Re: [Elecraft] KX3: Power Consumption at 15W?

[Tim Henrion]

Running my KX3 on a bench power supply with built-in current monitoring, I 
haven’t seen it use more than 2.5 amps on SSB, when cranked up to 15W.
I use the Pro Audio Engineering PAE-Kx33 power supply for plug-in travel 
operation, which is good for 4 amps: 
https://proaudioeng.com/products/pae-kx33-low-rfi-ac-power-supply/
It’s the size of a small laptop power supply and works quite nicely. 

Tim - KC1EOQ


> On Apr 5, 2016, at 10:38 PM, Tom Crayner  wrote:
> 
> Anyone happen to know power consumption of the KX3 when running at the
> relatively new 15W RF output setting?
> 
> I had read a while back that it was around ~2.1A at 10W.  Looking at tiny
> power supply options and don't want to underrate.
> 
> Tom, W2YF
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: Power Consumption at 15W?

[Tom Crayner]

Don,

Agree wholeheartedly, when home I connect up to a Rigrunner hanging
downstream off a 35A power supply.

I was looking for something small (portable) to toss in a travel bag when
on vacation.

Tom


On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 11:34 PM, Don Wilhelm  wrote:

> I recommend a power supply with a current rating of 6 amps or greater for
> the KX3 (and K2/10 or any other Elecraft legacy gear).
> My reason is that you likely have accessories in the shack that need to be
> powered.
> Using a power supply that is only marginal for the transceiver is false
> economy IMHO.
> If you have a 20 or 30 amp power supply available, use it.  There is no
> sense in having a marginal power supply just because the transceiver only
> draws 2.1 amps at 10 watts.
>
> This advice is for home stations, for portable operation the answer will
> be different and depend on the operating aspirations.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 4/5/2016 10:38 PM, Tom Crayner wrote:
>
>> Anyone happen to know power consumption of the KX3 when running at the
>> relatively new 15W RF output setting?
>>
>> I had read a while back that it was around ~2.1A at 10W.  Looking at tiny
>> power supply options and don't want to underrate.
>>
>>
>>
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>
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Re: [Elecraft] KX3: Power Consumption at 15W?

[Don Wilhelm]

I recommend a power supply with a current rating of 6 amps or greater 
for the KX3 (and K2/10 or any other Elecraft legacy gear).
My reason is that you likely have accessories in the shack that need to 
be powered.
Using a power supply that is only marginal for the transceiver is false 
economy IMHO.
If you have a 20 or 30 amp power supply available, use it.  There is no 
sense in having a marginal power supply just because the transceiver 
only draws 2.1 amps at 10 watts.


This advice is for home stations, for portable operation the answer will 
be different and depend on the operating aspirations.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 4/5/2016 10:38 PM, Tom Crayner wrote:

Anyone happen to know power consumption of the KX3 when running at the
relatively new 15W RF output setting?

I had read a while back that it was around ~2.1A at 10W.  Looking at tiny
power supply options and don't want to underrate.




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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Power Consumption

[Wayne Burdick]

With backlight on, RX current should be roughly 170 to 230 mA (no AF signal) 
depending on band.

TX current at 5.0 W should be about 1.0-1.4 A in CW/FM/FSK-D modes and 1.4-1.8 
A in SSB/AM/PSK-D/DATA-A/AFSK-A modes. Actual current will vary with band and 
antenna load impedance.

The reason 5.0 W current drain is lower in CW/FM/FSK-D modes is that the KX3 
uses its higher-impedance PA transformer winding at this level. The upper limit 
for use of the high-Z winding is 5.0 W in CW/FM/FSK-D and 3.0 W in all other 
modes. If you're above the limit for a given mode, the lower-Z winding is used 
to minimize transmit IMD at higher power levels.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


On Jan 9, 2015, at 1:44 PM, Reilly, John reill...@comcast.net wrote:

 Trying to do some planning for Field Day battery operation. We are planning 
 to use a KX3 at 5w, CW.
 
 Could someone(s) give me a feeling for RX current draw. I would like this to 
 be with the Backlight ON, and other normally ON functions activated. 
 Likewise, what current draw should we see with key down CW at 5w?
 
 Thanks,
  - 73, John, N0TA


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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Power Consumption

[Bob N3MNT]

This simple response to a current requirement question is also a testament to
the amazing design decisions used to make this little gem what it is. 
Designing products for a hobby you are passionate ( and participate)  in
produces amazing products.
Thanks Elecraft



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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Power Consumption

[Phil Wheeler]

Very cleverly done, Wayne:-)

Phil W7OX

On 1/9/15 3:26 PM, Wayne Burdick wrote:

The reason 5.0 W current drain is lower in CW/FM/FSK-D modes is that the KX3 
uses its higher-impedance PA transformer winding at this level. The upper limit 
for use of the high-Z winding is 5.0 W in CW/FM/FSK-D and 3.0 W in all other 
modes. If you're above the limit for a given mode, the lower-Z winding is used 
to minimize transmit IMD at higher power levels.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


On Jan 9, 2015, at 1:44 PM, Reilly, John reill...@comcast.net wrote:


Trying to do some planning for Field Day battery operation. We are planning to 
use a KX3 at 5w, CW.

Could someone(s) give me a feeling for RX current draw. I would like this to be 
with the Backlight ON, and other normally ON functions activated. Likewise, 
what current draw should we see with key down CW at 5w?

Thanks,
  - 73, John, N0TA


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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Power Consumption

[Gary - NC3Z]

Here are some numbers I measured, transmit was with a CW carrier:


TX Current  




RX Current  
Band5W* 10W*15W 20W 25W 

With KXPA
60  1.17A   2.22A   





20  1.20A   2.20A   7.75A   8.75A   9.50A   
.200A   .450A
10  1.40A   2.50A   















* add .25A with KXPA on 








Gary Mitchelson
NC3Z Davidsonville, MD FM18
NC3Z/4 Pamlico County, NC FM15
www.mitchelson.org

On 1/9/2015 4:44 PM, Reilly, John wrote:
Trying to do some planning for Field Day battery operation. We are 
planning to use a KX3 at 5w, CW.


Could someone(s) give me a feeling for RX current draw. I would like 
this to be with the Backlight ON, and other normally ON functions 
activated. Likewise, what current draw should we see with key down CW 
at 5w?


Thanks,
  - 73, John, N0TA
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Re: [Elecraft] [KX3] Power Consumption

[Don Wilhelm]

John,

The VFO B Altermate display when set for current will tell you that 
information for your particular KX3.


The manual says receive current will be in the range of 150 to 200 ma. 
and depends on backlight, preamp isolation amp and whether or not the 
internal speaker is used.


I have not measured TX current at 5 watts, but I would expect somewhere 
in the vicinity of 2 amps.


73,
Don W3FPR

On 1/9/2015 4:44 PM, Reilly, John wrote:
Trying to do some planning for Field Day battery operation. We are 
planning to use a KX3 at 5w, CW.


Could someone(s) give me a feeling for RX current draw. I would like 
this to be with the Backlight ON, and other normally ON functions 
activated. Likewise, what current draw should we see with key down CW 
at 5w?


Thanks,
  - 73, John, N0TA


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