[Elecraft] Common K3 failure modes???

[Jerry Moore]

I get a PEBKAC error with my K3S all the time...

-----Original Message-----
From: elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net <elecraft-bounces at mailman.qth.net> On Behalf Of Udo Langenohl - DK5YA
Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2022 6:10 AM
To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] Common K3 failure modes???

> - Diodes at input blown up because of extremely strong signals 
> near-frequency. Bandfilters may help, as does careful frequency 
> planning and some antenna distance. (ages ago I used a FT747 which 
> uses a light bulb as protection - after a heavy radio weekend I had 
> the lightbulb open and one of the input coils fused!) 73,
> 
> Geert Jan PE1HZG

I own 3x K3, one a pure "S" and 2 which are pimped to be a "S" (almost..).

Blown diodes at the input (both Main and Sub RX) are the most common failures I'm struggling with for several years with each of my K3's. 
None of them blown by strong nearby signals but all of them by lightning in summer. I've never been faced by a direct hit - luckily - but a strike say some 500 meters or even a kilometer away will send these diodes to the great Mannitou Of Radio. I have to admit that this is a hilltop QTH and sometimes I forget to disconnect the whole stuff when I'm in a QRL hurry or something similar (XYL hurry i.e......).
Fun fact: during our DU-DXpedition on Panglao Isl. we were in the very heart of all thunderstorms years ago when strong linghtning apperaed every evening and night for hours. We had two K3 with us and none of them struggled with dead diodes at the input. Just because I had a box with several spare with me? Only Murphy knows.

BTW, several broken knobs along the years too, thats another common failure.

73 Udo, DK5YA
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