K2 12m alignment
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Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was
just like old times. All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. I measured RF voltages. All transmit stages were fine up until the bandpass filter. Zero RF volts at W6 and the anode side of D1. One thing I have seen on keydown is the RF on both sides of C48 jumping to about .4V RF, then right back to 0. Cap C42, on the other hand shows well over 1V RF on keydown. Because 10m is aligning/peaking totally fine and putting out 14W, and the caps and inductors test good, at this point should I assume K7 isn't swithing? I am not really sure of the best way to test K7 in place. Any tips would be most appreciated. :-) Bob - K0LAK ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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Bob,
You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace C44 and C46. The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough minimum capacitance. The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red the last time I saw them. The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect. They should measure about 20pF to 45pF. If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, ask for replacements for C32 and C34. The part number is E540002 and they have yellow bodies. See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 months or so. I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and C46. Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for capacitance range and were dropped. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was > just like old times. > > All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W > output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power > setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 > and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are > adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by bkasten
Indeed, I have the brown trimmers at C32/C34 as well as C44/C46. The latest
errata sheet from Nov 2016 says C44/C46 should have red bodies and be about 25pf. The ones I have do not go below low-30pf. Thanks for the help, Don! Bob On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 5:10 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote: > Bob, > > You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. > > Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace > C44 and C46. The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough > minimum capacitance. The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red > the last time I saw them. > > The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect. They > should measure about 20pF to 45pF. > > If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, > ask for replacements for C32 and C34. The part number is E540002 and they > have yellow bodies. > > See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. > Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 > months or so. I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and > C46. Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for > capacitance range and were dropped. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > >> Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was >> just like old times. >> >> All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W >> output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power >> setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 >> and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are >> adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. >> >> 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] |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm
Bob, Don,
I just finished up a K2 as well. The trimmers I got didn't match the description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I was looking at. I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff going on to accurately measure min and max. I talked to Gary in Watsonville. Here's what we summized. The larger bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23. The remaining 4 smaller bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. It works. I get good output on all bands. Don't know if this helps or not. Chuck K4QS From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> To: Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Bob, You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace C44 and C46. The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough minimum capacitance. The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red the last time I saw them. The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect. They should measure about 20pF to 45pF. If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, ask for replacements for C32 and C34. The part number is E540002 and they have yellow bodies. See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 months or so. I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and C46. Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for capacitance range and were dropped. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was > just like old times. > > All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W > output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power > setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 > and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are > adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by bkasten
They are no longer giving out the Red Bodied ones
They not give you 2 more ceramic 8-50 pf ones From: Robert Kasten <[hidden email]> To: [hidden email] Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:41 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Indeed, I have the brown trimmers at C32/C34 as well as C44/C46. The latest errata sheet from Nov 2016 says C44/C46 should have red bodies and be about 25pf. The ones I have do not go below low-30pf. Thanks for the help, Don! Bob On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 5:10 PM, Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote: > Bob, > > You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. > > Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace > C44 and C46. The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough > minimum capacitance. The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red > the last time I saw them. > > The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect. They > should measure about 20pF to 45pF. > > If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, > ask for replacements for C32 and C34. The part number is E540002 and they > have yellow bodies. > > See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. > Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 > months or so. I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and > C46. Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for > capacitance range and were dropped. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > > On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > >> Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was >> just like old times. >> >> All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W >> output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power >> setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 >> and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are >> adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. >> >> 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Chuck,
WHAT?? Did you have 4 ceramic trimmers with red dots on the side? The same as that used for C22 on the Control Board? Those normally will not work for the 12 meter bandpass at C44 and C46. The large yellow plastic trimmers should go at C32 and C34, and the ceramic trimmers with the red dot should be at C21 and C23. There is not a great deal of difference between the ceramic trimmers with the red dots and the plastic trimmers with the yellow bodies, but in extreme cases, the difference is enough to cause a problem tuning 14 MHz and 18MHz. You should have had 2 red bodied trimmers similar to the ones with the yellow body, and those would go into the C44 and C46 positions. If the trimmer capacitor selection has been changed, then the K2 errata page must change to keep up with it, and it apparently has not. I will contact the K2 product manager to see what is going on. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 6:52 PM, Chuck Stover wrote: > Bob, Don, > > I just finished up a K2 as well. The trimmers I got didn't match the > description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I > was looking at. > > I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff > going on to accurately measure min and max. > > I talked to Gary in Watsonville. Here's what we summized. The larger > bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23. The remaining 4 smaller > bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. > > It works. I get good output on all bands. > > Don't know if this helps or not. > > Chuck K4QS > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
I would think it would be best to use: The Yellow (ones 6.8-45pf) at C44 & C46 (10/12 m) since the schematic calls for 5-30pf The White with Red dot ceramic trimmers (8-50 pf) at C19 and C23 (20/30m) since the schematic calls for a 50pf trimmer C32 and C34 should also be 5-30 as per the schematic, so a better substitute would seem to be to use the Yellow 6.8-45 pf trimmers From: Chuck Stover via Elecraft <[hidden email]> To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>; Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:52 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Bob, Don, I just finished up a K2 as well. The trimmers I got didn't match the description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I was looking at. I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff going on to accurately measure min and max. I talked to Gary in Watsonville. Here's what we summized. The larger bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23. The remaining 4 smaller bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. It works. I get good output on all bands. Don't know if this helps or not. Chuck K4QS From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> To: Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Bob, You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace C44 and C46. The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough minimum capacitance. The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red the last time I saw them. The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect. They should measure about 20pF to 45pF. If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, ask for replacements for C32 and C34. The part number is E540002 and they have yellow bodies. See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 months or so. I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and C46. Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for capacitance range and were dropped. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was > just like old times. > > All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W > output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power > setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 > and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are > adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by bkasten
I went through the same business with my first K2, apparently during the switch-over of trimmer suppliers. None of the colors matched what they were supposed to be and the errata sheets didn’t help at all. Don Wilhelm and Gary Surrency both went out of their way to help me sort it out.
