[Elecraft] K1 and Ant on high amp car battery

[Don Wilhelm]

Tom,
You have something awry somewhere - in the wiring from the battery or maybe
in the antenna.
A load (such as the K1) will only draw the number of amps that it needs to
power itself - there is nothing short of a resistor or a regulator that will
limit the current - and both will reduce the available voltage to your K1
(which will reduce the power output - and yes, the current will be reduced
too).

I could guess that your antenna motor is drawing more current than it
should - look for mechanical binds and other things that may load the motor
down more than it should be.  One of the facts of life with DC motors is
that the more torque they have to produce the more current they draw.  A DC
motor will draw much more current at a stall condition than it will when
running.

73 and good luck,
Don Wilhelm  - Wake Forest, NC   W3FPR home page: http://www.qsl.net/w3fpr/
  QRP-L # 485   K2  SN 0020   mailto: w3fpr@arrl.net

----- Original Message -----

> Hello all,
>
>   I have a question about running the K1 with my High Serria
> screwdriver antenna off my car battery.
> As you know a car battery has a lot of amps and I need to know if I
> can put something in-line from the power source to bring down the amps
> to say 1.5amps.  When I put the antenna switch to the battery it
> buzzes and blows the fuse.  I believe it is all grounded correctly its
> just to many amps.  Any suggestions please?
> I don't want to fry my K1!  It works just to dare good  :)
>