[Elecraft] [K3] KIO3 failure mode

[David Gilbert]

When my KIO3 got zapped, I had everything disconnected.  Antenna and all 
accessories from the K3 ... power supply as well.  The one thing I 
didn't have disconnected was the RS-232 link between the laptop and the 
KIO3.  Somehow a transient from a nearby lightning strike (not a direct 
one to my tower) traveled through the laptop power brick and to an 
otherwise completely floating K3.  If I remember correctly, the laptop 
power supply was even plugged into a quality surge protected UPS.

It takes very little to zap the KIO3.  I now disconnect EVERYTHING in 
the shack during lightning season.

I was able to get a replacement set of KIO3 boards from Don, and even in 
that case the audio board I got from him was blown.  Luckily my original 
audio board was OK and all I had to do was replace the RS-232 board.  I 
don't know what I would do if the KIO3 goes south again since the 
primary use of my K3 is for contesting and I absolutely need connection 
to the logger for that.

Dave   AB7E



On 8/23/2022 2:31 PM, cemilton at aol.com wrote:
> Not owning a K3, but have the KX3..............and other rigs! Perhaps 
> disconnecting the antenna (before and during an electrical storm)  
> from the shack hardware makes little boards like the K103 enjoy a 
> longer life.  Just suggesting.  No disrespect in this comment.
>
> 73
> Chuck
> W4MIL
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Gilbert <ab7echo at gmail.com>
> To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
> Sent: Tue, Aug 23, 2022 5:15 pm
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KIO3 failure mode
>
>
>
> Yes, for sure.  That little board seems to have by far the poorest
> reliability history of anything in the K3.
>
> Dave   AB7E
>
>
> On 8/23/2022 2:05 PM, Al Lorona wrote:
> > Ah, lightning. Whoever performs an analysis of the KIO3 failure mode 
> after being struck by lightning might have what's necessary for a very 
> lucrative business.
> > Actually, I'm surprised that the board hasn't already been reverse 
> engineered in China, enabling an aftermarket for KIO3 replacements. I 
> bet everybody on this reflector living east of the Rockies would buy 
> two of them in anticipation of future thunderstorms.
> > Al  W6LX/4
> >
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