[Elecraft] KX3 Battery Supply Inoperative 42 Percent of the Time...

[Doug Turnbull]

Phil,
    I have also experienced the KX3 going dead on fully charged batteries.
It seems that the only cure was to open up the KX3 remove and reinstall
batteries and also check cables to see that they are fully seated.    Then
things work again.    I have no idea why this should be and thankfully it
does not happen often.    In my case removing and reinstalling the batteries
seems to be a necessity almost as if it was allowing a power off reset.
This problem seems to occur after a battery charge cycle.    The problem is
thankfully rare but it puts a chill through my bones.

                 73 Doug EI2CN

-----Original Message-----
From: Elecraft [mailto:elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Phil
Hystad
Sent: 04 October 2014 23:38
To: elecraft
Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 Battery Supply Inoperative 42 Percent of the Time...

OK, Here's the thing...

My KX3 battery has operated flawlessly ever since I first built the KX3 and
put in the battery holder/charger feature.  One set of batteries being used
in portable QRP ops being discharged and recharged many times.  Then, I
decided to buy the 2-meter module option and install that.

I started the installation which included taking out all 8 batteries,
unplugging the battery connector that goes to the other half of the KX3 and
so on.  I get part way into the installation and discover that I cannot
finish the job because inductor L40 which has to move cannot physically move
at all.  So, I send it to Elecraft, they do the installation, they send the
unit back to me and everything is hunky-dory except for the battery
facility.

These are the symptoms.  Brand new batteries installed, and I operate the
KX3 with external power and make sure that the batteries are fully charged.
The VFO B Display shows BT voltage with a good charged level.  I turn the
KX3 off, disconnect external power, and go to turn on with battery power.
Nothing happens, just as if no batteries installed.

I replug external power, turn on KX3 using external power and check out the
various battery menu settings and so on.  This time, without unplugging
external power connector, I merely turn off the external power supply and
the KX3 continues operating nicely with battery power.  I do a number of
tests with CW key down into metered dummy load to check TX and a few other
things.  I think the problem solved.  I run on batteries all afternoon to
run them down.  Turning on external power I recharge the batteries back up
to an operating level.  I turn off KX3, disconnect external power, and turn
on KX3 and nothing happens just like before.  I fiddle with things a bit.  I
attempt to do what I did before that brought life back to the battery
feature but nothing happens.

I split open the KX3 and check the power plug.  I push in on it a little
bit.  I put the two halves loosely back together and then do a power on and
the KX3 comes alive on batteries.

I am thinking that I have a loose connection somewhere, maybe the battery
hookup plug that goes across to the other half.  

Anyone have problems with these connectors?  I am wondering if I just give
up on the battery thing and use my external Li -ion external batteries from
now on.

73, phil, K7PEH

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