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K2 LCD Backlight Diffuser

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zk2boy

K2 LCD Backlight Diffuser

I am just getting around to building my K2 that I purchased in 2008.
I've been busy. But I'm having fun now!

I have the K2 Owner's Manual Revision G, May 29, 2007. I also have
Errata sheet Rev. G-1, Dec. 12, 2007.

In the Front Panel section, page 27, the original instruction advises to
use two spacers at each end when installing the LCD backlight diffuser
to keep the diffuser exactly 1/8" above the PC board. The Errata sheet
clarifies to use the spacers but remove them after soldering the
diffuser into place.

The issue is that the two spacers are 1/8" thick. The diffuser leads are
exactly 1/8" long. This means with the spacers in place, the diffuser
leads don't actually reach the solder holes. The lead ends are suspended
just above the holes. If I actually manage to line everything up and use
rubber bands to hold all in place while I solder (good luck!), the
solder would need to bridge up to the ends of the diffuser leads for the
soldered connections to hold. This doesn't seem like a good practice.

Is there a newer errata sheet? Or am I not understanding this correctly?

Murray
VA1CQ

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Don Wilhelm

Re: K2 LCD Backlight Diffuser

Murray,

Those diffuser leads should just touch the top of the board since 2
spacers are 1/8 inch and the leads are also 1/8 inch. Solder them from
the top of the board - being careful so the iron does not touch anything
but the leads and the solder pads.

If the leads do not touch the solder pads, sand down a spacer so that it
does just touch. If there are rough spots on the spacers, sand them off.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/12/2020 1:02 PM, zk2boy wrote:

> I am just getting around to building my K2 that I purchased in 2008.
> I've been busy. But I'm having fun now!
>
> I have the K2 Owner's Manual Revision G, May 29, 2007. I also have
> Errata sheet Rev. G-1, Dec. 12, 2007.
>
> In the Front Panel section, page 27, the original instruction advises to
> use two spacers at each end when installing the LCD backlight diffuser
> to keep the diffuser exactly 1/8" above the PC board. The Errata sheet
> clarifies to use the spacers but remove them after soldering the
> diffuser into place.
>
> The issue is that the two spacers are 1/8" thick. The diffuser leads are
> exactly 1/8" long. This means with the spacers in place, the diffuser
> leads don't actually reach the solder holes. The lead ends are suspended
> just above the holes. If I actually manage to line everything up and use
> rubber bands to hold all in place while I solder (good luck!), the
> solder would need to bridge up to the ends of the diffuser leads for the
> soldered connections to hold. This doesn't seem like a good practice.
>
> Is there a newer errata sheet? Or am I not understanding this correctly?
>
> Murray
> VA1CQ
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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barry halterman

Re: K2 LCD Backlight Diffuser

I too am building a K2, sn 7954. They are using a LED bar for the back
light with a spacer instead of the cut off pcb material. The diffuser ends
have cutouts that sit on the LED bars. Wonder where Elecraft found these
gems....
Barry

On Sun, Jul 12, 2020, 1:23 PM Don Wilhelm <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Murray,
>
> Those diffuser leads should just touch the top of the board since 2
> spacers are 1/8 inch and the leads are also 1/8 inch. Solder them from
> the top of the board - being careful so the iron does not touch anything
> but the leads and the solder pads.
>
> If the leads do not touch the solder pads, sand down a spacer so that it
> does just touch. If there are rough spots on the spacers, sand them off.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
> On 7/12/2020 1:02 PM, zk2boy wrote:
> > I am just getting around to building my K2 that I purchased in 2008.
> > I've been busy. But I'm having fun now!
> >
> > I have the K2 Owner's Manual Revision G, May 29, 2007. I also have
> > Errata sheet Rev. G-1, Dec. 12, 2007.
> >
> > In the Front Panel section, page 27, the original instruction advises to
> > use two spacers at each end when installing the LCD backlight diffuser
> > to keep the diffuser exactly 1/8" above the PC board. The Errata sheet
> > clarifies to use the spacers but remove them after soldering the
> > diffuser into place.
> >
> > The issue is that the two spacers are 1/8" thick. The diffuser leads are
> > exactly 1/8" long. This means with the spacers in place, the diffuser
> > leads don't actually reach the solder holes. The lead ends are suspended
> > just above the holes. If I actually manage to line everything up and use
> > rubber bands to hold all in place while I solder (good luck!), the
> > solder would need to bridge up to the ends of the diffuser leads for the
> > soldered connections to hold. This doesn't seem like a good practice.
> >
> > Is there a newer errata sheet? Or am I not understanding this correctly?
> >
> > Murray
> > VA1CQ
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
> > 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]

Don Wilhelm

Re: K2 LCD Backlight Diffuser

Barry,

The new backlight assembly was Wayne's creation which became necessary
when the one piece backlight became unavailable. Murray has one of the
older assemblies.
Follow the instructions that shipped with your K2. Be certain to read
and heed the errata pages.

73,
Don W3FPR

On 7/12/2020 3:12 PM, barry halterman wrote:
> I too am building a K2, sn 7954. They are using a LED bar for the back
> light with a spacer instead of the cut off pcb material. The diffuser
> ends have cutouts that sit on the LED bars. Wonder where Elecraft
> found these gems....
> Barry
>

______________________________________________________________
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:[hidden email]

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