[Elecraft] [K2] Current setting?

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

What is the voltage of your power supply?  If it is 13.8 volts or 
higher, there should be no HI CUR messages during normal operation with 
CAL CUR set to 3.50.  If the PS voltage is low (or you have a bad power 
cable connection), you may see those messages at higher power settings.  
The K2 maintains power level, and for any given power, it will take more 
current if the voltage is low.

If you power supply voltage is good, but your power output is low, Hi 
Curr warnings are an indication of a problem.  I assume the power 
outputs that you site are average readings on SSB - if so, that is 
probably OK.  What do you get when you use TUNE is the real question.

You may leave the CAL CUR setting at 3.50 Amps or even higher.  You 
might see some HI CURR messages on particular bands if you run the power 
control all the way to max - but don't do that, just set the power to 12 
watts or less and you should not see any.

Yes, the CAL CUR setting will limit the power output if that current is 
exceeded.  That is really a helpful indicator if one is running from a 
battery - the message tells you that the battery voltage has dropped and 
a re-charge may be necessary.  If used in that manner, you can set the 
CAL CUR to any point you desire, but with an AC power source, you can 
run CAL CUR up to 4 amps with no problem.

73,
Don W3FPR

Mike-WE0H wrote:
> What should I have my Current setting set at? I see it occasionally 
> showing high current when running SSB on the bench into a 50 ohm load. 
> Is this some sort of current limiting setting for the power amp? It was 
> set at 2.x amps and I set it to ~3.5a tonight and noticed the 160m power 
> shot up to 10w on the Bird meter after that. Before moving the current 
> setting up, it would show maybe 2-5w output just talking into the mic. I 
> run the compression at 2:1 and the other setting at 3. I think I am 
> saying that right but I am a newbie to this rig so...hi hi...
> Also using a Kenwood MC-43S mic. The audio sounds clean listening on a 
> TS-440 on all bands 160 thru 10m, skipping 30m of course...
>
> Thanks much,
> Mike
> WE0H
> K2 S/N 6698
>   
>