[Elecraft] Pleased...P3 No. 1327...

[Don Wilhelm]

  That seems a bit bizarre to me.  The K3 has speced the DC output at 
0.5 Amps.  Now some users want to draw 0.6 amps from that output, and it 
seems to me that "this is a fault of the K3" - that is nonsense.

As a parallel, many household AC receptacles are rated  (and enforced by 
the circuit breakers) at 15 amperes.  Now, we want to draw 20 amperes 
from that receptacle - who is to blame when the circuit breaker trips - 
the electrician or the user.  I think the answer is obvious even to the 
casual observer.

Use the 12 volt DC output from the K3 within its specifications and no 
harm will come.  If you want more than it provides, use some different 
scheme, blaming the K3 design because it is not what you desire is just 
not responsible IMHO, and asking for changes in that aspect of the K3 is 
just not reasonable.  Changing the sheet metal of the K3 and the fuse 
and the board layout just to satisfy a few is cost prohibitive for the 
benefit gained.  Why should Elecraft need to provide for more DC current 
output than is required by Elecraft provided accessories (the P3 and the 
PR6).

Work with what you have - even if it involves adding a relay to power 
your chosen accessories.

73,
Don W3FPR


On 5/3/2011 9:41 PM, Fred Townsend wrote:
> I would disagree on being the 'most reasonable' [fix]. However I do think
> the relay solution is a good one if you are planning on plugging the 12 V
> coffee pot in.
>
> I think this issue is the classic glass half empty or half full. There are
> really two issues:
> 1) A field Fix
> 2) A wish list for feature products
>
> As for #1 the Radio Shack solution is a good but one should apply the
> appropriate Murphy law that being the probability that the Radio Shack
> appliance will be forgotten on any field day is directly proportional to the
> distance to the nearest Radio Shack. If FD is held at RS then the appliance
> will be remembered. If FD is held in the Yukon Territories the probability
> the appliance will be forgotten is 99.9%. Ask any FD chairman!
>
> As for #2 yes it will require a change to the PCB, the sheet metal, two
> manuals, BOM, and possibly the fuse rating. I still think it's easy to do.
> To do being on the next clean up run of the PCB. Easy does not mean
> insignificant.
>