My operating QTH is in an area where lightning is common and the storms often severe, and where a small, rural electric coop provides the power. As a result, there are occasional voltage surges in the AC mains during storms. I have never measured it, but the house lights brighten when lightning is happening very close by. In addition, I am at that QTH only four or five days a month. The rest of the time the equipment is on its own.
I ground the antenna line from the rig through an antenna switch; and I unplug the AC cords to all of the power supplies (two cords, each leading to multiple-outlet strips, each on a separate AC main from the breaker box.) That may be overkill since each of the strips is switched, but it takes only a second to do it. Nothing else is disconnected when I leave. So far, several years on, no problems. I can¹t imagine Elecraft having responded as Kenwood did in your case. Welcome to the K3(S) club. Ted, KN1CBR >On 8 Oct 2015 16:46, Peter Pauly wrote: >> I had an experience a couple weeks ago where the USB audio chip in my >> Kenwood stopped working. Kenwood service refused to fix the problem >>under >> warranty and blamed me for not unplugging every single cable to the >>radio >> when not in use. I had only disconnected the antenna. Not the power, >>USB, >> key, etc. No other equipment was affected and the USB CAT still worked, >>so >> only one chip stopped working. The Kenwood service center even said they >> have had tons of people with the same problem. That experience prompted >>me >> to order a K3S and it's currently in a UPS truck somewhere between CA >>and >> IN. >> >> My questions for you guys and gals are: >> Do you disconnect every cable when the radio is not in use? What are >> Elecraft's expectations or recommendations to us? What chip does the >>K3S >> use for USB audio? How would Elecraft, the company, have handled this >> situation? >> >> Peter >> W0VLL > ______________________________________________________________ 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 Message delivered to [email protected]
