[Elecraft] k2 maximum supply voltage?

[Jack Brindle]

On Feb 12, 2004, at 6:53 AM, Don Wilhelm wrote:

> The spec for supply voltage is 15 volts max, so just put 2 diodes in  
> series
> with your 16 volt supply and you will be OK.
>
> It may work just fine to use the 16 volts 'straight', but no  
> guarantees.  A
> few folks did try 'hot-rodding' their K2s and several used higher  
> voltages.
> As far as I know all those K2s survived.

This is strongly NOT recommended. The K2, and its accessories, might  
have survived the power-on today, but the long term effects could be  
disastrous. There will be extra heat generated by the voltage  
regulators inside the K2, and some of the components sitting on the  
power bus are rated at somewhat low voltages.

There are very good reasons that the maximum is stated at 15 volts. My  
own preference / recommendation is to keep the max at 14.2 to allow  
battery charging and maintain a safe margin for the power bus  
components.

- Jack Brindle, WA4FIB
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