Ian,
So your K3 is operating a bit more efficiently than average - what is to
be worried about, be glad.
73,
Don W3FPR
On 1/10/2013 10:23 PM, Ian Kahn - Ham wrote:
So, several weeks after originally starting this thread, I finally had
time this evening to sit down and take some voltage and current
measurements. I used my Astron SS-30 power supply connected to the
40A DC-in port on my Rigrunner. I then ran the Elecraft power cord
from a 25A port on the Rigrunner into the 12V DC-in on the back of the
K3. Everything measures 13.8V in standy/rx, all the way to the reading
on the K3 display, with the K3 showing .82A current draw in rxv. I
would measure the power at the 12V in port on the K3, but can't see a
way to get the probes into the powerpole connectors without damaging
anything. I ran my tests using FSK-D at 100W and into a known-good
300W dummy load, so I could get 100% duty cycle for a few seconds
with each transmit. When I go to transmit, voltage on every band looks
good, with the voltage dropping from 13.8V to anywhere from 12.1 to
12.4 volts. I'm concerned about some of the current readings,
however. 80 meters shows a current draw of 15.80A; 17 meters shows a
draw of 16.35A; 15 meters shows a draw of 16.40A; 10 meters shows a
draw of 12.93A. 12m, 20m, 30m, 40m, and 160m are all within the
17-22A current draw rating for the K3. The RF output meter on the K3
shows 100w out on every band, but I haven't put the rig on an external
watt meter. Since these are all below the nominal current draw given
in the K3 owner's manual (17-22A), is there something I should look at
recalibrating? Or could something more serious be going here that I
need to be concerned about? Or, am I worried about nothing? Further
guidance is greatly appreciated.
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