[Elecraft] K3 Break in with an amp question

[Don Wilhelm]

Don,

You should have the amp's keyin (or PTT) keyed with the K3 KEYOUT 
signal.  If you have it that way, you are "doing it right"

Not all amps are capable of QSK because they use big, clunky, open frame 
relays that take a considerable amount of time to pull in and the 
contacts stop bouncing.  It sounds like you have one of those.  Your 
choice of semi-breakin helps on the trailing edge of your keying, but 
you really need help on the leading edge of keying to keep your amp's 
relay from "hot switching" - that is a condition where RF is present at 
the relay contacts before the relay contacts have positively closed.

You can upgrade the amp's relays to a use faster relays or add a QSK kit 
to your amplifier, or you can set the K3 for semi-breakin (as you have 
done), but consider that on the leading edge of your keying, RF may be 
presented to the amplifier before the relay contacts have stopped 
bouncing - the K3 allows you delay the onset of RF to compensate for 
that condition.  See the TX DLY menu setting on page 61 of the manual.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 3/17/2012 7:49 AM, goldtr8 at charter.net wrote:
> I am attempting to slowly learn to work with CW but at first it is with
> a computer program but I am not sure if that is relevant.
>
> I understand the reason for break in as it allows for RX listening
> between your TX in case someone it trying to contact your.
>
> The issue is that when using VOX and with semi or full breakin when
> using my amp the relays in the amp are clicking and clacking like crazy
> which to me seems very abusive to the amp.    My solution has been to go
> to semi break in and then set a long delay time so the amp and K3 stay
> keyed.
>
> The amp is an SGC powercube and I do have it wired to the K3 so it gets
> a PTT signal.
>
> Am I doing the right thing with the delay or are there other ways to
> stop the amp from going nuts or is this just the nature of the beast.
>
>
> ~73
> Don
> KD8NNU
>
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