K2 Optimizations?

[Darrell Bellerive]

I'm about to build my second K2. Stupid me, sold the first one. But then again
I really like building.

Being a perfectionist to the nth degree and an optimization freak, I am
wondering about component tolerance and matching components. While I realize
that with the components supplied and following the manual instructions will
result in a rig that meets all specification, I can't help but wonder if I
can't get that last little bit of perfection by selecting the best component
for the job.

I measure each resistor and capacitor before mounting them on the circuit
boards just to confirm my correct reading of color bands or values. So if I
have more than one of a certain value component, and if they have slightly
different values, yet still within the tolerance, then perhaps a particular
value will work better in one part of the circuit than another. Perhaps even
some parts of the circuitry will benefit a tiny bit from matched components.

Yes, I know that this is taking things to the extreme, but that is my
perfectionist nature shining through.

So, can anyone think of any circuits of the K2 that would benefit in even the
slightest way by hand picking a component that is right on it's value vs. one
that is near the upper or lower tolerance, or visa versa?

73,
Darrell

--
Darrell Bellerive
Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
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[David A. Belsley]

Darrell:
   Much in the world that is truly good is lost in the search for the
optimal.

best wishes,

dave belsley, w1euy



On Aug 28, 2005, at 7:25 PM, Darrell Bellerive wrote:

> I'm about to build my second K2. Stupid me, sold the first one. But
> then again
> I really like building.
>
> Being a perfectionist to the nth degree and an optimization freak, I am
> wondering about component tolerance and matching components. While I
> realize
> that with the components supplied and following the manual
> instructions will
> result in a rig that meets all specification, I can't help but wonder
> if I
> can't get that last little bit of perfection by selecting the best
> component
> for the job.
>
> I measure each resistor and capacitor before mounting them on the
> circuit
> boards just to confirm my correct reading of color bands or values. So
> if I
> have more than one of a certain value component, and if they have
> slightly
> different values, yet still within the tolerance, then perhaps a
> particular
> value will work better in one part of the circuit than another.
> Perhaps even
> some parts of the circuitry will benefit a tiny bit from matched
> components.
>
> Yes, I know that this is taking things to the extreme, but that is my
> perfectionist nature shining through.
>
> So, can anyone think of any circuits of the K2 that would benefit in
> even the
> slightest way by hand picking a component that is right on it's value
> vs. one
> that is near the upper or lower tolerance, or visa versa?
>
> 73,
> Darrell
>
> --
> Darrell Bellerive
> Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
> Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
> _______________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Post to: [hidden email]
> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>
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> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>

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[Bill Scovell]

David, greetings from Down-under.
Much enjoyed 'le mot juste' above your signature.

Bill Scovell?VK4SQ
----- Original Message -----
From: "David A.Belsley" <[hidden email]>
To: <[hidden email]>
Cc: <[hidden email]>
Sent: Monday, August 29, 2005 10:10 AM
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 Optimizations?

> Darrell:
>   Much in the world that is truly good is lost in the search for the
> optimal.
>
> best wishes,
>
> dave belsley, w1euy
>
>
>
> On Aug 28, 2005, at 7:25 PM, Darrell Bellerive wrote:
>
>> I'm about to build my second K2. Stupid me, sold the first one. But then
>> again
>> I really like building.
>>
>> Being a perfectionist to the nth degree and an optimization freak, I am
>> wondering about component tolerance and matching components. While I
>> realize
>> that with the components supplied and following the manual instructions
>> will
>> result in a rig that meets all specification, I can't help but wonder if
>> I
>> can't get that last little bit of perfection by selecting the best
>> component
>> for the job.
>>
>> I measure each resistor and capacitor before mounting them on the circuit
>> boards just to confirm my correct reading of color bands or values. So if
>> I
>> have more than one of a certain value component, and if they have
>> slightly
>> different values, yet still within the tolerance, then perhaps a
>> particular
>> value will work better in one part of the circuit than another. Perhaps
>> even
>> some parts of the circuitry will benefit a tiny bit from matched
>> components.
>>
>> Yes, I know that this is taking things to the extreme, but that is my
>> perfectionist nature shining through.
>>
>> So, can anyone think of any circuits of the K2 that would benefit in even
>> the
>> slightest way by hand picking a component that is right on it's value vs.
>> one
>> that is near the upper or lower tolerance, or visa versa?
>>
>> 73,
>> Darrell
>>
>> --
>> Darrell Bellerive
>> Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
>> Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
>> _______________________________________________
>> Elecraft mailing list
>> Post to: [hidden email]
>> You must be a subscriber to post to the list.
>> Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.):
>>  http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
>>
>> Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm
>> Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
>>
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[Darrell Bellerive]

