Hi David: Send a request to [email protected] for the KPA3CONMDKT modification kit.
It is not difficult for you to do yourself if you have basic soldering skills. Otherwise the factory can do it for you. Here's the background on this mod: The connectors furnishing high current to the KPA3 module have failed in certain units. Typically the pins on the male connectors become overheated, damaging the female connector and reducing power to the KPA3. This causes an ERR 12V message to appear on the K3s display. Note that this is not the only reason you may see the ERR 12V message. There are many possible causes. Consult your K3 Owner's manual for details. The replacement connectors have gold plated pins to ensure adequate current carrying capacity without future trouble. There are two sets of connectors involved. One carries the current from the K3 RF board to the KPAIO3 interface board and the second set carries current from the KPAIO3 board to the KPA3 power amplifier module. If you are replacing the connectors as a preventative measure, you need change only the male connectors. The female connectors in the K3 are already gold plated. However, if you have suffered damage as indicated by discolored pins or other signs of obvious overheating, you must replace the female connectors as well. It is certain that the female connectors were damaged internally by the heat. 73, Ron AC7AC -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of David and Dianne on Comcast Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2012 3:29 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Elecraft] K3 - Reliability: Oxidized PA Power Supply Pins Issue Hi Everyone, I have an early K3 #371 from Feb 2008. I have done all the hardware mods. It has served me admirably to date without major issue. I saw in an earlier post today on this thread stating the following, "The latest was the oxidized PA power supply pins issue." I am not familiar with this issue and do not remember reading about it here or seeing anything on it on the Elecraft web site under K3 modifications. Can anyone shed some light on this issue or point me to an earlier thread about it? Have there been significant modifications to the early K3 PA's to warrant considering replacing it with a newer PA version? Thanks in advance for any info. 73 de N1LQ-Dave ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:[email protected] This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
