K2 Miscellaneous Build Questions

[jperelst]

I just started building a K2 and I have a couple of questions:
 
1.  On the Control Board, when I installed capacitor C4 (0.47 microF, monolithic cap "474"), it somewhat overhangs and touches diode D1 (1N4148).  C4 is a rather thick (fat) capacitor and there doesn't seem to be any way to install it without it overhanging and touching D1.  Is this okay?
 
2.  After getting through pg. 14 and most of the capacitors on pg. 15, I noticed that my new diagonal cutters (bought from Radio Shack) are slightly magnetic -- that is, they attract and pick up the clipped leads.  I have of course gotten rid of them -- but do you think that using those cutters could have damaged anything?  Fortunately, I had not gotten to any of the ICs or transistors when I discovered this.
 
3.  Why is it after getting all the way through pages 14, 15, and 16, it appears that there are more components than ever remaining to be installed??  Do they procreate at night when I'm not looking?
 
Jon
KB1QBZ
K1 #2552



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[Vic K2VCO]

Jon Perelstein wrote:

> 1.  On the Control Board, when I installed capacitor C4 (0.47 microF,
> monolithic cap "474"), it somewhat overhangs and touches diode D1
> (1N4148).  C4 is a rather thick (fat) capacitor and there doesn't
> seem to be any way to install it without it overhanging and touching
> D1.  Is this okay?

The bodies of the components can touch without any problems. They are
very well insulated!

> 2.  After getting through pg. 14 and most of the capacitors on pg.
> 15, I noticed that my new diagonal cutters (bought from Radio Shack)
> are slightly magnetic -- that is, they attract and pick up the
> clipped leads.  I have of course gotten rid of them -- but do you
> think that using those cutters could have damaged anything?
> Fortunately, I had not gotten to any of the ICs or transistors when I
> discovered this.

Magnetism is *not* a problem. What is a problem is electrostatic charges
such as are caused by walking on a rug, petting a cat, or just existing.
This is why you should use an antistatic wrist-strap and mat. But
magnetic tools will not hurt anything in a K2.

> 3.  Why is it after getting all the way through pages 14, 15, and 16,
> it appears that there are more components than ever remaining to be
> installed??  Do they procreate at night when I'm not looking?

Yes.
--
73,
Vic, K2VCO
Fresno CA
http://www.qsl.net/k2vco
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[AC7AC]

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[NZ0T]

3.  Why is it after getting all the way through pages 14, 15, and 16, it appears that there are more components than ever remaining to be installed??  Do they procreate at night when I'm not looking?



Yes they do procreate.  When I built my K2 I woke up about 3 AM, went down to the shack and found various components doing unspeakable things to each other.  Several were already finished and smoking cigarettes.

Took forever to get that rig built.
 

[Don Wilhelm-4]

Jon,

It is OK for the component bodies to touch - yes that capacitor is large.
Magnetized tools are not a problem - it is electrostatic charges that
can cause problems.  I do not like magnetized tools on my workbench
since they do tend to collect things such as cutoff leads which I find
annoying - it would especially annoy me in the case of cutters.  When my
screwdrivers get close to things like a speaker magnet, I need to spend
a bit of time de-magnetizing them.

If you have an old Weller soldering gun, it can be used as an effective
de-magnetizer.  Just insert the tool into the loop between the two arms
that hold the tip and turn it on - wave the tool back and forth for a
bit and then slowly remove it at least 2 feet away from the gun - you
can then remove power from the soldering gun and you will find the tool
has been de-magnetized.  You must have a tip (or a loop of wire) mounted
in the soldering gun to make a continuous current for this to work, you
will feel the 'buzz' in the tool you are demagnetizing.

Have faith, the parts do not actually multiply (it just seems so).  As
you progress, you will see the number of loose parts slowly decrease.

73,
Don W3FPR

Jon Perelstein wrote:
> I just started building a K2 and I have a couple of questions:
>  
> 1.  On the Control Board, when I installed capacitor C4 (0.47 microF, monolithic cap "474"), it somewhat overhangs and touches diode D1 (1N4148).  C4 is a rather thick (fat) capacitor and there doesn't seem to be any way to install it without it overhanging and touching D1.  Is this okay?
>  
> 2.  After getting through pg. 14 and most of the capacitors on pg. 15, I noticed that my new diagonal cutters (bought from Radio Shack) are slightly magnetic -- that is, they attract and pick up the clipped leads.  I have of course gotten rid of them -- but do you think that using those cutters could have damaged anything?  Fortunately, I had not gotten to any of the ICs or transistors when I discovered this.
>  
> 3.  Why is it after getting all the way through pages 14, 15, and 16, it appears that there are more components than ever remaining to be installed??  Do they procreate at night when I'm not looking?
>
>  
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[williamsonr]

Jon,

You will be happy to hear that the Gang at Elecraft have solved component "procreation" issue with the release of the K3.  However, they seem to have created a new time dimension that causes delivery of the K3 to take light years!

Enjoy the build of the K2

73
Rodger
N4NRW

---- Original message ----

>Date: Sun, 10 Aug 2008 07:38:54 -0700 (PDT)
>From: Jon Perelstein <[hidden email]>  
>Subject: [Elecraft] K2 Miscellaneous Build Questions  
>To: elecraft reflector <[hidden email]>
>
>I just started building a K2 and I have a couple of questions:
>
>1.  On the Control Board, when I installed capacitor C4 (0.47 microF, monolithic cap "474"), it somewhat overhangs and touches diode D1 (1N4148).  C4 is a rather thick (fat) capacitor and there doesn't seem to be any way to install it without it overhanging and touching D1.  Is this okay?
>
>2.  After getting through pg. 14 and most of the capacitors on pg. 15, I noticed that my new diagonal cutters (bought from Radio Shack) are slightly magnetic -- that is, they attract and pick up the clipped leads.  I have of course gotten rid of them -- but do you think that using those cutters could have damaged anything?  Fortunately, I had not gotten to any of the ICs or transistors when I discovered this.
>
>3.  Why is it after getting all the way through pages 14, 15, and 16, it appears that there are more components than ever remaining to be installed??  Do they procreate at night when I'm not looking?
>
>Jon
>KB1QBZ
>K1 #2552
>
>
>      
>_______________________________________________
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>
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[Augie "Gus" Hansen]

[hidden email] wrote:
> ...
> You will be happy to hear that the Gang at Elecraft have solved component "procreation" issue with the release of the K3.  However, they seem to have created a new time dimension that causes delivery of the K3 to take light years!

We get your intent Roger, but a "light year" is a measure of distance,
not time.

Cheers,
Gus Hansen
KB0YH

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