[Elecraft] Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S

[Ian White]

> Then at some point, you just need a K3S.

Not quite: you would also need a new KPAIO3A interface board - and
even then, it would only be a partial upgrade. 

My very early K3S/10 was probably the first to undergo a
comprehensive 'module migration' in the wild (5000 miles away from
the factory). Elecraft's support was exemplary - as ever - but we
discovered that the older KPAIO3 does not function correctly with
the K3S mainboard. It does not correctly control the relays and the
fans, so it fails the PAIO TST procedures. When the KPAIO3 is
replaced by a KPAIO3A, then the KPA3 does become compatible with the
K3S and will function much the same as it did in the K3. 

But migrating a KPA3 into a K3S can only ever be an *incomplete*
upgrade. As Joe has already pointed out, it does not include many of
the other improvements that Elecraft made in this area of the K3S -
not only the increased number of power pins but also the KPA3A
itself, which is a completely new design using power MOSFETs. 

So even though it is possible to migrate a KPA3 into a K3S, the
result can never be a true K3S/100. Therefore it isn't surprising
that Elecraft does not recommend this procedure, and does not offer
it as part of the factory migration service.

73 from Ian GM3SEK


>From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-
>bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of hawley, charles j jr
>Sent: 31 March 2018 21:22
>To: Joe Subich, W4TV
>Cc: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Migrating a KPA3 POWER module to a K3S
>
>Thanks. Then at some point, you just need a K3S.
>
>Chuck Jack
>KE9UW
>
>Sent from my iPhone, cjack
>
>> On Mar 31, 2018, at 9:00 AM, Joe Subich, W4TV <lists at subich.com>
>wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>> On 3/31/2018 9:45 AM, ke9uw wrote:
>>> In that the KPA3A has more pins carrying power, would an older
K3
>benefit
>>> from a KPA3A?
>>
>> No.
>>
>>> Are the pins already there and useable in the old K3?
>>
>> No. The connectors are longer in the K3S.  P67B/J67B are 30 pins
in
>the
>> K3S (KPAIO3A) vs 24 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3) and  P68B/J68B are 24
>pins
>> in the K3S (KPAIO3A) vs. 20 pins in the K3 (KPAIO3).
>>
>>
>> 73,
>>
>>   ... Joe, W4TV
>>
>>
>>
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