[Elecraft] K3 no transmit - after Elecraft shop repair

[Jack Smith]

In the days of vacuum tube transmitters, we commonly used a 100 watt 
incandescent light bulb as a dummy load. It has the advantage of giving 
an immediate indication of output power. And, because the usual 
arrangement was to use a few feet of zip cord between the transmitter 
and bulb, one could easily work a couple miles with the "dummy" antenna.

The vacuum tube transmitters would match a wide range of loads, so the 
non-50 ohm nature of the bulb wasn't a problem. The actual bulb 
impedance will vary with power, of course.

For an expedient dummy load with the K3, I believe a 100 watt bulb will 
still work, but I would keep the power down in the 50 watt range. If you 
have the antenna tuner option, it should match the light bulb's 
impedance without too much trouble.

Jack K8ZOA




Dale Harding K7DNH wrote:
> K3 # 2825 had a meltdown of the power transistor near the front panel - left
> side. Elecraft repaired it and sent it back with several pages of tests and
> calibrations they performed.
>
> Thought all was well - set the K3 in the Pelican transport case and came to
> So. Cal for family vacation and set up rig - only to discover no transmit
> power.  Can hear fine - but nothing going out. Tx led lights up - power has
> only a single bar that comes on. If tune is used the power scale goes to
> 100.
>
> Thought I might try the power calibrations - even though the shops papers
> stated they performed that - but forgot to pack a dummy load. Drove an hour
> to HRO in Anaheim - but they had no dummy loads whatsoever in stock - and
> they stated their "in house" one was burnt up.
>
> Any ideas what I can try to get things going?  I am very new to ham radio so
> everything needs to be spelled out fairly clearly.
>
> At least I'm glad I brought another radio - but sure miss the better
> performance of the K3.
>
> thanks
>
> Dale
> K7DNH
>
>