[Elecraft] [K3] Wetting current and CW paddles

[hb9cvq at hispeed.ch]

Very informative , important info 
Thanks

73 Andy HB9CVQ

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On
Behalf Of Rich NE1EE
Sent: Dienstag, 13. Oktober 2020 13:08
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] Wetting current and CW paddles

On 2020-10-13 00:54:-0700, dl2ki wrote:
>Hi,
>i found this very interesting article by Hjalmar, OZ1JHM

http://www.oz1jhm.dk/content/wetting-current-and-cw-paddles

I have an amusing story along these lines.
Coming home one night from a late date with my wife, we came upon a car
stalled at a light. It was perhaps 22-2300.
I got out to see what I might do.
The car would not start. The usual clicking from the starter, usually
indicating a dead battery.
Short version.
I asked the other driver to turn on the radio. It worked.
I then asked them to turn the headlamps. They worked.
After a bit of additional troubleshooting, during which I did nothing to the
car, I suggested they turn on the headlamps and attempt to start the car. It
started.
Arriving home, my wife promptly challenged me, saying that common practice
is to turn off all electrics to preserve battery charge, and then attempt to
start the car.
I told her that the battery was fine, and I opined as time passed that there
was possibly too much corrosion on the terminals. When the starter circuit
engaged, it didn't draw enough current to move the solenoid fully.
By turning on the headlamps, which are a large resistive load, a current
path was generated through the oxidation. Then the starter was able to draw
enough current to fully engage the solenoid.

Of course, this may have been a fortunate coincidence. ;-) 

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