[Elecraft] K2/100 Extreme high Power Out - What did I do?

[Don Wilhelm]

Bob,

The first thing I want to mention is that the K2 does *NOT* have an 
RS-232 port connector!  You will do yourself a big favor by thinking of 
that 9 pin connector by the name that is on the K2 - AUX I/O.
The connector does contain 3 RS-232 defined signals, but the rest are 
internal K2 signal lines that can be damaged by connecting a standard 
computer serial cable.  Use only the special cable (instructions in the 
KIO2 and KPA100 manuals) between the K2 and the PC.

In order for us to better understand what may have been damaged, please 
tell us what type cable(s) you had connected at which points when it 
failed - please include the Icom, the K2 and the PC, how the cables were 
connected and what type cables were connected at all points.

It may be that the interconnections had nothing to do with the K2 
failure, and you had a static discharge that damaged the wattmeter in 
the KPA100 (or KAT100).  Please tell us whether this is a K2/100 and 
with or without the KAT100.

73,
Don W3FPR.

Bob Mallory wrote:
> Experimenting the other day, I had used my RS232 cable to connect a Icom 
> Radio to my PC.  When I reconnected my K2, I forgot to disconnect the 
> Icom.  I let smoke out of the K2!.
>
> Everything seemed to work, PC control, receive, etc.  Except on 
> Transmit, (with Tune button) with a dummy load I have either '0' out on 
> low power or 148 watts on high power, nothing in between.  No modulation 
> out.
>
> Before I dig in, any suggestions?  I tried to search for smoked 
> components, but nothing obvious.
> Why would the RS232 port have an impact on the Transmit circuitry.
> Thanks for any suggestions as a starting point.
> Bob - KD8HXT
>   
>