[Elecraft] Dead K3

[Don Wilhelm]

Bill,

Your "cc" to K3Support at elecraft.com did not show on what I perceive as 
your original post, so you may want to send something separate.
OTOH, since you are in a bit of a hurry (laving on Friday), and support 
has to wade through the entire weekend's worth of email, you may do 
better to phone 831/763-4211
first thing  (8AM) California time - well, leave enough time for Dale 
and Howard to settle down to their work positions and have a few sips of 
thier morning beverage.

In the meantime, check the obvious - remove the APP from the back of the 
K3 and check the voltage with your DMM - there is a possibility that 
there is a problem with the DC power cable.  If you assembled that power 
cable, take a look at the end of it - the blades of the connectors must 
be clipped securely over the spring fingers in the housing.  If you need 
a diagram of how it should look,  check figure 29 on page 37 of the XV 
transverter assembly manual - 
http://www.elecraft.com/manual/Assembly%20Manual%20XV50,144,%20222%20Rev%20D.pdf


73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/29/2012 7:48 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt, II wrote:
> Thanks for the help.  I already "cc'd" them on the original post so they
> will know... and I will be on the phone tomorrow ASAP.  The customer service
> is excellent.  My fear is, leaving on Friday... if it's anything more than
> pushing a button/ resetting something/ removing a module... this radio stays
> home.
>
> Man the article I'm writing on Island radio is not looking pretty...
>
>
>
> Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ
>
> Owner - Operator
> Big Signal Ranch
> Staunton, Illinois
>
> email:  bill at wjschmidt.com
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dale Boresz
> Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 6:34 PM
> To: bill at wjschmidt.com
> Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Dead K3
>
> Bill,
>
> Sorry, that's about the only thing that comes to mind that you could try
> without some disassembling. I agree, it sounds like D28 is not the issue.
> I'd call Elecraft Tech Support tomorrow and I'll bet they can help you out.
>
> Best wishes for a quick and easy fix!
>
> 73, Dale
> WA8SRA
>
>
>
> On 7/29/2012 7:16 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt, II wrote:
>> Thanks for the tip... Measured about 995 ohms at the connector, so it
>> appears D28 is still intact.
>>
>>
>> Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ
>>
>> Owner - Operator
>> Big Signal Ranch
>> Staunton, Illinois
>>
>> email:  bill at wjschmidt.com
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net
>> [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Dale Boresz
>> Sent: Sunday, July 29, 2012 6:07 PM
>> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Dead K3
>>
>> If you can, check the resistance across the K3 "12VDC IN" Power Pole
>> connections (after you've disconnected your Power Supply of course).
>>
>> On my K3, an internal zener-like diode (D28 on the RF Board) evidently
>> gave up its life to protect the radio from an overvoltage, and
>> evidently the failure mode is a short circuit. This diode goes
>> straight to ground immediately after the 6A inline fuse. I think the
>> fuse is an auto-resetting fuse, so you can probably assume it is still
>> completing the circuit for the purposes of your resistance
>> measurement. If you measure a dead short, the culprit is likely D28.
>>
>> 73, Dale
>> WA8SRA
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On 7/29/2012 6:32 PM, Dr. William J. Schmidt, II wrote:
>>> So I was testing out my new K3 before I take it to J6 next week for a
>>> little DXPedition work. and after about an hour of operation.. it
>>> just quit.  Dead as a door nail. has power to the back (checked) but
>>> never so much as the display activating.  Any ideas?  I SURE don't
>>> want to go back to that Flex
>>> 3000 that I had so much trouble with on PJ4..
>>>
>>>     
>>>
>>>     
>>>
>>> Dr. William J. Schmidt - K9HZ / J68HZ/ 8P6HK/ ZF2HZ
>>>
>>>     
>>>
>>> Owner - Operator
>>>
>>> Big Signal Ranch
>>>
>>> Staunton, Illinois
>>>
>>>     
>>>
>>> email:   <mailto:bill at wjschmidt.com> bill at wjschmidt.com
>>>
>>>     
>>>
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