[Elecraft] Any thoughts about rig LONGEVITY???

[Don Wilhelm]

Jim,

The K3 (K2 and many other transceivers) use an external power supply, so 
the answer depends a lot on the behavior of your power supply.  If it 
produces momentary overvoltages or spikes when it is turned on, that 
will shorten the life of any devices that connect to the 12 volt input 
rail.  OTOH, most of the devices in the K2 and K3 are 'behind' internal 
regulators and those regulators (along with the capacitors at the 
regulator output) produce a 'soft-start' effect.

Assuming a well regulated 12 volt power source with no overvoltages or 
spikes at power on, you will likely not notice any difference in the 
life of the components.

Certainly components do have a lifetime - and that is expressed in MTBF 
- mean time between failures.  For most individual components, that time 
is expressed in hours of power on time - but the lifetime is typically 
in the range greater than 100,000 hours (11 1/2 years).  Those 
components that fail in a short period of time (usually less than 3 
months) are not counted in the MTBF figure and are termed early life 
failures.  Devices that have operated beyond the early life failure 
point can be expected to enjoy a long lifetime unless they are subjected 
to abuse (voltage surges are abuse).

The bottom line as I see it is that it will make little practical 
difference.  If one is operating with a 'ratty' power supply, it is 
going to reduce the lifetime of the components no matter what.  When I 
was working with large computer systems, very careful attention was paid 
to power system designs and one of the reasons was to protect some very 
expensive and sensitive computer system components.

If you wish to prolong the life of a radio, make certain you have good 
overvoltage protection on the power supply and disconnect and ground the 
antennas (preferably outside) when not in use.  Lightning surges damage 
more transceivers than any other single form of abuse.

And a Happy New Year to you and all the other reflector folks.

73,
Don W3FPR

JIM DAVIS wrote:
> Gentlemen,
>
> This I'm sure has been thought about by many individuals for many 
> years especially myself.
>
> Do you think that by cycling a rig (turning it off and on) for years 
> has anything to do with it's
> LIFE, especially since with that process the internal components would 
> be subject to current surges,
> maybe eventually breaking them down? Especially with the 
> IC/micro-processors we all have in our more modern rigs now!
>
> Or do others out here just leave their rigs on 24/7 with my initial 
> thought in mind???
>
> WHADDAH YA THINK???
>
> Regards to ALL & a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!
>
> Jim/nn6ee
>