The TS-440 fuse holders were different from anything I've ever seen so maybe 
that's why? the K3 doesn't have inline fuses at all? horrible idea unless 
you can count on every ham to be smart enough to hook up to a rig runner or 
similar device to add fusing, or add them themselves.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lou Kolb" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2011 8:07 AM
Subject: Re: Low Output Power


> Tom,
>
> Usually, you have to take apart the fuse holder, sometimes a difficult job
> depending on how they are designed, and clean both the fuse ends and the
> contact pieces in the holder.  I imagine denatured alcohol, such as we 
> used
> to use to clean tape heads, would work, and sometimes just a good brisk
> rubbing with a cloth will do it.  When nothing else was available, I've 
> even
> been known to use a shirt sleeve.  You'll probably get more expert 
> opinions
> on this from others on the list but I've been burned by it in the past 
> with
> the TS-440 so thought I'd throw it out there.  I don't know if the 590 has
> in-line fuses or not.  The K3 does not have them. Good luck.  Lou WA3MIX
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2011 8:01 AM
> Subject: Re: Low Output Power
>
>
>>    Lou:
>>
>> What's the best and safest way to deal with that issue?
>>
>> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "Lou Kolb" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2011 6:36 AM
>> Subject: Re: Low Output Power
>>
>>
>> Also, beware of in-line fuse holders.  They can carbonize and cause all
>> kinds of issues with voltage drop.  Lou -- WA3MIX
>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>> From: "tom behler" <[log in to unmask]>
>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 9:31 PM
>> Subject: Re: Low Output Power
>>
>>
>>>    These are great suggestions, Mike.
>>>
>>> Thanks so much.
>>>
>>> Will give them a try.
>>>
>>> What would you suggest cleaning the lead terminals and power supply lugs
>>> with?
>>>
>>> 73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message ----- 
>>> From: "Mike Duke, K5XU" <[log in to unmask]>
>>> To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>> Sent: Friday, June 24, 2011 9:26 PM
>>> Subject: Low Output Power
>>>
>>>
>>> I recently had a similar problem with one of my TS570's.
>>>
>>> The problem turned out to be an apparently dirty connection between
>>> the power cable and my Astron 35, which caused a voltage drop at the
>>> radio end of the cable.
>>>
>>> Cleaning both the power supply terminal bolts, and the ring lugs on
>>> the power cable solved the problem.
>>>
>>> The output went from 70 watts to 98 as measured by the TW1.
>>>
>>> Someone with a multi meter can confirm the voltage as it appears on
>>> the terminal bolts. The voltage can also be checked on the radio end
>>> of the cable, where it is normal to see a slight drop, but not the 3/4
>>> of a volt drop that I was seeing before cleaning and tightening all
>>> the connections.
>>>
>>> Of course, shortly after going through all those gyrations, that newly
>>> cleaned power supply was the one that took the lightning hit about 2
>>> months ago.
>>>
>>>
>>> Mike Duke, K5XU
>>> American Council of Blind Radio Amateurs