Oh wow, Lou!

At least I don't feel alone, although my current problem with my Astron RS35 
admittedly was of my own making.

One thing about this list is that it helps to know that I'm in good company, 
and have an arena for sharing what often appear to be common problems.

Let us know if you can get the ailing supply fixed.

Interestingly, I was talking with my wife at dinner tonight, and suggested 
that it's always good to have an extra power supply or two around, in case 
one suddenly fails.

May just have to go looking for at least another used Astron at the upcoming 
local swap in about 6 or 7 weeks.

73 from Tom Behler:  KB8TYJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lou Kolb" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, March 07, 2011 8:58 PM
Subject: another astron power supply story


As long as we're discussing power supply issues, i've just had an experience
I never expected.  My RM-35 from Astron failed and, oddly, the problem
seemed to be in the switch.  You'd think it would be somewhere farther along
in the circuit.  I was on cw and started to hear an odd sound every time the
transmitter in the k3 keyed.  Like an arcing but different in that it wasn't
a snappy sound.  At first, I thought it was the rig but then the transformer
in the supply started to jump occasionally, as it does when you first turn
the supply on.  When I started to smell smoke right after that, I hastily
signed and reached up to turn off the supply but the switch wouldn't throw.
it moved a bit but was actually fused in place.  Later, when I came back
down to the shack it had cooled down and was very firmly fused in place.  I
had another, older Astron on the shelf so I hooked it up and was back on the
air the next night.  I haven't taken the cover off of the stricken supply
yet but it oughta be interesting.  It's not a complicated device so I expect
to be able to fix it.  Anyone else have a similar experience?  Lou  WA3MIX