[Elecraft] K3 power creep

[Ron W3ZV]

My normal RTTY contest mode is S&P. I am using AFSK A mode. When I am 
doing this with my K3 and FL-7000, I set my drive so I get about 300 
watts out of the amp. On the rare occasion that I try to hold a 
frequency long enough to run on it, I back off the power so that the amp 
runs 250 watts. Not much difference, but I feel better about it. I 
noticed during the CQ WPX that after each power change, the amp output 
is lower than expected and creeps up during the first transmission. All 
subsequent transmissions are where I want them and steady. Typically 
when changing from 300 watts to 250, I would see 180 out on first 
transmission, which would creep toward 250 during the transmission. This 
is what show on my amp PO meter, so it is somewhat less than a precision 
measurement.

I had been using FSK in the past ( and will again shortly) and don't 
remember seeing this before. However, like my amp's PO meter, my memory 
is not a precision instrument.

Is this normal, perhaps ALC related, or a problem.

Ron W3ZV