[KXPA100] Power-on slide switch ?

[Phil Hystad-3]

Addressed to KXPA100 owners, or KXPA100 manufacturers:

I was showing photos (from the Elecraft web site) of the KXPA100 amplifier to a friend of mine (the amplifier is next on my to-buy list).  He is a relatively recent ham operator but a General class holder of way back in the 1960s.  Last year, he bought a K3/P3 and is very interested in acquiring more Elecraft equipment.

So, this friend, also a retired EE (comms and telemetry), is shocked to see a slide switch, reminiscent of his old Heathkit days, as the power on switch.  I had never noticed it before.  His comment:  "Why the antique component, that will break within a year".

My question:  is this true?  Will this switch break within a year or is it much better quality then my friend remembers as being on his old Heathkit rigs.  Actually, I am not sure which Heathkit rig he is referring to, whether his DX-60 or DX-100 or what.  Or, maybe my friend is particularly hard on slide switches.

I have to admit that after being used to all of the push button switches on the Elecraft rigs (K-line, KX3) I too was a little surprised at the slide switch (just now remembered that my KX1 has two small slide switches on it).  Though, I have no knowledge of whether push button is better than slide switch anyway.

73, phil, K7PEH



______________________________________________________________
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]

[wayne burdick]

Hi Phil,

The slide switch we used is very reliable, with a long predicted life. We used a slide switch because it is less likely to be activated accidentally than a push-button switch (e.g., with the amplifier in a car trunk, surrounded by flotsam).

Wayne
N6KR


On Jun 24, 2014, at 9:35 AM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Addressed to KXPA100 owners, or KXPA100 manufacturers:
>
> I was showing photos (from the Elecraft web site) of the KXPA100 amplifier to a friend of mine (the amplifier is next on my to-buy list).  He is a relatively recent ham operator but a General class holder of way back in the 1960s.  Last year, he bought a K3/P3 and is very interested in acquiring more Elecraft equipment.
>
> So, this friend, also a retired EE (comms and telemetry), is shocked to see a slide switch, reminiscent of his old Heathkit days, as the power on switch.  I had never noticed it before.


______________________________________________________________
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]

[Phil Hystad-3]

Thanks Wayne --- as usual, Elecraft has an excellent and justifiable choice for their decision.  No flotsam in my car trunk though, actually no car trunk, just the bed of a pickup truck.  I intend to use the amplifier for portable operations when I travel and 120 vac is available -- otherwise, it is QRP portable with the KX3.

73, phil, K7PEH


On Jun 24, 2014, at 9:38 AM, Wayne Burdick <[hidden email]> wrote:

> Hi Phil,
>
> The slide switch we used is very reliable, with a long predicted life. We used a slide switch because it is less likely to be activated accidentally than a push-button switch (e.g., with the amplifier in a car trunk, surrounded by flotsam).
>
> Wayne
> N6KR
>
>
> On Jun 24, 2014, at 9:35 AM, Phil Hystad <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
>> Addressed to KXPA100 owners, or KXPA100 manufacturers:
>>
>> I was showing photos (from the Elecraft web site) of the KXPA100 amplifier to a friend of mine (the amplifier is next on my to-buy list).  He is a relatively recent ham operator but a General class holder of way back in the 1960s.  Last year, he bought a K3/P3 and is very interested in acquiring more Elecraft equipment.
>>
>> So, this friend, also a retired EE (comms and telemetry), is shocked to see a slide switch, reminiscent of his old Heathkit days, as the power on switch.  I had never noticed it before.
>
>

______________________________________________________________
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]

[Bill Frantz]

There are good slide switches available. The hood on our stove
has slide switches for the fans and light. It was installed in
1994 and we are still using the original switches. I will note
that when they fill up with grease from cooking, it is necessary
to clean them out with a spritz of WD-40.

73 Bill AE6JV

On 6/24/14 at 9:35 AM, [hidden email] (Phil Hystad) wrote:

>My question:  is this true?  Will this switch break within a
>year or is it much better quality then my friend remembers as
>being on his old Heathkit rigs.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill Frantz        | Truth and love must prevail  | Periwinkle
[phone]      | over lies and hate.          | 16345
Englewood Ave
www.pwpconsult.com |               - Vaclav Havel | Los Gatos,
CA 95032

______________________________________________________________
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]

[ke9uw]

I am a ret. EE and years ago I bought a new Drake 2B. When I sent the warranty in, I mentioned the slide switches. I got a nice letter back from a Drake engineer who assured me that the slide switches had been selected to be most reliable and I should have no issues with them. And I never had any issues with them.
EE's don't know everything...well almost, but not about slide switches :).

[Gerry leary]

I never had a problem with the slide switches in my Swan 500-c either.

Sent from my iPhone this time

> On Jun 25, 2014, at 10:21 AM, ke9uw <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> I am a ret. EE and years ago I bought a new Drake 2B. When I sent the
> warranty in, I mentioned the slide switches. I got a nice letter back from a
> Drake engineer who assured me that the slide switches had been selected to
> be most reliable and I should have no issues with them. And I never had any
> issues with them.
> EE's don't know everything...well almost, but not about slide switches :).
>
>
>
> -----
> Chuck, KE9UW
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KXPA100-Power-on-slide-switch-tp7590470p7590528.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> 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]