[Elecraft] K2 voltage and Current display

[Jerry Rheinschmidt]

Hi All,

I am building a K2 and think I may have a problem.  I have 14.2vdc on 
J3 the dc input jack on the back of the K2.  On the cathode side of 
D10 I have a voltage drop of 0.3 vdc which is normal.  My question is 
I have another 0.3 vdc voltage drop reading on the display.  The 
display reads 13.6 vdc and 0.160 amps with LCD set for day.  When I 
switch to nite the current is 0.2 amps.  I think this is marginal but 
is it ok?  When I first turn on the K2 the display reads P L Y 0 - 8 
for about  90 seconds and then everything seems normal??  Do I have a 
short on the 12 V line somewhere pulling the voltage down 0.3v and 
raising the current 0.1 amps?  Any suggestions where to look would be 
appreciated although I can probably live with this because the 
receive side seems to work ok.  I haven't tried the transmitter side 
yet.  I need to get a dummy load before I do that.  I live on the 3rd 
floor of a condo and am thinking of buying a Buddipole antenna.  Is 
that a good antenna or do you have any recommendations for a better 
portable antenna.

Thanks,

Jerry
WA0BFD

K2 #2655