[Elecraft] "Hi Cur" Display Reading on K2

[Paul Clay]

Hello all!

Just finished all but the final assembly of my 
(basic - no mods yet) K2.  During the alignment 
process, everything went A-OK (including the 
measured current draw at 10 watts, performed per 
the manual at the end of aligning the 40 meter 
stage of the transmitter, which I found to be 
1.92 amps).  

When I completed the alignment, I thought I'd see  
check to make sure I was getting plenty of power 
out on all bands (b/c some have written of lower 
output in the upper bands). Here's what I found

I get plenty of output on all bands, but notice 
that  on 12 and 10 meters that when I set the 
power for 10 watts and hit TUNE, my current 
reading (on the K2 display) will start at just 
under 2 amps, and over the next 3-5 seconds then 
gradually increase to 2.5 amps after which I get 
a Hi Current message.

I'm using the dummy load built into an MJF 
Versatuner II attenna tuner to absorb the 
transmitter load while checking the transmitter 
output.  The Hi Current reading only arises when 
I'm bypassing the antenna tuner circuit and just 
feeding the power into the dummy load.  If I run 
the transmitter signal thru the tuner's tuned 
circuit and into the dummy load, the current 
maxes out at 2 to 2.3 amps and the Hi Cur message 
never displays.

I'm figuring that the Hi Current reading isn't 
indicative of a problem with my K2, but rather 
with the dummy load maybe not being a purely 
resistive load (cause, no problems on the lower 
bands, plenty of output on all bands, the 
displayed voltage never drops below 13.1v on 
transmit (it's 13.4 on receive), and the problem 
disappears if I run the output thru the antenna 
tuner's tuned circuit).  A bad call/miss 
diagnosis?  Or could there really be a problem 
with the K2.

- Paul (ser 3640)

P.S. The K2's connected to the tuner/dummy load 
via a 6 foot piece of RG58U coax, and I'm using 
an Astron switching PS rated at 13.8 volts at 12 
amps.