Although my DVM is theoretically able to measure capacitance, the long leads make it essentially useless. So when I ordered my second K2, while I was waiting for it to arrive I put together a very inexpensive capacitance tester that sold for about $10. It has PCB mounted test points that work with no leads at all, and the spacing is perfect for these little trimmers. I then tested what I received in the second K2 kit before mounting them, found that there were still questions, and once again Elecraft came almost instantly to my aid. But at least I didn’t have to undo anything, or puzzle about why something wasn’t working right. Sounds as if the K2 trimmer supply is a recurring problem. Using the capacitance tester before mounting them saved me a great deal of trouble. Having bought it, I now test EVERY cap before installing. Takes a while, but it’s reassuring. There are lots of inexpensive testers available on the ‘Net. I think this is the one I bought: http://www.nkcelectronics.com/capacitance-meter-kit.html. Ted, KN1CBR ------------------------------ Message: 24 Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:52:06 +0000 (UTC) From: Chuck Stover <[hidden email]> To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>, Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>, "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Message-ID: <[hidden email]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Bob, Don, I just finished up a K2 as well.? The trimmers I got didn't match the description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I was looking at. I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff going on to accurately measure min and max. I talked to Gary in Watsonville.? Here's what we summized.? The larger bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23.? The remaining 4 smaller bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. It works.? I get good output on all bands. Don't know if this helps or not. Chuck K4QS From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> To: Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Bob, You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace C44 and C46.? The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough minimum capacitance.? The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red the last time I saw them. The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect.? They should measure about 20pF to 45pF. If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, ask for replacements for C32 and C34.? The part number is E540002 and they have yellow bodies. See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 months or so.? I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and C46.? Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for capacitance range and were dropped. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was > just like old times. > > All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W > output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power > setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 > and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are > adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. > ______________________________________________________________ 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] ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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Ted,
I thought the errata sheet was up to date. We'll look into this tomorrow. Thanks, Wayne N6KR ---- http://www.elecraft.com > On Feb 26, 2017, at 17:18, Dauer, Edward <[hidden email]> wrote: > > I went through the same business with my first K2, apparently during the switch-over of trimmer suppliers. None of the colors matched what they were supposed to be and the errata sheets didn’t help at all. Don Wilhelm and Gary Surrency both went out of their way to help me sort it out. > > Although my DVM is theoretically able to measure capacitance, the long leads make it essentially useless. So when I ordered my second K2, while I was waiting for it to arrive I put together a very inexpensive capacitance tester that sold for about $10. It has PCB mounted test points that work with no leads at all, and the spacing is perfect for these little trimmers. I then tested what I received in the second K2 kit before mounting them, found that there were still questions, and once again Elecraft came almost instantly to my aid. But at least I didn’t have to undo anything, or puzzle about why something wasn’t working right. > > Sounds as if the K2 trimmer supply is a recurring problem. Using the capacitance tester before mounting them saved me a great deal of trouble. Having bought it, I now test EVERY cap before installing. Takes a while, but it’s reassuring. > > There are lots of inexpensive testers available on the ‘Net. I think this is the one I bought: http://www.nkcelectronics.com/capacitance-meter-kit.html. > > Ted, KN1CBR > > > ------------------------------ > > Message: 24 > Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2017 23:52:06 +0000 (UTC) > From: Chuck Stover <[hidden email]> > To: "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>, Robert Kasten > <[hidden email]>, "[hidden email]" > <[hidden email]> > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment > Message-ID: <[hidden email]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 > > Bob, Don, > I just finished up a K2 as well.? The trimmers I got didn't match the description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I was looking at. > I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff going on to accurately measure min and max. > I talked to Gary in Watsonville.? Here's what we summized.? The larger bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23.? The remaining 4 smaller bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. > It works.? I get good output on all bands. > Don't know if this helps or not. > Chuck K4QS > > > From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> > To: Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>; [hidden email] > Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment > > Bob, > > You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. > > Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace > C44 and C46.? The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough > minimum capacitance.? The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were > red the last time I saw them. > > The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect.? They > should measure about 20pF to 45pF. > > If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, > ask for replacements for C32 and C34.? The part number is E540002 and > they have yellow bodies. > > See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. > Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 > months or so.? I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 > and C46.? Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's > specs for capacitance range and were dropped. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > >> On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: >> Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was >> just like old times. >> >> All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W >> output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power >> setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 >> and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are >> adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. >> > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > 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] 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] |
