[Elecraft] K3 suddenly dies

Thu Oct 17 17:54:03 EDT 2013

Keep in mind that the article I sent you is a complete refurb that even
replaces the pass transistors.

I think googling around said the most likely culprit is a bad LM723, but
I didn't look too hard since my Astron was working fine before I decided
it made a nice footrest and bought a switching power supply. :)

On Thu, 17 Oct 2013, Gary, W7TEA wrote:

> Thank you Hisashi!  I called Astron and they quoted $26US including shipping.
>
> Gary
>
>
> On Oct 17, 2013, at 2:26 PM, "Hisashi T Fujinaka [via Elecraft]" <ml-node+s365791n7579982h7 at n2.nabble.com> wrote:
>
>> I have an Astron 35A and was fishing around for details and found a guy
>> who talked about replacing the circuit board. I'm not sure it's
>> necessary, but here's the link:
>>
>> http://www.repeater-builder.com/astron/pdf/w5bwc-rs35-rebuild.pdf
>>
>> On Thu, 17 Oct 2013, Gary, W7TEA wrote:
>>
>>> I have had the board off a couple of times to reseat and then to change out the voltage reg IC and to
>>> adjust the trimmer.  I have done a visual inspection but will check that all hardware is
>>> securely fastened.  May have to invest in another assembled board if nothing else works.
>>>
>>> Thank you all for the ideas.
>>>
>>> Gary W7TEA
>>>
>>>
>>> On Oct 17, 2013, at 12:38 PM, "Vic K2VCO-2 [via Elecraft]" <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Sometimes the screws holding the board to the capacitors loosen up after a few years.
>>>>
>>>> On 10/17/2013 7:14 AM, Gary, W7TEA wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Good morning Don.  The PS suddenly died on me at our beach house in Long Beach.  I had
>>>>> no equipment there and first assumed it was my K3.  Brought the rig home to Portland
>>>>> and it worked fine.  So, it was the supply, an Astron RS35A--couple years old. Anyway,
>>>>> checked the fuse, cleaned contacts etc and it was .8v at the terminals. .  So, I
>>>>> replaced the voltage IC which I got from Mouser and used Deoxit on the the voltage
>>>>> adjustment pot.  I have another RS35A which has run fine for over 30 years.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don't feel comfortable playing around inside a live supply but will take the cover
>>>>> off and do another visual inspection while unplugged. It has to be something simple I
>>>>> would think.
>>>>>
>>>>> thanks Don,  Gary W7TEA
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> On Oct 17, 2013, at 5:42 AM, "Don Wilhelm-4 [via Elecraft]"
>>>>> <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> You did not show any of the prior information (one of the problems with posts from
>>>>>> Nabble), so I can only guess that you are working with a power supply problem. A
>>>>>> situation like that is often caused by something loose in the negative side of the
>>>>>> supply, something that is frequently overlooked.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> 73, Don W3FPR
>>>>>>
>>>>>> On 10/17/2013 1:54 AM, Gary, W7TEA wrote:
>>>>>>> Well, traded out the voltage regulator IC and no joy.  Then I tried Deoxit on the
>>>>>>> adjustment pot, tweaked it a bit and measured voltage at 13.8vdc! Great! Turned it
>>>>>>> off and on, tried it again, and was ready start bragging to the XYL---but it was
>>>>>>> back to .8v.  Didn't see any suspect components while I had it open.
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Vic, K2VCO
>>>> Fresno CA
>>>> http://www.qsl.net/k2vco/
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>>>> NAML
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> -----
>>> 73,
>>>
>>> Gary W7TEA  K3 #1001, #5763
>>> --
>>> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-suddenly-dies-tp7579305p7579979.html
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>>
>> --
>> Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email]
>> BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte
>> ______________________________________________________________
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>>
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>> NAML
>
>
>
>
>
> -----
> 73,
>
> Gary W7TEA  K3 #1001, #5763
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-suddenly-dies-tp7579305p7579983.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
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-- 
Hisashi T Fujinaka - htodd at twofifty.com
BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte