[Elecraft] K3/0 power plug

[Bruce Beford]

This always irked me about some products, like the original TNC2 from MFJ.
Those use an 1/8" phone plug which would always end up getting the tip
shorted to the sleeve of the jack during plug insertion. the only way to
avoid it was to connect the power cable to the unit, then plug in the
wall-wart. Bad Design.

It would seem that Elecraft wanted to leverage the existing PC board, just
leaving off certain (most) components.  This is a shame. I (and others who
have spoken up) would have preferred an arrangement that just used the
existing front panel board, coupled to a new rear panel board with the
appropriate power regulators, I/O, etc. This would have allowed the K3/0 to
be a much smaller, actual control HEAD, instead of a large empty case.

Since it "is what it is", I am sure it would be a fairly simple matter to
remove the RCA jack and replace it with a coaxial power connector, or make a
pigtail adapter.

73,
Bruce N1RX

> I was disappointed to learn that the power input was the RCA jack on the 
> back where that is a power output on the K3/10 and K3/100.

> Why? Because then the power cord has the positive connection sticking 
> out where it shorts to ground readily when one is as clumsy as I am.  
> Perhaps others will be more lucky or skilled than I am.