Re static discharge problems: I've posted this story before but it sounds like it is worth repeating.
K3 #95 suffered from ESD when I touched the VFO A knob, and in reaction the radio would go all dark, then re-boot on its own. The first time it occurred, I had no idea of what had just happened and it was a frightening experience. The second time it happened, I felt the shock when I touched the knob and I noticed that I had just finished sliding my wheeled chair over a protective plastic mat over the floor, which pointed to the source of the static electricity. I did three things: 1. Threw away the plastic floor mat; 2. Checked the VFO A encoder shaft to see if it was grounded to the chassis. It wasn't. 3. Had Elecraft fix the encoder grounding problem when I had the radio in there for other reasons. There have been no recurrences and we are well into ESD season here. Gary, VE1RGB -----Original Message----- From: elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net [mailto:elecraft-boun...@mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Greg - AB7R Sent: December 1, 2009 7:51 PM To: a...@cablespeed.com; 'KM5Q'; 'e...@mailman.qth.net; swa...@mailman.qth.net; -...@mailman.qth.net; wa6...@mailman.qth.net; 'Elecraft''e...@elecraft.com; 'Steve Ellington' Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 static electricity Thanks Steve. Please keep k3supp...@elecraft.com informed of what you find. Also check the hex nuts the go over the encoder shaft on the top of the FP (under the knob) to make sure they are snug enough to ensure the bare metal underneath is in contact with the inside tooth washer. If those retaining nuts are not snug you may not have good contact. ------------------------- 73, Greg - AB7R Whidbey Island WA NA-065 On Tue Dec 1 15:46 , "Steve Ellington" sent: >I'll get the ohmmeter after it tomorrow and find out if the vfo shaft is >actually grounded. Serial #410 but the FP is almost new. I didn't have this >problem last winter so the new FP must need some attention. 73 >Steve >N4LQ >n...@carolina.rr.com >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Greg - AB7R" a...@cablespeed.com> >To: "KM5Q" k...@mac.com>; e...@mailman.qth.net>; >swa...@mailman.qth.net>; -...@mailman.qth.net>; wa6...@mailman.qth.net>; >"Elecraft'" e...@elecraft.com> >Cc: elecraft@mailman.qth.net> >Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 6:19 PM >Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 static electricity > > >>I email'd him when he first posted to check for good bare metal contact >>with the inside >> tooth washer on the encoder shaft behind the FP. Never heard back. >> >> ------------------------- >> 73, >> Greg - AB7R >> Whidbey Island WA >> NA-065 >> >> >> On Tue Dec 1 15:00 , "Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft" sent: >> >>>I've asked our support guys to contact him. This usually only is a >>>problem on very earlyK3s where the inside area of the front panel sheet >>>metal was not masked off when powder coated. That resulted in leaving >>>the VFO encoder shaft un-grounded. Its possible one of the newer FP >>>sheet metal pieces slipped through our QC inspection with this. >>> >>>73, Eric >>> >>>==== >>>KM5Q wrote: >>>> Hold on a moment Steve. Before you buy a humidifier, let me suggest >>>> that something appears to be ungrounded internally as you suggest. My >>>> shack is in an unhumidified work space in New Mexico. I can generate a >>>> good bit of static if I wear a fleece sweater and slide just so on my >>>> office chair. I've zapped against my K3 many times (it's grounded of >>>> course) and it's never once caused a reaction. >>>> >>>> You might want to ask the factory. I think you have a problem. >>>> >>>> Windy KM5Q >>>> >>>> >>>______________________________________________________________ >>>Elecraft mailing list >>>Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft >>>Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm >>>Post: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net','','','')">Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >>> >>>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: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net','','','')">Elecraft@mailman.qth.net >> >> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net >> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > > >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----- > > > >No virus found in this incoming message. >Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >Version: 9.0.709 / Virus Database: 270.14.88/2538 - Release Date: 12/01/09 >02:59:00 > ______________________________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net 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:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html