Elecraft

P3 Failur3, and question

Classic

List

Threaded

13 messages Options

NK7Z

P3 Failur3, and question

Hello,

My P3 seems to have had a display failure. The SVGA is working, as I
can control the K3 via macros fired at it via the keyboard input. It
failed to light off once before, but that seemed a one off thing, not it
seems permanent.

Has anyone seen this before? If so, what was the cause?

--
73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
______________________________________________________________
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]

NK7Z

Re: P3 Failure, and question

A bit more data:

1. The (3 utility can talk to it.
2. If I try and capture an image, it goes through the motions, but no
image is captured.
3. It accepts commands via a keyboard.
4. A load from the last config file did not correct things.
5. A full power off and on did not correct things.

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 4/12/21 4:27 AM, Dave Cole wrote:
> Hello,
>
> My P3 seems to have had a display failure. The SVGA is working, as I
> can control the K3 via macros fired at it via the keyboard input. It
> failed to light off once before, but that seemed a one off thing, not it
> seems permanent.
>
> Has anyone seen this before? If so, what was the cause?
>
______________________________________________________________
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]

Rick Stanback

Re: P3 Failure, and question

My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
power. I have not actually looking into it yet.

--
"If you are not the lead dog, the scenary never changes"
Rick Stanback
N4WCQ

On Mon, 2021-04-12 at 04:41 -0700, Dave Cole wrote:

> A bit more data:
>
> 1. The (3 utility can talk to it.
> 2. If I try and capture an image, it goes through the motions, but
> no
> image is captured.
> 3. It accepts commands via a keyboard.
> 4. A load from the last config file did not correct things.
> 5. A full power off and on did not correct things.
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
> On 4/12/21 4:27 AM, Dave Cole wrote:
> > Hello,
> >
> > My P3 seems to have had a display failure. The SVGA is working, as
> > I
> > can control the K3 via macros fired at it via the keyboard input.
> > It
> > failed to light off once before, but that seemed a one off thing,
> > not it
> > seems permanent.
> >
> > Has anyone seen this before? If so, what was the cause?
> >
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

NK7Z

Re: P3 Failure, and question

Rick,

Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking over
the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks like a
backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a datasheet on teh
4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas, nope. I got mine to come
back on by power cycling it as well...

Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>
______________________________________________________________
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]

NK7Z

Re: P3 Failure, and question

Rick,
A further thought on this... Next time your P3 fails, can you try and
grab an image from it using the utility? I just thought of that, mine
will not grab an image, when it is failed, so it is probably not the
backlight on mine.

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 4/12/21 6:03 AM, Dave Cole wrote:

> Rick,
>
> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking over
> the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks like a
> backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a datasheet on teh
> 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas, nope. I got mine to come
> back on by power cycling it as well...
>
> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

Dave New, N8SBE

Re: P3 Failure, and question

I've been experiencing intermittent failures of the internal
display, as well as loss of at least one setting (Track/Fix).

I've been leaving the K3s/P3 powered on continuously, but recently
started turning them off, to save some 'always on' energy while trying
to figure out why our house is running about 1200 watts continuously.

So, when powering on the combination (the P3 is set to power on with
the K3s power), very nearly always now, the internal display fails to
come on, but the SVGA display always works. Normally, cycling the
power switch on the P3 recovers the internal display, but just
yesterday, I had to cycle the power several times before it came up.

I'm now leaving things powered on, until I can troubleshoot what the
issue is. I did go as far as looking in the P3 manual to see if there
is a coin cell battery in it, that might need replacing, but that is
apparently not so.

I'm concerned about the loss of settings, which may point to a
corrupted EEPROM. Reflashing the P3 hasn't fixed this, and so far,
I've not tried a 'factory reset' on the P3, which would lose all my
settings.

Hope that helps,

-- Dave, N8SBE

Quoting Dave Cole <[hidden email]>:

> Rick,
> A further thought on this... Next time your P3 fails, can you try
> and grab an image from it using the utility? I just thought of
> that, mine will not grab an image, when it is failed, so it is
> probably not the backlight on mine.
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
> On 4/12/21 6:03 AM, Dave Cole wrote:
>> Rick,
>>
>> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking
>> over the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks
>> like a backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a
>> datasheet on teh 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas,
>> nope. I got mine to come back on by power cycling it as well...
>>
>> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>>
>> 73, and thanks,
>> Dave (NK7Z)
>> https://www.nk7z.net
>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>>
>> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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.htmlMessage delivered to [hidden email]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: P3 Failure, and question

In reply to this post by NK7Z

I had a similar problem with my P3 with SVGA. I had to cycle through the on-off switch a few times before it would fully power up. Once powered up, everything was working and stable. I tried reseating the ribbon cables but that had no effect.

