[Elecraft] Disconnecting Equipment

[Dauer, Edward]

My operating QTH is in an area where lightning is common and the storms
often severe, and where a small, rural electric coop provides the power.
As a result, there are occasional voltage surges in the AC mains during
storms.  I have never measured it, but the house lights brighten when
lightning is happening very close by.  In addition, I am at that QTH only
four or five days a month.  The rest of the time the equipment is on its
own.

I ground the antenna line from the rig through an antenna switch; and I
unplug the AC cords to all of the power supplies (two cords, each leading
to multiple-outlet strips, each on a separate AC main from the breaker
box.)  That may be overkill since each of the strips is switched, but it
takes only a second to do it.  Nothing else is disconnected when I leave.
So far, several years on, no problems.

I can¹t imagine Elecraft having responded as Kenwood did in your case.

Welcome to the K3(S) club.

Ted, KN1CBR




>On 8 Oct 2015 16:46, Peter Pauly wrote:
>> I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my
>> Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem
>>under
>> warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the
>>radio
>> when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power,
>>USB,
>> key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked,
>>so
>> only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they
>> have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted
>>me
>> to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA
>>and
>> IN.
>>
>> My questions for you guys and gals are:
>> Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use?  What are
>> Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us?  What chip does the
>>K3S
>> use for USB audio?  How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this
>> situation?
>>
>> Peter
>> W0VLL
>