[Elecraft] HI current 30 meters

[Don Wilhelm]

  First, check the number of turns on toroids L18, L19 and L20 in the 
low pass filter.  I suspect they are OK, or you would have problems on 
20 meters as well, but check anyway.

If this is a QRP K2, check the number of turns on T4.  Normally the 
green wire is connected to the PA transistor collectors and has 2 turns 
while the white winding connects to the Low Pass Filter and has 3 
turns.  If you find only 2 turns on the side that connects to the LPF, 
then the prior owner had would it for "better efficiency at 5 watts" - 
but that also means poorer efficiency at higher power settings, and if 
the KSB2 is installed, that winding must be changed back to 3 turns to 
operate in a linear fashion.

Then I need to ask exactly what you have, and how you are determining 
the power output?  Specifically, do you have the KAT2 or KAT100 
installed and do you have the KPA100.

If this is a basic K2 with no tuner installed, the load must be a good 
50 ohm non-reactive dummy load to achieve a good indication of power 
output during a TUNE operation.

If you have the KAT2, KPA100, or KAT100, you must calibrate the 
wattmeter in those options before getting a good indication of power 
output.  Let me know what you have and I should be able to help further.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 10/25/2010 8:22 PM, Shamrock wrote:
> I bought a K2, sn 01489 on ebay. Had to replace the PA transistors and
> drivers and R50. Upgraded the firmware. Anyway, on 30 meters, at 5watts, it
> draws 1.56a. At 10 watts, 3.42a. Also a bit high, I think is 40 meters which
> at 10 watts draws 2.46a, and 15 meters at 10 watts, 2.30a. The rest of the
> bands range from 1.80a to 2.14a at 10 watts. This is into a dummy load. Any
> suggestions would be appreciated.