I contacted Elecraft technical support and they had me try a few things but that did not solve the problem. I sent it to Elecraft and it turned out that the I/O board was faulty. The repair cost was approximately $200 for a new board and labor.

73
Howard/WX7HS

> On Apr 12, 2021, at 06:05, Dave Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Rick,
>
> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking over the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks like a backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a datasheet on teh 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas, nope. I got mine to come back on by power cycling it as well...
>
> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>
> 73, and thanks,
> Dave (NK7Z)
> https://www.nk7z.net
> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>
>> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

NK7Z

Re: P3 Failure, and question

In reply to this post by Dave New, N8SBE

Hi Dave New,

It does help, and thank you... Mine has come back to life as well,
(power cycling it), and I am worried about turning it off now as well...

I will get an RSA from Elecraft and send it in... I'll report back to
the list what they find, and how long it took to get repaired.

If you discover the issue, please let me know if you would! I won't be
sending mine back tomorrow, but sooner than later. Also, THANK YOU
again for the information.

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 4/12/21 6:39 AM, Dave New wrote:

> I've been experiencing intermittent failures of the internal display,
> as well as loss of at least one setting (Track/Fix).
>
> I've been leaving the K3s/P3 powered on continuously, but recently
> started turning them off, to save some 'always on' energy while trying
> to figure out why our house is running about 1200 watts continuously.
>
> So, when powering on the combination (the P3 is set to power on with the
> K3s power), very nearly always now, the internal display fails to come
> on, but the SVGA display always works. Normally, cycling the power
> switch on the P3 recovers the internal display, but just yesterday, I
> had to cycle the power several times before it came up.
>
> I'm now leaving things powered on, until I can troubleshoot what the
> issue is. I did go as far as looking in the P3 manual to see if there
> is a coin cell battery in it, that might need replacing, but that is
> apparently not so.
>
> I'm concerned about the loss of settings, which may point to a corrupted
> EEPROM. Reflashing the P3 hasn't fixed this, and so far, I've not tried
> a 'factory reset' on the P3, which would lose all my settings.
>
> Hope that helps,
>
> -- Dave, N8SBE
>
> Quoting Dave Cole <[hidden email]>:
>
>> Rick,
>> A further thought on this... Next time your P3 fails, can you try and
>> grab an image from it using the utility? I just thought of that, mine
>> will not grab an image, when it is failed, so it is probably not the
>> backlight on mine.
>>
>> 73, and thanks,
>> Dave (NK7Z)
>> https://www.nk7z.net
>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>>
>> On 4/12/21 6:03 AM, Dave Cole wrote:
>>> Rick,
>>>
>>> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking
>>> over the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks like
>>> a backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a datasheet on
>>> teh 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas, nope. I got mine
>>> to come back on by power cycling it as well...
>>>
>>> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>>>
>>> 73, and thanks,
>>> Dave (NK7Z)
>>> https://www.nk7z.net
>>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>>>
>>> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>>>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>>>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>>>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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.htmlMessage 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]

NK7Z

Re: P3 Failure, and question

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Thanks Howard, I'll call you later today...

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 4/12/21 7:05 AM, Howard Saxion wrote:

> I had a similar problem with my P3 with SVGA. I had to cycle through the on-off switch a few times before it would fully power up. Once powered up, everything was working and stable. I tried reseating the ribbon cables but that had no effect.
>
> I contacted Elecraft technical support and they had me try a few things but that did not solve the problem. I sent it to Elecraft and it turned out that the I/O board was faulty. The repair cost was approximately $200 for a new board and labor.
>
> 73
> Howard/WX7HS
>
>
>> On Apr 12, 2021, at 06:05, Dave Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking over the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks like a backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a datasheet on teh 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas, nope. I got mine to come back on by power cycling it as well...
>>
>> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>>
>> 73, and thanks,
>> Dave (NK7Z)
>> https://www.nk7z.net
>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>>
>>> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]

Dave New, N8SBE

Re: P3 Failure, and question

In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list

Do you know just what failed on the I/O board? Was it possibly due
to static discharge?

I tend to leave an antenna connected, except during active weather,
but curious if there is something sensitive in the P3 I/O area that
can fail easily from a surge, like the old RS-232 circuitry in the
original K3.