Thanks to all who emailed me.

Just to clarify, I will not be replacing any of the Elecraft supplied parts.
>From what I have read Elecraft goes to great lengths to ensure high quality
components and subsituting those parts with my own would be a recipe for
disaster. I also will not deviate from the values specified.

As I look at the K2 schematics it seems there would be places where matching
components would be of benefit. For example R12 on the Front Panel board
should be as close to the resistances of RP2 as possible to have even
brightness on the LED array. Since there are five 120 ohm resistors supplied
with the K2, why not pick the one that is closest to the average resistance
of RP2 or even the adjacent segment resistor RP2 pins 1 and 10.

The same with R53 and R54 on the RF board. There are four 4.7 ohm resistors
supplied with the kit, so why not pick the two that are closest to each other
in resistance?

There are obvious places where matching would seem to be of some benefit,
however small, but I am wondering about the less obvious. Since my knowledge
of electronics is somewhat limited, and I don't understand what some
components purposes are in some circuits, I was hoping that others would help
me feed my insanity by suggesting other possible but less obvious components
to match. I will not hold anyone responsible for any psychiatrist bills. :-)

Along this same line, is it possible to match varactor diodes? There are
eleven 1SV149 varactor diodes supplied with the kit. Matching D29 to D34 in
the CW IF filter would perhaps be of some value. Then again I look at the
pair of varactor diodes D21 and D22 in the VFO circuit and I wonder if they
should be matched? It would also seem that the combination of D23, D24, D25
and D26 are grouped to provide more capacitance swing (Am I right?) and may
benefit from diodes that are closer to the edge of their component tolerance.
Yes?

Yes, I know that I am bordering on insanity, but hey I want to really take my
time and stretch out the building. Besides the more I learn about my K2 in
the process the better.

On August 28, 2005 04:25 pm, Darrell Bellerive wrote:

> I'm about to build my second K2. Stupid me, sold the first one. But then
> again I really like building.
>
> Being a perfectionist to the nth degree and an optimization freak, I am
> wondering about component tolerance and matching components. While I
> realize that with the components supplied and following the manual
> instructions will result in a rig that meets all specification, I can't
> help but wonder if I can't get that last little bit of perfection by
> selecting the best component for the job.
>
> I measure each resistor and capacitor before mounting them on the circuit
> boards just to confirm my correct reading of color bands or values. So if I
> have more than one of a certain value component, and if they have slightly
> different values, yet still within the tolerance, then perhaps a particular
> value will work better in one part of the circuit than another. Perhaps
> even some parts of the circuitry will benefit a tiny bit from matched
> components.
>
> Yes, I know that this is taking things to the extreme, but that is my
> perfectionist nature shining through.
>
> So, can anyone think of any circuits of the K2 that would benefit in even
> the slightest way by hand picking a component that is right on it's value
> vs. one that is near the upper or lower tolerance, or visa versa?
>
> 73,
> Darrell

--
Darrell Bellerive
Amateur Radio Stations VA7TO and VE7CLA
Grand Forks, British Columbia, Canada
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[Mike N2JZ]

Great Advice....I've experienced that over and over again and as  I approach
my 50th birthday (Feb) I'm beginning to see the light.
 
 
73s,
 
 
Mike
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