[Elecraft] K3: How many amps does it draw?

[Robert Tellefsen]

Hi Tom
I'm curious about one thing.
In the K2 we can cut back on receive current by
menu selections for things like FD on battery power.
Is there any plan for such a capability in the K3?
73, Bob N6WG

----- Original Message -----
From: "Tom Hammond" <n0ss at embarqmail.com>
To: "DOUGLAS ZWIEBEL" <dougzzz at gmail.com>; <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, February 19, 2008 9:25 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3: How many amps does it draw?


> Doug Zwiebel, KR2Q, posed the following...
>
> >Wondering if anybody has measured this...
> >
> >I have the K3 with the KPA3, but I run it almost all the time at 5
> >watts output (5.0 setting).
> >
> >What is the max amps that this configuration might draw, assuming a
> >good SWR and a normal voltage (indoor) supply?  I want to see "how
> >small" (but safe) a power supply I can use.
>
> Obviously, this is NOT the absolute answer to your query, but it's
> what I just measured on my (Field Test) K3, on 20M CW, into a known
> accurate 50 Ohm load with the ATU in BYPASS mode, using an in-line
> Fluke 187 DMM in the 10A position and the shortest 'test' clip-leads
> (about 4" each) I had available.
>
>    K3 #0008
>
>    Mode      Current (A)
>
>     OFF      0.055 A (55 mA)
>
>     RX       0.99 A  (990 mA)
>
>      1W TX   2.56 A
>
>      5W TX   3.37 A
>
>     10W TX   3.95 A
>
>     12W TX   4.14 A  (power setting just BEFORE KPA3 enabled)
>
>     13W TX   8.90 A  (KPA3 just enabled)
>
> Given a small amount of resistive losses in the (alligator clip)
> connections to the DC leads, the DC voltage applied to the K3
> (measured BY the K3) varied from 13.9VDC (RX), 13.7 VDC (1W TX),
> to 13.3VDC (13W TX).
>
> This may (or may NOT) be representative of all K3s... YMMV..
>
> 73,
>
> Tom Hammond   N0SS
>
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: Elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com