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Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

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Jeffrey Cantor

Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

I know Elecraft does not recommend bringing in a KPA3 from a K3 to a new K3S, but has anyone done this and how does the rig perform?

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Nr4c

Re: Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

The “A” has at least 2 advantages over the old one.

First it has a true “Bypass” relay to actually bypass the amp when its not being used.

But most important, it has more pins in the connector supplying power to the amp which seem to be more reliable and I don’t see the dreaded voltage related errors of my older K3.

Buy the new one.

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On Mar 30, 2018, at 12:53 AM, Jeff <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I know Elecraft does not recommend bringing in a KPA3 from a K3 to a new K3S, but has anyone done this and how does the rig perform?
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> Sent from my iPad
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ke9uw

Re: Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

In that the KPA3A has more pins carrying power, would an older K3 benefit
from a KPA3A? Are the pins already there and useable in the old K3?

-----
Chuck, KE9UW
--
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Chuck, KE9UW

Joe Subich, W4TV-4

Re: Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

On 3/31/2018 9:45 AM, ke9uw wrote:
> In that the KPA3A has more pins carrying power, would an older K3 benefit
> from a KPA3A?

No.

> Are the pins already there and useable in the old K3?

No. The connectors are longer in the K3S. P67B/J67B are 30 pins in the
K3S (KPAIO3A) vs 24 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3) and P68B/J68B are 24 pins
in the K3S (KPAIO3A) vs. 20 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3).

73,

... Joe, W4TV

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ke9uw

Re: Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

Thanks. Then at some point, you just need a K3S.

Chuck Jack
KE9UW

Sent from my iPhone, cjack

> On Mar 31, 2018, at 9:00 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>> On 3/31/2018 9:45 AM, ke9uw wrote:
>> In that the KPA3A has more pins carrying power, would an older K3 benefit
>> from a KPA3A?
>
> No.
>
>> Are the pins already there and useable in the old K3?
>
> No. The connectors are longer in the K3S. P67B/J67B are 30 pins in the
> K3S (KPAIO3A) vs 24 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3) and P68B/J68B are 24 pins
> in the K3S (KPAIO3A) vs. 20 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3).
>
>
> 73,
>
> ... Joe, W4TV
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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Chuck, KE9UW

gm3sek

Re: Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

> Then at some point, you just need a K3S.

Not quite: you would also need a new KPAIO3A interface board - and
even then, it would only be a partial upgrade.

My very early K3S/10 was probably the first to undergo a
comprehensive 'module migration' in the wild (5000 miles away from
the factory). Elecraft's support was exemplary - as ever - but we
discovered that the older KPAIO3 does not function correctly with
the K3S mainboard. It does not correctly control the relays and the
fans, so it fails the PAIO TST procedures. When the KPAIO3 is
replaced by a KPAIO3A, then the KPA3 does become compatible with the
K3S and will function much the same as it did in the K3.

But migrating a KPA3 into a K3S can only ever be an *incomplete*
upgrade. As Joe has already pointed out, it does not include many of
the other improvements that Elecraft made in this area of the K3S -
not only the increased number of power pins but also the KPA3A
itself, which is a completely new design using power MOSFETs.

So even though it is possible to migrate a KPA3 into a K3S, the
result can never be a true K3S/100. Therefore it isn't surprising
that Elecraft does not recommend this procedure, and does not offer
it as part of the factory migration service.

73 from Ian GM3SEK

>From: [hidden email] [mailto:elecraft-
>[hidden email]] On Behalf Of hawley, charles j jr
>Sent: 31 March 2018 21:22
>To: Joe Subich, W4TV
>Cc: [hidden email]
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S
>
>Thanks. Then at some point, you just need a K3S.
>
>Chuck Jack
>KE9UW
>
>Sent from my iPhone, cjack
>
>> On Mar 31, 2018, at 9:00 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <[hidden email]>
>wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 3/31/2018 9:45 AM, ke9uw wrote:
>>> In that the KPA3A has more pins carrying power, would an older

K3
>benefit
>>> from a KPA3A?
>>
>> No.
>>
>>> Are the pins already there and useable in the old K3?
>>
>> No. The connectors are longer in the K3S. P67B/J67B are 30 pins
in

>the
>> K3S (KPAIO3A) vs 24 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3) and P68B/J68B are 24
>pins
>> in the K3S (KPAIO3A) vs. 20 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3).
>>
>>
>> 73,
>>
>> ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>>
>__________________________________________________________
>____
>> Elecraft mailing list
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http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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