K2 S/N 4787 Build In Progress
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Hi to everyone,
K2 s/n 4787 was received yesterday (3/2/5) at about 1:20pm via UPS. At about 15 hours into the experience I have the control board and front panel complete and just starting the RF board. Several comments..... How did they squeeze all that into one box! On the control board I mislocated one capacitor. All resistance measurements were fine. On the front panel board while trying to add SSB components after the fact I managed to slightly burn the edge of a push button. Wish the instructions had mentioned to put the low SSB components in before the higher and vulnerable parts were added. On both completed boards an IC ending in "06" on the parts list actually ended in "16". I'm reasonable sure I got them right by a process of elimination. I'm inventorying each board as it is begun. There is not enough space on my work bench nor do I have enough spare parts trays to do the whole inventory at once. I may be missing 2-3 parts on the RF board. But, I've learned already to wait and see if they turn up in another bag. The torrids cores were confusing at start but seem to have worked out okay. At this point capacitors for the RF board are a wild blur. I'm sure I have not correctly identified at least a third of them. Many numbers on the caps are simply not in the parts list. If anyone has a good way to ID them I would be pleased to hear from you. Measuring them so far has proved somewhat futile with a simple DVM with a capacitance measuring function. Several resistor packs have not had the right part numbers. So far I've been able to ID them by measureing them. My impression so far is that there are components of some of the accessories to be installed on the three main boards but when and sometimes how is not always clear. With the kit I purchased an Elecraft/Heil MD2 microphone. Apparently a resistor is to be added on the back of the mic plug on the front panel board. I have two other Heil mics. Can they be used on the K2 with or without this resistor? I'm trying to take a few pictures as things progress. I'll try to find a way to post them when finished. Thanks for listing guys. This is quiet an experience!! Jim, AB0UK __________________________________ Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/ _______________________________________________ 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 |
RE: K2 S/N 4787 Build In Progress
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Jim, AB0UK, wrote:
I'm inventorying each board as it is begun. ... At this point capacitors for the RF board are a wild blur. I'm sure I have not correctly identified at least a third of them. Many numbers on the caps are simply not in the parts list. If anyone has a good way to ID them I would be pleased to hear from you. Measuring them so far has proved somewhat futile with a simple DVM with a capacitance measuring function. Several resistor packs have not had the right part numbers. So far I've been able to ID them by measureing them. My impression so far is that there are components of some of the accessories to be installed on the three main boards but when and sometimes how is not always clear. ---------------------- Wow, Jim! I'm surprised you are finding so many irregularities in the parts numbering! I've written the assembly instructions on some of the more recent Elecraft kits like the XV transverters, the KX1 and the new T1 tuner. From what I've seen the parts are very much the same as when I built my K2 five years ago. On the caps there ARE a lot of other marks in addition to the numbers shown in parenthesis, but the right parts in the kit are the ONLY ones with the numbers shown somewhere on them. The value (like 103 for a .01 ufd cap) is often followed by the letter "j", but otherwise is usually on a line of its own on the cap. As the section on parts i.d. explains, the numbering is very similar to resistors only done in digits: 103 = 10000 pf or 0.01 ufd. Many of the smaller caps have the actual value like (10) for a 10 pF cap since there's no need for a multiplier. If the numbers in paren. in the text are on the part somewhere, it should be the right cap. The resistor pack situation you found is a real surprise. Those things are a real monster if you put the wrong in the wrong place (I did once, and managed to remove it in one piece without a high-powered vacuum desolderer, but it's the sort of thing one doesn't want to do twice in a lifetime!) I don't blame you for being concerned about that. Many of the I.C.s have a couple of different possible numbers because there are a couple of interchangeable types used, but I thought they were called out in the errata. Drop [hidden email] a note if you have a question. Gary will not only confirm your part i.d., but if there is an issue that hasn't been documented, he'll get the ball rolling to include the info in future kits. I recommend building the basic K2 first. There's very little rework required to add the accessories, and doing the basic unit as described in the K2 assembly manual means that you can check it out according to the manual and be sure all is well before adding the other modules. I'd ignore the other modules until the K2 is up and running. That's how I built ol S/N 1289! As for fitting everything in that box, every time Wayne designs a new rig, I have to buy a stronger magnifier! Today I lost entire whole circuit board assembly for my T1 tuner prototype. Hunted all over for it for an hour. I had dropped a QSL card on my desk. Yep, it was hidden under the card. Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K2 S/N 4787 Build In Progress
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In reply to this post by Jim Harris-4
Jim Harris wrote:
> On the front panel board while trying to add SSB > components after the fact I managed to slightly burn > the edge of a push button. Wish the instructions had > mentioned to put the low SSB components in before the > higher and vulnerable parts were added. Having just been through that part of the build too, I agree with Jim... the top-of-board soldering for the KSB2 connector is is just the dickens to do with the plastic pots and buttons in place; I made it through without toasting anything but it would have been *so* much easier to do before the top got crowded with tall meltable things. Is there a reason this is where it is in sequence other than "Uh-oh, they're about to mate the FP board to the panel and wire the enccoder; drop in the KSB2 parts now because it will be inconvenient later"? If not, I say move it to someplace earlier. Another suggestion: Whenever you cue the installation of the KSB parts on the FP, repeat the warning about component height/lead length for Q3 that was issued for Q3 and Q2...I forgot about it and I had to monkey with Q3 after installation to allow the FP board to fit properly against the metal panel. I'm still delighted with the kit, of course... 73 de Maggie K3XS (K2 S/N 1641), who needs to go get more solder in the morning; that "no-lead" stuff with silver in it stinks. -- -----/___. _)Margaret Stephanie Leber CCP, SCJP/"The art of progress / ----/(, /| /| http://voicenet.com/~maggie SCWCD/ is to preserve order/ ---/ / | / | _ _ _ ` _ AOPA 925383/ amid change and to / --/ ) / |/ |_(_(_(_/_(_/__(__(/_ K3XS / preserve change amid/ -/ (_/ ' .-/ .-/ ARRL 39280 /order."-A.N.Whitehead/ /________________(_/_(_/_______AMSAT 32844_/<[hidden email]>/ _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K2 S/N 4787 Build In Progress
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In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Haw Haw!! And I thought I was then only one who did things like that!
