[Elecraft] K3 #195 FW:Beta 2.10 Output Pwr Out Of Control

[Brett Howard]

Have you tried re-doing the tune at 5 watts and 50 watts to try and
recalibrate the tx gain settings?

On Sun, 2008-06-29 at 20:30 -0700, Don Ehrlich wrote:
> Starting with my first qso after loading Beta 2.10 last week my K3 shut down 
> (turned off) unexpectedly in the middle of an SSB qso while I was 
> transmitting at about 60 watts PEP out.  Later I was able, after several 
> failed attempts, to turn it on again and now, a few days later, it is 
> happening again.  Now, though, it looks like a hard failure.  Any attempt to 
> transmit at over about 30 watts out results in shutdown.  This occurs on 
> both 160 and 80 meters.  I have not tried other bands.
> 
> The symptoms are that indicated peak output power is is about three times 
> the specified amount.  At around 40 watts commanded actual power is up to 
> over 120 watts and that is about the level where shutdown occurs.  As I 
> write this the K3 is in CW mode on 80 meters connected to a 50 ohm dummy 
> load.  The output power is set to 30 watts and when I press the TUNE button 
> actual output power indicated by an external meter (average, not peak mode) 
> shows a power of 30 watts varying 1 or 2 watts plus and minus. When switched 
> to peak mode the external wattmeter indicates 70 watts.   The input current 
> is varying from 6 to 13 amps as indicated on the K3 digital display, and the 
> SWR indication on the display is flashing 1.0 - 1 on and off at an uneven 
> rate and the RF output indication on the K3 display is 70 watts but also 
> flashing and jittering.
> 
> This started with FW beta 2.10 and I hope that is the problem but I'm 
> worried that it might be something more serious.
> 
> I have made no changes to settings recently.
> 
> HELP!
> 
> Don K7FJ 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> 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