[Elecraft] What happens to a K2 with lightning strikes.

[Gregg Lengling]

If you've been watching the remailer you'll know that K2/100 S#3075 was
hit by lightning (also my 61" HDTV but that's a different and more
expensive story).  The only real problem with the radio was that it
wanted to run full out high power (120 plus watts in QRO and 18 plus
watts in QRP).  There was no control over the power....well just to let
you know it'll only cost you a few bucks to repair......and it only
takes 5 parts....I first did the troubleshooting and replaced U6 in the
KPA100....this is output value from the SWR/Power bridge to control the
output level..it was bad.  This is a high current opamp, also the
Scaling FET's Q10 and Q11 (which are sensitive parts) had to be
replaced.  This seemed to fix it but only if you ran less than 25 watts
after that we were back to the full out scenario again.  Everything
checked out and the only thing I could figure is that D16 and 17 in the
SWR bridge were breaking down at higher power levels.  It turns out I
was correct, a new pair of diodes and #3075 is running like brand new.

Just thought I'd put the results out there in case someone else gets
zapped.
So all you need are: 1-EL5146C, 2-2N7000, and 2-1N5711's.

By the way...I now have a new grounding system including a PolyPhaser
entrance panel with Polyphaser protection on all antenna lines coming in
from my tower....2 HF antenns, 5 VHF/UHF antennas, 3 satellite dish
lines, 1 rotor control and 2 TV antennas.  (Total Cost including running
a copper buss to the ham shack from the panel and to the tower grounding
system $1400.00 about 1390.00 more than it cost to fix the radio, but
hopefully I won't have to fix it again.)


Gregg R. Lengling, W9DHI, Retired
Administrator http://www.milwaukeehdtv.org

Politics is the art of appearing candid and completely open, while
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