[Elecraft] New Output Power Issue

[Ian Kahn]

All,

Thanks for the input.  Glad the K3 seems to be operating up to snuff.  I
now consider this issue closed.

73 and have a great weekend.

--Ian
Ian Kahn, KM4IK
Roswell, GA EM74ua
km4ik.ian at gmail.com
K3 #281, P3 #688
HRD v5.x/6.0 Test Team
On Thu, Jan 10, 2013 at 11:27 PM, Don Wilhelm <w3fpr at embarqmail.com> wrote:

> Ian,
>
> So your K3 is operating a bit more efficiently than average - what is to
> be worried about, be glad.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 1/10/2013 10:23 PM, Ian Kahn - Ham wrote:
>
>> So, several weeks after originally starting this thread, I finally had
>> time this evening to sit down and take some voltage and current
>> measurements.  I used my Astron SS-30 power supply connected to the 40A
>> DC-in port on my Rigrunner.  I then ran the Elecraft power cord from a 25A
>> port on the Rigrunner into the 12V DC-in on the back of the K3. Everything
>> measures 13.8V in standy/rx, all the way to the reading on the K3 display,
>> with the K3 showing .82A current draw in rxv. I would measure the power at
>> the 12V in port on the K3, but can't see a way to get the probes into the
>> powerpole connectors without damaging anything.  I ran my tests using FSK-D
>> at 100W and into a known-good 300W dummy load,  so I could get 100% duty
>> cycle for a few seconds with each transmit. When I go to transmit, voltage
>> on every band looks good, with the voltage dropping from 13.8V to anywhere
>> from 12.1 to 12.4 volts. I'm concerned about some of the current readings,
>> however.  80 meters shows a current draw of 15.80A; 17 meters shows a draw
>> of 16.35A; 15 meters shows a draw of 16.40A; 10 meters shows a draw of
>> 12.93A.  12m, 20m, 30m, 40m, and 160m are all within the 17-22A current
>> draw rating for the K3.  The RF output meter on the K3 shows 100w out on
>> every band, but I haven't put the rig on an external watt meter.  Since
>> these are all below the nominal current draw given in the K3 owner's manual
>> (17-22A), is there something I should look at recalibrating?  Or could
>> something more serious be going here that I need to be concerned about?
>>  Or, am I worried about nothing? Further guidance is greatly appreciated.
>>
>>
>


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