHARP via Elecraft wrote: > I have three K3S and over the week-end I connected each of them to my Bird watt meter, with a Dummy load. Each of K3S were updated to the current Firmware and each had the 5 and 50 watt calibrations run. > > What I found was all 3 showed from 80 to 90 watts output on 160 meters > and on 6 meters I saw 75 to 90 watts. All other bands showed > typically > 105 to 110 watts. However, one of the K3S showed exactly 100 watts on all bands except for the lower power on 160 and 6 meters. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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