[Elecraft] Re: Near disaster

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Since the K2 lacks a "standby" switch, I have gotten into the habit of
putting it into TEST mode whenever I'm not operating and the rig is on.
That way it's not possible to accidentally close a key and enable the
transmitter. 

Even if the antenna was connected and all tuned up, a prolonged "key
down" will blow the finals of either the QRP or K2/100 versions. Of
course, if you have the internal keyer enabled you might only send as
string of dits or dahs on the air for a spell. Ol' Riley might take
"exception" to that, not to mention a few ops on the air trying to have
a QSO on that frequency...

Ron AC7AC
K2 # 1289

...The computer was off and the K2 was on, and I reached behind the K2
and plugged in my test cable...The K2 immediately went into "key-down"
and the displayed "high current"...I shut it off and checked to see what
was wrong...Being preoccupied, I had plugged the test cable, which
should have been plugged into the speaker jack, into the key jack...

Jerry, wa2dkg