[Elecraft] [K3] KIO3 failure mode

Tue Aug 23 18:05:53 EDT 2022

A local ham friend had most electronics in his house destroyed by lightning............not a direct hit, but one where his ground returns provided a path.  We have some of the worst lightning storms in the USA (Central Florida) and its a daily chase to make sure as much of our gear is not connected during the daily T-storms.  There are some who are beginning to disconnect the RF and Electrical grounding of their gear due to the nature of lightning and its ability to find a route to true ground.  Tough stuff, this lightning!  I hope each of us does the best we can to minimize our exposure to the effects of a lightning discharge.  Good luck to us all after we've done our best to disconnect from all sources of lightning intervention.
Best 73 to all.
ChuckW4MIL

-----Original Message-----
From: David Gilbert <ab7echo at gmail.com>
To: cemilton at aol.com; elecraft at mailman.qth.net <elecraft at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tue, Aug 23, 2022 5:47 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KIO3 failure mode

 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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