[Elecraft] K3 Repair

[Michael Carter]

Hi Wilson,

I hear your lament loud and clear.

First thing to check: reduce your TX output POWER setting to 10 watts or less.  Listen for relay click as the 100 watt PA module is disengaged.   Does RX sensitivity return?  On transmit at 10 watts, do you measure that level with an external power meter?

The high SWR that was presented by an open antenna port will automatically trigger TX power foldback.  Whether that happened rapidly enough to prevent damage to the PA transistors is yet to be determined.

If you find that you have restored RX sensitivity and TX output power with POWER settings below 11 watts, you may find that one of the PIN diodes in the T/R switch on the 100 watt PA module has gone south.  The viability of those diodes can be checked by removing the PA module (KPA3, presumably, depending on the s/n of your K3).

Keith, WE6R is the Elecraft K3/K4 repair tech and reads this forum regularly.  He can give you an estimate of his backlog and time-to-repair: keith (at) elecraft.com

Out here in the East, Alan W3DVX does Elecraft repairs:

Alan D. Wilcox, W3DVX (K2-5373, K3-40)
570-478-0736 (cell, text)
http://WilcoxEngineering.com
Williamsport, PA 17701

Let us know what you find with the preliminary tests I recommended.

73,
Mike, K8CN