Remembering the thread about how much current a K3/100 used when
powered off, I decided to run a test as I installed the KPA3 in
K3 #6299. The table below lists power use before (K3/10) and
after (K3/100) 100w amp was installed. A monospaced font will
help legibility.
Test conditions: Direct connection to a 12v battery. RF and AF
gain at zero. CW mode. No RS-232 connection. P3 power unplugged.
IF out disconnected. MFJ dummy load. Tuned to 14.0475. Fluke 87
meter for current. Internal K3 meter for voltage. Straight key
held down until current reading stabilized (c10 seconds.)
K3/10 K3/100 Measurement
0.1microA N/A V 4.1mA N/A V Power off idle current
873mA 12.1V 969mA 12.1V Receive
2.57A 10.8V 2.87A 11.0V Transmit 5W
3.19A 10.4V 3.53A 10.6V Transmit 10W
The K3/100 uses 11% more power on receive, 12% more power on QRP
transmit, and 11% more power on ten watt transmit. It may be
worth removing the 100w amp for QRP battery field day like operations.
Note that the PA temperature calibration changed the value by 3
degrees C. (This time I put a brewing thermometer next to the
radio to act as the "standard" temperature. The last time I
think I used the wall thermometer.) The MacIntosh K3 Utility did
the Wattmeter calibration. As far as I know, these were the only
changes to the radio's settings.
Cheers - Bill, AE6JV
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz | If the site is supported by | Periwinkle
(408)356-8506 | ads, you are the product. | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com | | Los Gatos,
CA 95032
______________________________________________________________
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
