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Installing 2-meter option in K3 ?

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Phil Hystad-3

Installing 2-meter option in K3 ?

Two questions:

(1) what is your assessment of the level of difficulty of adding the 2-meter option to a K3 (easiest option to hardest would be a reasonable range).

(2) my one concern is soldering the connector to the K3 board. Instructions limit soldering to prevent from melting the connector. So, is this a sensitive soldering act requiring expert attention?

My kit background that involves soldering includes a number of the mini-kits from Elecraft as well as Norcal 40A (years ago), KX1 (also years ago). I have also assembled the kit versions of my K3, P3, KPA500, KAT500, and KX3 (which also had a 2-meter option but I chose for Elecraft to do the work since after I got the kit I found one inductor that would not move out of the way per the Elecraft instructions).

Prior to my Elecraft experience my only work had been in high-school with a homebrew dual-811 linear and a SSB exciter besides kit versions of several receivers (Knight) and Eico 720 transmitter. But, this was 55 years ago!

73, phil, K7PEH

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Don Wilhelm

Re: Installing 2-meter option in K3 ?

Phil,

That is a statement that should be applied to any thru-hole soldering.
I believe it is made so those who have little or no soldering experience
will pay attention.
One should use a temperature controlled soldering iron, and apply heat
long enough (but only long enough) to see the solder flow out onto both
the board and component.
If you linger on the connection, that is when damage occurs.
It is no more difficult than any other thru-hole component soldering.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 5/5/2017 2:26 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:
> Two questions:
>
> (1) what is your assessment of the level of difficulty of adding the 2-meter option to a K3 (easiest option to hardest would be a reasonable range).
>
> (2) my one concern is soldering the connector to the K3 board. Instructions limit soldering to prevent from melting the connector. So, is this a sensitive soldering act requiring expert attention?
>
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Phil Hystad-3

Re: Installing 2-meter option in K3 ?

Don,

Thanks. Yes, I have a good quality temperature controlled iron (static type). I am comfortable with thru-hole soldering of regular stuff but I was not sure about the warning in the assembly instructions as to how sensitive the plastic is to heat. I understand the part about heating until flow and then getting the iron away from the board.

73, phil, K7PEH

> On May 5, 2017, at 12:09 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Phil,
>
> That is a statement that should be applied to any thru-hole soldering.
> I believe it is made so those who have little or no soldering experience will pay attention.
> One should use a temperature controlled soldering iron, and apply heat long enough (but only long enough) to see the solder flow out onto both the board and component.
> If you linger on the connection, that is when damage occurs.
> It is no more difficult than any other thru-hole component soldering.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 5/5/2017 2:26 PM, Phil Hystad wrote:
>> Two questions:
>> (1) what is your assessment of the level of difficulty of adding the 2-meter option to a K3 (easiest option to hardest would be a reasonable range).
>> (2) my one concern is soldering the connector to the K3 board. Instructions limit soldering to prevent from melting the connector. So, is this a sensitive soldering act requiring expert attention?

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Phil Hystad-3

Re: Installing 2-meter option in K3 ?

In reply to this post by Phil Hystad-3

>
> You sound like you’re stating all the reasons you should not do it :)

OK, whatever.

>
> I would rate this option about a 3 (0-10, easiest is zero)

Thanks for your rating assessment.

PEH

>
> GL 73
>
> Gary W2CS
>
>
>> On May 5, 2017, at 2:26 PM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote:
>>
>> Two questions:
>>
>> (1) what is your assessment of the level of difficulty of adding the 2-meter option to a K3 (easiest option to hardest would be a reasonable range).
>>
>> (2) my one concern is soldering the connector to the K3 board. Instructions limit soldering to prevent from melting the connector. So, is this a sensitive soldering act requiring expert attention?
>>
>> My kit background that involves soldering includes a number of the mini-kits from Elecraft as well as Norcal 40A (years ago), KX1 (also years ago). I have also assembled the kit versions of my K3, P3, KPA500, KAT500, and KX3 (which also had a 2-meter option but I chose for Elecraft to do the work since after I got the kit I found one inductor that would not move out of the way per the Elecraft instructions).
>>
>> Prior to my Elecraft experience my only work had been in high-school with a homebrew dual-811 linear and a SSB exciter besides kit versions of several receivers (Knight) and Eico 720 transmitter. But, this was 55 years ago!
>>
>> 73, phil, K7PEH
>>
>>
>> ______________________________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
>> Post: mailto:[hidden email]
>>
>> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
>> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
>> Message delivered to [hidden email]
>>
>