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In reply to this post by Elecraft mailing list
Harry,
The yellow ones do not go reliably down to 6.8pF, many are limited to a minimum capacity of about 15pF. The capacity for the 12 meter bandpass needs to be in the 11 to 12pF range or less. Yes, I have measured several of them. I went through this as the tester for Elecraft when the wide range blue trimmers were no longer available. The current ceramic trimmers (white with red dot) do not reliably go down to 5pF - the minimum is more like 12 to 15. The old blue trimmer capacitors had a reliable range of 5 to 40pF and were ideal, but alas, they are not longer available. This thing with trimmer capacitors is turning into a 'bag of worms'. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 7:50 PM, Harry Yingst wrote: > > I would think it would be best to use: > > The Yellow (ones 6.8-45pf) at C44 & C46 (10/12 m) since the schematic > calls for 5-30pf > > The White with Red dot ceramic trimmers (8-50 pf) at C19 and C23 > (20/30m) since the schematic calls for a 50pf trimmer > > C32 and C34 should also be 5-30 as per the schematic, so a better > substitute would seem to be to use the Yellow 6.8-45 pf trimmers > > > > > > > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > *From:* Chuck Stover via Elecraft <[hidden email]> > *To:* "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]>; Robert Kasten > <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" > <[hidden email]> > *Sent:* Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:52 PM > *Subject:* Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment > > Bob, Don, > I just finished up a K2 as well. The trimmers I got didn't match the > description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I > was looking at. > I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff > going on to accurately measure min and max. > I talked to Gary in Watsonville. Here's what we summized. The larger > bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23. The remaining 4 smaller > bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. > It works. I get good output on all bands. > Don't know if this helps or not. > Chuck K4QS > > > From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email] > <mailto:[hidden email]>> > To: Robert Kasten <[hidden email] > <mailto:[hidden email]>>; [hidden email] > <mailto:[hidden email]> > Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 6:10 PM > Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment > > Bob, > > You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34. > > Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace > C44 and C46. The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough > minimum capacitance. The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were > red the last time I saw them. > > The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect. They > should measure about 20pF to 45pF. > > If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well, > ask for replacements for C32 and C34. The part number is E540002 and > they have yellow bodies. > > See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website. > Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6 > months or so. I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 > and C46. Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's > specs for capacitance range and were dropped. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote: > > Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was > > just like old times. > > > > All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more > than .5W > > output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power > > setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components > C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47 > > and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are > > adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf. > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > > > > ______________________________________________________________ > Elecraft mailing list > Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft > Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm > Post: mailto:[hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net <http://www.qsl.net/> > Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html > Message delivered to [hidden email] <mailto:[hidden email]> > > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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In reply to this post by Don Wilhelm
Yes Don. They sent me 4 trimmers that look identical to c22 on the control board.
No red body trimmers. From: Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> To: Chuck Stover <[hidden email]>; Robert Kasten <[hidden email]>; "[hidden email]" <[hidden email]> Sent: Sunday, February 26, 2017 7:46 PM Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment Chuck, WHAT?? Did you have 4 ceramic trimmers with red dots on the side? The same as that used for C22 on the Control Board? Those normally will not work for the 12 meter bandpass at C44 and C46. The large yellow plastic trimmers should go at C32 and C34, and the ceramic trimmers with the red dot should be at C21 and C23. There is not a great deal of difference between the ceramic trimmers with the red dots and the plastic trimmers with the yellow bodies, but in extreme cases, the difference is enough to cause a problem tuning 14 MHz and 18MHz. You should have had 2 red bodied trimmers similar to the ones with the yellow body, and those would go into the C44 and C46 positions. If the trimmer capacitor selection has been changed, then the K2 errata page must change to keep up with it, and it apparently has not. I will contact the K2 product manager to see what is going on. 73, Don W3FPR On 2/26/2017 6:52 PM, Chuck Stover wrote: > Bob, Don, > > I just finished up a K2 as well. The trimmers I got didn't match the > description in either the manual or errata, so I wasn't sure what I > was looking at. > > I had to use clip leads from my cap meter and got too much stray stuff > going on to accurately measure min and max. > > I talked to Gary in Watsonville. Here's what we summized. The larger > bodied yellow trimmers went into c21 and c23. The remaining 4 smaller > bodied white with red band trimmers went into c32, c34, c44 and c46. > > It works. I get good output on all bands. > > Don't know if this helps or not. > > Chuck K4QS > ______________________________________________________________ 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] |
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