Elecraft PCB Diagrams

[Mike Morrow-3]

Don wrote:

> Since a bad D3 is a rarity, you might also want to check for board
> continuity with your DMM.  Check to see that you have the same voltage
> variation on one lead of C2 - that will confirm that D3 is connected to
> C2.  The other lead of C2 cannot be tested with voltage, so use your
> ohmmeter to check for continuity between the other lead of C2 and L1.

It's troubleshooting like this that can make the possession of PCB trace
diagrams invaluable.  For some reason which has *never* been coherently
explained in the almost 13 years since I first bought an Elecraft product,
these have never been provided by Elecraft for their products.  N0SS
provided some (PCB photos) long ago for the K1, but not Elecraft.

All other kit makers with whom I've done business have provided these as a
matter of course...going back to Heathkit a half century ago.  And makers
of non-kits provide them in service manuals.  But not Elecraft, in any form.

One wonders why.

Mike / KK5F
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[Bill Clarke]

I fully agree that PCB diagrams would be a great assist when
troubleshooting and modifying the K3 and its associated bits, pieces,
and equipment. When I worked the tech repair bench at a ham radio store,
I would have been quite crippled without PCB diagrams.

Comments from Elecraft on the availability of PCB diagrams would be
appreciated.

Kindly make no direct responses - only post to the reflector. Thus
allowing everyone to learn and understand.

Bill W2BLC
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[Bill Coleman-2]

On Feb 24, 2013, at 7:08 PM, Mike Morrow <[hidden email]> wrote:

> It's troubleshooting like this that can make the possession of PCB trace
> diagrams invaluable.  For some reason which has *never* been coherently
> explained in the almost 13 years since I first bought an Elecraft product,
> these have never been provided by Elecraft for their products.  N0SS
> provided some (PCB photos) long ago for the K1, but not Elecraft.
>
> All other kit makers with whom I've done business have provided these as a
> matter of course...going back to Heathkit a half century ago.  And makers
> of non-kits provide them in service manuals.  But not Elecraft, in any form.
>
> One wonders why.

While everything you say is true, there is one very solid reason not to publish PCB trace diagrams of boards. Southwest Technical Products (SWTPC) ran into this issue way back in the 70s, when they had very nice X-ray style PCB trace diagrams with their documentation.

The simple reason is that PCB trace diagrams allow people to copy the boards. Well, they TRY to copy the boards. The end results aren't nearly as nice.

At least Elecraft publishes full schematics for all their equipment. There are some other manufacturers that do not.


Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Quote: "Boot, you transistorized tormentor! Boot!"
         -- Archibald Asparagus, VeggieTales

Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: [hidden email]
Web: http://boringhamradiopart.blogspot.com
Quote: "Not within a thousand years will man ever fly!"
           -- Wilbur Wright, 1901

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