I once looked for a part for two days. It was sitting on my workbench, more or less in plain sight, the whole time. - Jim, KL7CC Ron D'Eau Claire wrote ><snip> Today I lost entire whole circuit board assembly for my T1 tuner prototype. Hunted all over for it for an hour. I had dropped a QSL card on my desk. Yep, it was hidden under the card. > Ron AC7AC _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Jim Harris-4
So I'm not the only one...... What a relief! 73 de Giulio IW3HVB -- Quote: On the front panel board while trying to add SSB components after the fact I managed to slightly burn the edge of a push button. Wish the instructions had mentioned to put the low SSB components in before the higher and vulnerable parts were added. _______________________________________________ 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 |
Re: K2 S/N 4787 Build In Progress
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In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Ron D'Eau Claire wrote:
> I'm inventorying each board as it is begun. ... At this point capacitors > for the RF board are a wild blur. I'm sure I have not correctly identified > at least a third of them. Many numbers on the caps are simply not in the > parts list. If anyone has a good way to ID them I would be pleased to hear English is not my mother tongue. I am not a technician. However, I managed to identify all the capacitors. Some of them are tiny, you could use magnifier. Remember to check both sides of capacitors. I had some difficulties identifying because I looked another side of capacitors. > DVM with a capacitance measuring function. Several resistor packs have not > had the right part numbers. So far I've been able to ID them by measureing Right! There were some different numbers. This topic was covered in list archives. Multimeter helped. I had some red resistor packs with "wrong" numbers when comparing to inventory list. Their resistance was OK. Rolf Moberg (s/n 4759 waiting to be built) oh6kxl _______________________________________________ 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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In reply to this post by Ron D'Eau Claire-2
Jim,
I am only speaking from my experience and this may be a childish statement from your point of view, and I am not trying to be smart or anything like that, but be sure and look at both sides of the capacitors. Some of them have numbers on both sides. I got in a hurry when doing my inventory and could not find a couple of capacitors because I made this mistake. But then again, that's me. I'm sure you are already aware of this but I thought I would mention it. I actually called Elecraft and told them I was missing a couple of caps because of this. I had egg on my face when I realized what I had done. The plus side is that I had a couple of caps for my junk box. Hi Hi Stan Rife W5EWA Houston, TX K2 S/N 4216 Jim, AB0UK, wrote: I'm inventorying each board as it is begun. ... At this point capacitors for the RF board are a wild blur. I'm sure I have not correctly identified at least a third of them. Many numbers on the caps are simply not in the parts list. If anyone has a good way to ID them I would be pleased to hear from you. Measuring them so far has proved somewhat futile with a simple DVM with a capacitance measuring function. Several resistor packs have not had the right part numbers. So far I've been able to ID them by measureing them. My impression so far is that there are components of some of the accessories to be installed on the three main boards but when and sometimes how is not always clear. ---------------------- _______________________________________________ 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 |
RE: K2 S/N 4787 Build In Progress
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I've been doing electronics for years and there's some pattern matching
you have to do when sorting out parts. Especially caps and resistor packs. It's not completely automatic like resistors used to be. (I say used to be because I could swear the colors were clearer when I was younger. :) ) I'd take all the capacitors and group them together first. Then you know that you have 12 marked "104" (for example) and then look on the list to see which capacitor you should have 12 of. Once in a while Elecraft gets the counts wrong so make sure you double check the values and ask here if you have to. > Jim, AB0UK, wrote: > > I'm inventorying each board as it is begun. ... At this point capacitors > for the RF board are a wild blur. I'm sure I have not correctly identified > at least a third of them. Many numbers on the caps are simply not in the > parts list. If anyone has a good way to ID them I would be pleased to hear > from you. Measuring them so far has proved somewhat futile with a simple > DVM with a capacitance measuring function. Several resistor packs have not > had the right part numbers. So far I've been able to ID them by measureing > them. -- Hisashi T Fujinaka - [hidden email] BSEE(6/86) + BSChem(3/95) + BAEnglish(8/95) + MSCS(8/03) + $2.50 = latte _______________________________________________ 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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