Elecraft

Recommended Power for K3/100 for 100% Data Modes

Classic

List

Threaded

5 messages Options

Elecraft K3

Recommended Power for K3/100 for 100% Data Modes

Hello All,

I’ve searched the reflector's archives and haven’t found anything on this, so here goes.

I have an aging K3/1000 (sn 3045) and I wish to preserve its operating life. Up until now I’ve mostly operated in SSB and BPSK. Recently I’ve been exploring some 100% duty cycle modes and I am wondering what would be a prudent power level for these modes. Or perhaps there is a temperature limit that should be observed on the KPA3’s heat sink?

Suggestions?

TIA,
Eric Fitzgerald
KG6MZS

______________________________________________________________
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]

Nr4c

Re: Recommended Power for K3/100 for 100% Data Modes

I think you can run 100 Watts. You might use the temp monitor on lcd display and watch PA TEMP. If it starts getting close to 70 - 80 degrees C it’s time to take a break.

Many manually set fans to level 2 and just let them run.

If the radio gets too hot it will cut back the power in self protection.

Don’t be afraid, the K3 is rugged and is made to not need coddling(so).

Sent from my iPhone
...nr4c. bill

> On May 22, 2020, at 7:05 PM, Eric KG6MZS <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> I’ve searched the reflector's archives and haven’t found anything on this, so here goes.
>
> I have an aging K3/1000 (sn 3045) and I wish to preserve its operating life. Up until now I’ve mostly operated in SSB and BPSK. Recently I’ve been exploring some 100% duty cycle modes and I am wondering what would be a prudent power level for these modes. Or perhaps there is a temperature limit that should be observed on the KPA3’s heat sink?
>
> Suggestions?
>
> TIA,
> Eric Fitzgerald
> KG6MZS
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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: Recommended Power for K3/100 for 100% Data Modes

I believe one of the tests Elecraft performs is a 10 minute keydown at
100 Watts. I hope someone from Elecraft comes in and verifies that...

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

On 5/22/20 4:21 PM, Nr4c wrote:

> I think you can run 100 Watts. You might use the temp monitor on lcd display and watch PA TEMP. If it starts getting close to 70 - 80 degrees C it’s time to take a break.
>
> Many manually set fans to level 2 and just let them run.
>
> If the radio gets too hot it will cut back the power in self protection.
>
> Don’t be afraid, the K3 is rugged and is made to not need coddling(so).
>
> Sent from my iPhone
> ...nr4c. bill
>
>
>> On May 22, 2020, at 7:05 PM, Eric KG6MZS <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Hello All,
>>
>> I’ve searched the reflector's archives and haven’t found anything on this, so here goes.
>>
>> I have an aging K3/1000 (sn 3045) and I wish to preserve its operating life. Up until now I’ve mostly operated in SSB and BPSK. Recently I’ve been exploring some 100% duty cycle modes and I am wondering what would be a prudent power level for these modes. Or perhaps there is a temperature limit that should be observed on the KPA3’s heat sink?
>>
>> Suggestions?
>>
>> TIA,
>> Eric Fitzgerald
>> KG6MZS
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> 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]
>

Randy Lake

Re: Recommended Power for K3/100 for 100% Data Modes

In reply to this post by Elecraft K3

I have been running 100w on HF since FT8 started with no issues at all.
Ser# 3990ish....I run mostly at 30w on 6m for 1200w out, day and night for
years.
Randy N1KWF

On Fri, May 22, 2020 at 7:03 PM Eric KG6MZS <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hello All,
>
> I’ve searched the reflector's archives and haven’t found anything on this,
> so here goes.
>
> I have an aging K3/1000 (sn 3045) and I wish to preserve its operating
> life. Up until now I’ve mostly operated in SSB and BPSK. Recently I’ve
> been exploring some 100% duty cycle modes and I am wondering what would be
> a prudent power level for these modes. Or perhaps there is a temperature
> limit that should be observed on the KPA3’s heat sink?
>
> Suggestions?
>
> TIA,
> Eric Fitzgerald
> KG6MZS
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]

--
Randy Lake N1KWF
73 Gunn Rd.
Keene,NH
______________________________________________________________
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 Hunt

Re: Recommended Power for K3/100 for 100% Data Modes

In reply to this post by Elecraft K3

One thing you might check is whether or not your K3 has thermal pads between the LPA transistors and where they bolt to the bottom cover. I ran across this when doing some mods and the instructions said to reinstall them but my early 4xxx K3/100F didn't have them. When I asked the Elecraft tech he said they were added because of the higher duty cycle digital modes. As a minimum make sure those screws are tight.

73,
Brian, K0DTJ

> On May 22, 2020, at 16:03, Eric KG6MZS <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Hello All,
>
> I’ve searched the reflector's archives and haven’t found anything on this, so here goes.
>
> I have an aging K3/1000 (sn 3045) and I wish to preserve its operating life. Up until now I’ve mostly operated in SSB and BPSK. Recently I’ve been exploring some 100% duty cycle modes and I am wondering what would be a prudent power level for these modes. Or perhaps there is a temperature limit that should be observed on the KPA3’s heat sink?
>
> Suggestions?
>
> TIA,
> Eric Fitzgerald
> KG6MZS
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]