Burning 6400M!

Dave

Tonight I was working FT-8 with my 6400m.  I was able to work a few stations, suddenly a burning smell.  Powered Everything down, smell seems strongest near the ethernet port.  Was only using about 50w, matched into a Palstar AT-Auto.  Flex is only 1 week old!   Radio still appears to function.  Ive worked hundreds of stations with my FTDX-3000 in same arrangement with no issues.  

VK7WH Winston

Dave, I would open a ticket with Flex immediately. I’m sure they will sort it out quickly for you. Winston

Dave

I found the support portal.  Flex seems like a great company.  Im sure they will help me out.  

mikeatthebeach .

Dave Hope your not using the Internal Antenna Tuner And the External Antenna Tuner at the same tine This can stress the Filter Networks and possibly Damage them Only use One Tuner If your 6400M has no internal tuner then I am not sure what the issue is 73 Mike

Bob- W5TX

The two tuner issue has been discussed before. There is no problem if done correctly. Tune external with radio in bypass. If match not achieved then tune internal to bring into match. I suspect Dave has only external tuner. 73 Bob W5TX

Dave

Dave

Bob Perkins

Dave

mikeatthebeach .

Get a few of the FT-240-31 Ferrite Cores for RFI suppression These cost about $12 each These I loop 4 to 5 turns of the CAT Ethernet Cables thru them to keep RF out of them Also loop multiple turns of my RF and Audio Cables thru them Search EBay and Google Search for them Best investment to protect your equipment 73 Mike

mikeatthebeach .

Get these FT240-31 RFI mix 31 cores 73 Mike https://www.jpmsupply.com/Toroid-Core-FT240-31-Ferrite-p/38022.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQiA5NPjBRDDARIsAM9X1GKtgXLIa5ytIcHzH5JYNulUqGCM-U2RXFIBgAui05-mxDaQFmA71pcaAskaEALw_wcB&click=2

Dave

Gayle Lawson

mikeatthebeach .

Yes nearest the radio and nearest to Amp (Both Sides) 73 Mike

Joe N3HEE

mikeatthebeach .

Your assuming RF gets only thru Ethernet cable but It can travel down other lines, Coax Lines, Power Supply Audio cables, radiation back into Shack, etc Any cables attached to Rig can allow RF into Rig To damage it RF can travel down Coax Lines and get back into Rig 73 Mike

Joe N3HEE

You are absolutely right !  I was only suggesting an easy way to place chokes on ethernet cables.  But every wire and cable in the shack and beyond needs to be addressed.  It's quite an effort to do it correctly !

Dave

Joe, have you had any experience with the DX engineering devices?  Seems like they use a different technology to filter or isolate.  Would you need to buy these for every device? Thanks so much for the suggestion.  I am just trying to do everything I can to make sure the Flex is protected.  I do not know if external environmental variables had anything to do with it, but I want to make sure I am doing the best I can to prevent anything from happening.

KI4P

I agree Flex has great customer service, im sure they wont please everyone, and nobody can, but im a happy camper!

Joe N3HEE

No, not with these new Ethernet chokes.  However, I do have some of their gear and it is top notch.  Tim Duffy (K3LR) really knows his stuff when it comes to building a world class station and preventing RFI and damage to equipment.  Give them a call and talk to them about your situation.  Operators are standing by !  

Dave

I did talk to them. I got the 10 pack. Again I’m not sure my environment had anything to do with the failure I just want to do the best I can to insure a proper environment for the Flex.

Al_NN4ZZ

SteveM

Just because you think the smell was "strongest" near the ethernet port doesn't mean you should spend $hundreds on a bunch of over-priced filters. If RF burned up your ethernet port, it is all but certain that the port would no longer link-up. So I don't think that is what happened.

Most likely, a manufacturing defect is causing a failure in the PA, or a 1/10000 part failure occurred in a benign spot. Low-voltage tantalum caps used for power supply bypass have a tendency to fail and when they do - it's like a roman candle going off.

Dave

I agree, I strongly believe this could have been a fluke.  What was strange to me is the port itself had the strong smell of burning pcb which is far away from the PA section.  Im really doing this in the spirit of good practice.  If for any reason this where to happen again, I can prove to Flex I am doing everything I can on my end to maintain a good operating environment. 

Dave

Al_NN4ZZ

Dave

 So today I got my replacement 6400M.  Everything is flawless so far!  Flex support is  amazing! 

snet0311

Hi,

i have a similar issue using the Flex6400M on 10m in FM. After a while it begins to smell as something would burning. Turned the output down from 100W to 50W already and will check the temperature via FrStack next. Strange. In SSB i had no problems so far. Radio is since 10/21 in use without any problems. I think i will open a ticket.

73‘, Stefan

Mike-VA3MW

FM uses 100% RF Power. SSB uses less than 1/2 of that. FM will heat up the finals. If you are having long QSO's I would highly recommend you drop your power to 50%. That is only a 1/2 S unit difference for the person at the other end who is receiving you. But it produces much less heat in the radio.

But, yes, keep an eye on the temperature. Also, if you have dust in the radio, it will smell when things get hot.

snet0311

Well, it smells! So obviously things are getting hot already. The only question for me is: „Is that a problem that could cause in a damage?“ If dust comes out of the radio, it might be to late? It‘s hard to see whats going on in the radio. I‘ll do some further tests in FM, even it‘s my favorite mode;-) Longer Qso‘s in FDV were never a problem, even with max RF Power. Maybe it‘s like you setup a toaster the first time: it smells🤔

Scott - WM7C

Did Flex happen to mention what was wrong with the first radio? I'm at least the 3rd owner of a very old 6500 and would not have the luck of a replacement. 😅 We'll see how my ticket goes.