[Elecraft] K3 and KX3 questions for Wayne

[Art Nienhouse]

*/My experience with my KXPA-100 that the power output would not ever 
get to the advertised 100 watts on 40 meters using the supplied power 
cable that came with my kit was worse.

Even after setting the 45 amp power supply to the highest out put it 
would do, the radio reported 13.8 volts on receive, on key down it would 
drop well below ( on some bands ) to 12 volts.

After replacing the pwr cable with a 10 gauge wire the supply reported 
at the radio is 14.5 rx, tx is 13.8 the power output is at 100 watts 
most bands 110 on one band and the only band I really care about is 40 
where it always has been below the other bands is now at 99 to 100 watts.

I believe that there was a firmware update that made this issue worse as 
it was at one time doing around 80 to 85 watts on 40 meters which I was 
living with, most other bands 100 to 110 watts,  using the supplied 
power cable that came with my kit.

If its sold as a mobile amp then it should be capable of doing the 
advertised 100 watts ....at 12 volts.... ......( I know the advertizing 
stated at 13.8 volts ) ......to achieve the 100 watts.

To be completely truthful it should be stated what can be expected for 
power out at 12 v connected to a car deep cycle battery with the 
supplied power cable...mine did 60 watts on 40 meters with the latest 
bata firmware.

At the very least a ( quality 10 gauge power cable ) should be supplied 
with the amp, and all 100 watt output radios.
I took the advice of this group to purchase Powerwerx Red/Black power 
cable  not the cheapest however quality is very good.
With my power supply set to 14.4 volts I get the advertized 100 watts now.

Regards
Art
ka9zap
/*
On 5/21/2016 9:58 PM, N6MQL wrote:
> Wayne,
>
> 2 things... First I mentioned to David S in the service department that the K3 is no longer transmitting more than 94 watts out on 17 meters regardless of the SWR/ impedance. David said that this was a known issue due to software and that it was being worked on. However I haven't seen anything about this issue so I'm wondering if this is true and if so has there been any updates to fix it.
> Secondly, I'm noticing that my KXPA100 can not produce more that 80 watts on most bands and 60 on others when I don't supply it with as much as 15v DC on a 30 amp supply. This after I did the KX3 / KPXA calibration procedure. Why is it that a "mobile" amp that would normally be powered with 12v DC from a car battery not be able to provide the power output that it is sold as (100 watts)?. Has there been some kind of revisions to the first run boards that I should be exchanging them with?
>
> Thank you for your answers  73
>
> Mike
> N6MQL
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