Six Red lights Blinking "Input Power Under Voltage"

KG5PTE

So this morning at ARRL Field day. The Flex 6400 was on back home in Belton Texas. And we were in Copperas Cove TX about 25 miles away operating remotely with the Flex Maestro C. I was using my Travel router tethered USB to my Samsung Galaxy S-8 4G smartphone. For internet. We went into the menu to change the CW keyer from Iambic to straight and tried to operate CW when the Maestro reported "Lost communication with the radio" So I tried smart link with my Iphone and no radio was listed. When I got home the power button light was dark (Not lit) but the blue front panel light was on. Pressing the power switch would not turn the radio off. The blue light stayed on. So I had to **** power to the power works power supply. When I turned it back on I got six flashing red lights that indicated a "Input Power Under Voltage" According to the hardware Manuel. But eventually the radio booted up normally. No the steady green light is on. Do I need to open up a trouble ticket ?

KD0RC

Hi James, You might want to unplug and re-plug the power connector on the back of the radio a few times (with the radio off and the power supply off). One possibility is dirt or corrosion in the connector. If it continues to happen, check to see what your voltage is at your power supply and also run FRStack3, go to View, and select Meter Window. This will show the voltage seen by the radio.

If the FRStack3 voltage is more than a few tenths of a volt lower than the voltage measured at the supply, you probably have a connector, cable or fuse problem.

If the problem doesn't recur, then you are OK. If it keeps coming back, try the trick outlined above to see if that cures it. If not, try removing the fuse and re-seating it (only do this if you are comfortable with removing a board or two from the radio to get access). Also make sure that you have at least 13.8 V from the supply. I have my supply set to 14.2 V to ensure that any cable losses are accounted for.

If nothing seems to work, then submit a help desk ticket.

KG5PTE

Len thank you. I just completed the checks and re seat of the Anderson power pole cable. The power supply I am using is the Power Werx SS30DV. After reviewing more. I discovered this. When I came home the front lights were blue but the power switch was dark. (No green light) pushing and holding the power button would not turn off the radio. So I shut off the power at the power supply. After a few minutes when I turned it back on. I had three blinking red lights that indicated boot failure. When I did this a second time I got six flashing red lights that indicated power under voltage. After a few minutes the power light went green and everything started working fine. I do not know what happened. I let the radio rung for four hours along with the Maestro after I got it back home. And had no issues. This was the first time I left the radio on back home and took the Maestro on the go. We operated field day from 1pm Saturday up to noon Sunday. (Yes we camped out and had a lot of fun) The Flex and Maestro ran all night connected to my cellular 4G router with no issues. This problem did not happen until about 9:30 am when the Maestro lost connection to the Flex and the IPhone would not connect. And I called my wife and she said the green light on the power button was dark. Then I knew something was not right. This was the time we were in the menu on the Maestro and was changing the CW key from iambic to straight key. And tried to operate CW. And enable break in. Having the Flex maestro there for field day. Was a big hit for show and tell. Many new hams were impressed by the remote capacity.

Erika - KØDD

Get a can of crc electrical cleaner. Spray power pole in radio, and connector. Remove power pole from power supply end of the power cord and replace with crimp rings. Measure voltage at the power supply studs if that one has bolts too. Tin plated not silver plated power pole connectors are junk... you'll be cleaning them once a month to keep voltage right. I use the k9dur monitor and place it over the top of the flex name on the middle of the screen at home on both radios/computers gives me instant heads up. Erika DD

KG5PTE

FR Stack is showing 12.4 VDC on the meter window should this be 13.8 VDC ? This was on the Power Werx SS-30DV power supply. I connected it to my 50 amp Astron power supply and FR Stack is reading 14.1 VDC. The Power Werx is the one I got for free when I bought my radio.

Erik Carling EI4KF

With my 6400, I need to retain 13.8 VDC when transmitting. Your 12.4 is too low in my opinion. I set my power supply for 14.3 VDC on receive.

KG5PTE

Yes made some changes and the Power Werx and added in a Power Werx In Line DC Watt meter (In fact I ordered two of them) I plugged the Flex 6400 into my Astron 50 amp P/S and am reading 14.1 VDC Now. The Power Werx SS-30DV is showing 13.98 VDC

Thanks