When my KIO3 got zapped, I had everything disconnected. Antenna and all
accessories from the K3 ... power supply as well. The one thing I
didn't have disconnected was the RS-232 link between the laptop and the
KIO3. Somehow a transient from a nearby lightning strike (not a direct
one to my tower) traveled through the laptop power brick and to an
otherwise completely floating K3. If I remember correctly, the laptop
power supply was even plugged into a quality surge protected UPS.
It takes very little to zap the KIO3. I now disconnect EVERYTHING in
the shack during lightning season.
I was able to get a replacement set of KIO3 boards from Don, and even in
that case the audio board I got from him was blown. Luckily my original
audio board was OK and all I had to do was replace the RS-232 board. I
don't know what I would do if the KIO3 goes south again since the
primary use of my K3 is for contesting and I absolutely need connection
to the logger for that.
Dave AB7E
On 8/23/2022 2:31 PM, [email protected] wrote:
Not owning a K3, but have the KX3..............and other rigs! Perhaps
disconnecting the antenna (before and during an electrical storm)
from the shack hardware makes little boards like the K103 enjoy a
longer life. Just suggesting. No disrespect in this comment.
73
Chuck
W4MIL
-----Original Message-----
From: David Gilbert <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Tue, Aug 23, 2022 5:15 pm
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] [K3] KIO3 failure mode
Yes, for sure. That little board seems to have by far the poorest
reliability history of anything in the K3.
Dave AB7E
On 8/23/2022 2:05 PM, Al Lorona wrote:
> Ah, lightning. Whoever performs an analysis of the KIO3 failure mode
after being struck by lightning might have what's necessary for a very
lucrative business.
> Actually, I'm surprised that the board hasn't already been reverse
engineered in China, enabling an aftermarket for KIO3 replacements. I
bet everybody on this reflector living east of the Rockies would buy
two of them in anticipation of future thunderstorms.
> Al W6LX/4
>
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