[Elecraft] K2 Lo P

[Don Wilhelm]

Jay,

The real answer is "it all depends".
Since this is a very recent K2 serial number, it may be that this 
problem has been present since it was built and was the reason that the 
original builder sold it - that is an unfortunate situation, but it must 
be considered.

First, set your CAL CUR to 3.50 amps and try again.
LoP indicates that the K2 is not developing adequate power to enable 
proper tuning for the KAT2 (it needs 2 watts to tune).

Then set the K2 ATU menu to CALP and see if it will do a TUNE into a 
dummy load - first try at 5 watts power requested, then 10 watts and 
finally at maximum requested power.  Does the HI-CUR message appear at 
all those power levels?  Or only at maximum power?
Next, try each band separately (doing the tests as above).  Does the 
HI-CUR message appear on every band? or only some bands?

After those tests, set the ATU menu to AUTO and do a "TUNE" into the 
dummy load.  You should hear some relays click and after the tuner has 
set its L and C values to match the 50 ohm load, it should exit from TUNE.

If all that does not produce satisfactory results, there is something 
wrong with the K2.  To troubleshoot it, the first step is to remove the 
KAT2 and operate the base K2 directly into a 50 ohm non-inductive dummy 
load.  If it does not produce good power output without HI Cur messages, 
then there is a problem with the base K2 - likely in the Low Pass 
Filters or with the T4 output transformer.  We can help further if we 
have more specific information - what bands fail? what bands work? How 
much power is really produced?

73,
Don W3FPR

Jay Sissom wrote:
> Hello, I'm helping a friend who purchased a used K2.  The K2 is a
> serial number 6xxx with a KAT2, KSB2 and KBT2.
>
> When tuning with the antenna tuner into a dummy load, sometimes The
> message "Lo P" appears on the display.  It would also give the "Hi
> Curr" message with the current limit set to 2.5A.  Does it seem right
> that the radio would draw that much current when tuning into a dummy
> load?
>
> Any info on this would be appreciated.  I'm finishing up the DSP, 160m
> and KNB2 options for the radio but would like to get this fixed before
> making changes.
>
> Thanks & 73
> Jay
> W9IUF
>   
>