[Elecraft] Blown Diodes - K3

[iain macdonnell - N6ML]

I had to replace D36 and D37 once. They are surface-mount, but not too
difficult. They're located on the bottom of the main RF board, under
the KAT3/KANT3. Concur with Don on suggestion of engaging support for
advice...

73/GL,

    ~iain / N6ML



On Tue, Aug 20, 2013 at 8:34 AM, Lee Buller <k0wa at swbell.net> wrote:
>
> It looks like D36 and D37 on the SWR Bridge on the K3 RF Board are no longer functioning.  Kaput.
>
> Questions:
>
> Where are these diodes located on the board?
> Are they Surface Mount?  If so, can they be changed to "regular" diodes
> What are the parameters of these diodes?
> Can I still operate the rig?  (KS QSO Party this weekend.) (The SWR on the meter if very good so there is not issue with high swr, just a wrong reading.)
> Has anyone changed these out and can give me some instructions?
>
> Here is what I did to determine what is going on....
>
> I have the K3 connected to a dummy load through an external watt meter as well
> The watt meter says the SWR is fine on all bands.  100watts forward and no watts back.
>
> The K3 says that it is 2.6 or 3.6 to one on all bands and I am putting out about 25 watts while using the XMIT Key
> When I go below 12 watts it seems to be fine, but when I go above 12 watts
> the SWR Reading goes up considerably but the external meter stays the same....flat!
>
> This happens on bands 80 through 10 meters.  I did not try 160 or 6 meters
> I am in bypass mode on the bands mentioned.
>
> Lee Buller - K0WA
>
>
>
> ===================================================================================
>
>
> In our day and age it seems that Common Sense is in short supply.  If you don't have any Common Sense - get some Common Sense and use it.  If you can't find any Common Sense, ask for help from somebody who has some Common Sense.  Is Common Sense divine?
>
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>
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