Thanks,

-- Dave, N8SBE

Quoting Howard Saxion via Elecraft <[hidden email]>:

> I had a similar problem with my P3 with SVGA. I had to cycle
> through the on-off switch a few times before it would fully power
> up. Once powered up, everything was working and stable. I tried
> reseating the ribbon cables but that had no effect.
>
> I contacted Elecraft technical support and they had me try a few
> things but that did not solve the problem. I sent it to Elecraft and
> it turned out that the I/O board was faulty. The repair cost was
> approximately $200 for a new board and labor.
>
> 73
> Howard/WX7HS
>
>> On Apr 12, 2021, at 06:05, Dave Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Rick,
>>
>> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking
>> over the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks
>> like a backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a
>> datasheet on teh 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas,
>> nope. I got mine to come back on by power cycling it as well...
>>
>> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>>
>> 73, and thanks,
>> Dave (NK7Z)
>> https://www.nk7z.net
>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>>
>>> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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.htmlMessage delivered to [hidden email]

Elecraft mailing list

Re: P3 Failure, and question

I do not. The repair invoice from Elecraft only indicated a faulty I/O board which was replaced.
73
Howard/WX7HS

> On Apr 12, 2021, at 09:35, Dave New <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Do you know just what failed on the I/O board? Was it possibly due to static discharge?
>
> I tend to leave an antenna connected, except during active weather, but curious if there is something sensitive in the P3 I/O area that can fail easily from a surge, like the old RS-232 circuitry in the original K3.
>
> Thanks,
>
> -- Dave, N8SBE
>
> Quoting Howard Saxion via Elecraft <[hidden email]>:
>
>> I had a similar problem with my P3 with SVGA. I had to cycle through the on-off switch a few times before it would fully power up. Once powered up, everything was working and stable. I tried reseating the ribbon cables but that had no effect.
>>
>> I contacted Elecraft technical support and they had me try a few things but that did not solve the problem. I sent it to Elecraft and it turned out that the I/O board was faulty. The repair cost was approximately $200 for a new board and labor.
>>
>> 73
>> Howard/WX7HS
>>
>>>> On Apr 12, 2021, at 06:05, Dave Cole <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>> Rick,
>>>
>>> Thank you! I appreciate the datapoint in this. I was just looking over the schematic and came to the same conclusion... It looks like a backlight problem to me as well... I tried to find a datasheet on teh 4538 IC that appears to control it, but alas, nope. I got mine to come back on by power cycling it as well...
>>>
>>> Hopefully someone has actually fixed this, and knows which cap...
>>>
>>> 73, and thanks,
>>> Dave (NK7Z)
>>> https://www.nk7z.net
>>> ARRL Volunteer Examiner
>>> ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
>>> ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources
>>>
>>>> On 4/12/21 5:27 AM, Rick Stanback wrote:
>>>> My P3 does the same thing. If i keep cycling power it eventually comes
>>>> on and works. I suspect there is a bad capacitor in the LCD backlight
>>>> power. I have not actually looking into it yet.
>>>
>>> ______________________________________________________________
>>> 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.htmlMessage 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]

w4sc-2

Re: P3 Failure, and question

In reply to this post by NK7Z

I had a similar problem.

I purchased a P3 kit in 2015, assembled, and it worked well. The firmware as received, was a rev behind. Trying to upgrade via the normal method, was unable to accomplish. Trying to force an upgrade, was unsuccessful. Had to return for warranty repair. The EEPROM was corrupted.

All was OK until about 4 years ago, the P3, occasionally, would not boot up. I received some guidance from one of the engineers, to check a capacitor in the P3 power supply. If it was a tantalum (10 uF I believe), it was the incorrect value, and to change to 0.1uf (1206 sized). After the capacitor change, no more powerup issues. I believe there was a supply sequencing issue.

I am looking for the details, and when found, I will post.

Ben W4SC

Sent from Mail for Windows 10

______________________________________________________________
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]

NK7Z

Re: P3 Failure, and question

Hi Ben,
Thank you for the information!!! I will look to see if that cap is wrong!

73, and thanks,
Dave (NK7Z)
https://www.nk7z.net
ARRL Volunteer Examiner
ARRL Technical Specialist, RFI
ARRL Asst. Director, NW Division, Technical Resources

On 4/12/21 3:37 PM, w4sc wrote:

> I had a similar problem.
>
> I purchased a P3 kit in 2015, assembled, and it worked well. The firmware as received, was a rev behind. Trying to upgrade via the normal method, was unable to accomplish. Trying to force an upgrade, was unsuccessful. Had to return for warranty repair. The EEPROM was corrupted.
>
> All was OK until about 4 years ago, the P3, occasionally, would not boot up. I received some guidance from one of the engineers, to check a capacitor in the P3 power supply. If it was a tantalum (10 uF I believe), it was the incorrect value, and to change to 0.1uf (1206 sized). After the capacitor change, no more powerup issues. I believe there was a supply sequencing issue.
>
> I am looking for the details, and when found, I will post.
>
> Ben W4SC
>
> Sent from Mail for Windows 10
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]
>