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K3 front panel encoders

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Olli Tuppurainen

K3 front panel encoders

Has anyone figured out how to clean or fix front panel encoders (SHIFT/LO ,
HI /WIDTH) ? These cheap ( ~ 0.5$ encoders ) in my K3 has always been
quite " jumpy " i.e. value jumps up and down in random steps . Also the"
feeling " is not what you would expect form rig in this price range.

Similar issue was in FT-1000MP RIT encoder in 90s . Dust got inside the
optical encoder and turning RIT knob jumped frequency steps quite randomly.

Olli
OH6CT

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wayne burdick

Re: K3 front panel encoders

Administrator

Olli,

The SHIFT/LO control, etc., are mechanical encoders with a typical rotational life of 100,000 rotations. The are easily replaceable, and we can send you as many as you need. I believe the price is quite low. I don't believe is is possible to clean them, as they are sealed.

In contrast, the VFO A and B encoders are optical, not mechanical, and they are specified at 10 million rotations. But the cost difference between optical and mechanical is huge (about 40:1). The mechanical encoders are very small, fitting in the available space, and are a pragmatic choice for the function controls.

73,
Wayne
N6KR

On Nov 11, 2014, at 8:57 AM, "Olli Tuppurainen" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Has anyone figured out how to clean or fix front panel encoders (SHIFT/LO ,
> HI /WIDTH) ? These cheap ( ~ 0.5$ encoders ) in my K3 has always been
> quite " jumpy " i.e. value jumps up and down in random steps . Also the"
> feeling " is not what you would expect form rig in this price range.
>
> Similar issue was in FT-1000MP RIT encoder in 90s . Dust got inside the
> optical encoder and turning RIT knob jumped frequency steps quite randomly.
>
> Olli
> OH6CT
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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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Merv Schweigert

Re: K3 front panel encoders

In reply to this post by Olli Tuppurainen

Are there different encoders used on the K3 from batch to batch?
I have an early K3 that has silk smooth encoders, and have another
K3 that is later and the encoders are like gravel, rough and coarse.
So there has been different encoders used?

73 Merv K9FD/KH6