Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation
Hi Randy, It sounds like you need to do a transmitter gain calibration. See page 49 in the manual in the Calibration section. The procedure in the manual will work fine but the K3 Utility automates the process to the point of being fool-proof. On 10/2/2012 10:57 PM, Randy Thompson K5ZD wrote: I have a factory built K3 (s/n 3668, Nov 2010) that has developed a problem. Looking for suggestions or remedies. For the past year the radio will occasionally have a fluctuation in power output. I will be transmitting on CW and the power will suddenly jump to 120+ watts out. Then it will drop way down. I assume something senses the overpower and cuts back. The power will oscillate a bit before finally settling at normal. It happens at any power level and when connected to an antenna or a dummy load. The problem will happen a few times and then I may not see it again for a hours or days. This weekend in the RTTY contest it got increasingly worse. Seemed to be at its worst when the radio was cold, but still would happen at random times. I originally thought the problem was only on 10 and 40 meters, but later saw it on any band. This morning I turned the radio on and the power output is only 40 watts or so. If I send for a while the power output will climb towards 100W, and then it will suddenly spike to 120+ watts. Once it spikes it begins the oscillation of high output and then low output. It doesn't fix itself any more. So I probably broke whatever was only partly broken. Suggestions? Randy, K5ZD __ 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 -- 73, Gary K9GS Greater Milwaukee DX Association: http://www.gmdxa.org Society of Midwest Contesters: http://www.w9smc.com CW Ops #1032 http://www.cwops.org __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation
Bill, Does this occur on a dummy load? Tell the K3 to monitor the supply voltage and check what happens when you transmit. Do you have a new antenna, or has the possibility of RF feedback increased? Monty K2DLJ On Jun 11, 2012, at 1:38 PM, Bill Braithwaite wrote: I am new at this so if I am screwing up please understand. My K3 has started something new that has me wondering. I any mode when the power output is adjusted to more than 30 watts the power output constantly fluctuates between zero and the full 100 watts, never going back to what the control is set at. This just started and I am looking for help. Thank you. Bill W4NML __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation
Hi Bill, Have you set the power to 30 watts and then switched to another band? Power levels are saved on a per band basis if you have set CONFIG:PWR SET to PER BAND. Are you running some PC software that could be sending power level data to the K3? Are you connected to a KPA500 amplfier where the K3 will switch power levels depending on whether the amplifier is in standby or operate? 73, Mike K2MK Bill Braithwaite wrote I am new at this so if I am screwing up please understand. My K3 has started something new that has me wondering. I any mode when the power output is adjusted to more than 30 watts the power output constantly fluctuates between zero and the full 100 watts, never going back to what the control is set at. This just started and I am looking for help. Thank you. Bill W4NML -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-power-fluctuation-tp7557494p7557496.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation
How do you tell the K3 to monitor the supply voltage? I checked the owner's manual under voltage and meter - nothing there. Same for the Cady manual. Thanks, Bill W2BLC -- IN GOD I TRUST (but, NOT a single politician) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation
Hi Bill, Very simple. See page 36 of the manual under VFO B Alternate Displays. Here are the two steps required. 1. Press the DISP button 2. Rotate VFO B knob until the voltage is display on the bottom display Press the DISP button again when you want to go back to monitoring VFO B frequency. 73, Mike K2MK Bill wrote How do you tell the K3 to monitor the supply voltage? I checked the owner's manual under voltage and meter - nothing there. Same for the Cady manual. Thanks, Bill W2BLC -- View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/K3-power-fluctuation-tp7557494p7557513.html Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com. __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation
Its on the basic menu with the clock and some other functions. When you get the menu up the data will appear in the VFO B space and you select with the VFO B tune knob. Willis 'Cookie' Cooke K5EWJ Trustee N5BPS, USS Cavalla, USS Stewart - Original Message - From: Bill b...@w2blc.net To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Cc: Sent: Monday, June 11, 2012 3:14 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K3 power fluctuation How do you tell the K3 to monitor the supply voltage? I checked the owner's manual under voltage and meter - nothing there. Same for the Cady manual. Thanks, Bill W2BLC -- IN GOD I TRUST (but, NOT a single politician) __ 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
