[Elecraft] ERR KEY = Hot Mic

[Gary and Kathleen Pearse]

This has been discussed before, but I have to share my frustration  
and fix. The last several days I've had unexpected intermittent rig  
and amp keying accompanied by a loud hum in my Heil Proset audio.  
It's happened both on CW and SSB while operating. If the K3 was re- 
started it sometimes showed an ERR KEY msg if the hum/keying was  
present.

Today I unplugged one cord after another. It quit when I pulled the  
last cord connection, the headset mic plug from the rear of the K3.  
Hmmmm? I opened the Heil boom mic case and found two wires touching  
(sometimes). Some small heat shrink tubing later it's fixed.

Over time handling my Heil IC boom element had made a bad connection.  
The element takes bias voltage from the rig and a short at the mic  
was apparently the cause. I didn't determine the exact circuit flow  
that caused the keying and audio hum.

Thanks Elecraft for the smart protection msg.

73, Gary NL7Y