KXPD3 Gold-plated contacts ?

[Heinz Baertschi]

Has anyone tried to galvanically gold-plate the KXPD3 contact screws and posts?

Heinz HB9BCB

[KE6BB]

RE:  "Has anyone tried to galvanically gold-plate the KXPD3 contact screws and
posts?"

Heinz,

In an attempt to solve the "missing dit" problem?

Mark
KE6BB
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[Heinz Baertschi]

Mark Petiford wrote

RE:  "Has anyone tried to galvanically gold-plate the KXPD3 contact screws and
posts?"

Heinz,
In an attempt to solve the "missing dit" problem?
Mark
KE6BB

Not at all, I never noticed the so-called dit problem.
Using an early (upgraded) and a late KXPD3, both with the light(est) spring.

Both paddles functioned flawless last year on over 100 SOTA expeditions (more than 6000 QSOs).
The contacts become intermittent during the winter months (temp around 0C, sometimes foggy).
Dry cleaning the contacts did always help for some time.

The KXPD3 has become my paddle of choice for SOTA through it's reliability (simplicity, robustness) and it's suitability for use also on higher keying speeds.

That is why I am exploring an improvement.

Heinz HB9BCB

[Kenneth Christiansen]

Hi to the group

I think I have an easy solution to the problem indicated here. The first problem may be the hinges of the paddles. I took a fine wire out of an audio cable and put one end under the screw on each paddle. I looped and soldered this wire to the ground terminal of the connector to the KX3. The paddles do not move enough to cause the wire to break. I use the paddles as a side swiper key any time I need a hand key and after the straight key nite on New Years the paddle I was using got intermittent. A small shot of WD40 fixed it and I have used it quite a bit since then. You may want to try the WD40 first and maybe that is all the hinges need too but I like the positive ground the wire provides.

I sure do like my KX3 and KXPA100 so expect to have lots of fun camping this summer.

73

Ken W0CZ  w0cz at i29 dot net

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 7, 2014, at 4:28 AM, Heinz Baertschi <[hidden email]> wrote:
>
> Mark Petiford wrote
>> RE:  "Has anyone tried to galvanically gold-plate the KXPD3 contact screws
>> and
>> posts?"
>>
>> Heinz,
>> In an attempt to solve the "missing dit" problem?
>> Mark
>> KE6BB
>
> Not at all, I never noticed the so-called dit Problem.
> Using an early (upgraded) and a late KXPD3, both with the light(est) spring.
>
> Both paddles functioned flawless last year on over 100 SOTA expeditions
> (more than 6000 QSOs).
> The contacts become intermittent during the winter months (temp around 0C,
> sometimes foggy).
> Dry cleaning the contacts did always help for some time.
>
> The KXPD3 has become my paddle of choice for SOTA through it's reliability
> (simplicity, robustness) and it's suitability for use also on higher keying
> Speeds.
>
> That is why I am exploring an improvement.
>
> Heinz HB9BCB
>
>
>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://elecraft.365791.n2.nabble.com/KXPD3-Gold-plated-contacts-tp7583792p7583817.html
> Sent from the Elecraft mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> ______________________________________________________________
> Elecraft mailing list
> Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
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>
> This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
> Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html

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[Heinz Baertschi]

Art, Ted, Ken, Olaf, et al.,

Thanks for the helpful contributions.
Yes, the real cause are the bearings of the levers. They do not make sure a flawless electrical contact. This seems to get worse at temperatures around/below 0C.
I would name this imperfection "Limit of simplicity".
Just fixed it permanently by a stranded wire from ground to both levers, acts like magic.

BTW, some pictures of the mod done could be made available for publication on the net.

73 es tks agn,
Heinz HB9BCB

[Heinz Baertschi]

Heinz Baertschi wrote

...
BTW, some pictures of the mod done could be made available for publication on the net.
...

Pictures just added to my qrz dot com page.

73, Heinz HB9BCB

[KE6BB]

Tried to send the message below, but apparently my mail provider didn't actually send it.  See the post below if you are interested in accomplishing KXPD3 mod to correct intermittent operation.

Mark
KE6BB

From: Mark Petiford<[hidden email]>
Sent: ‎Sun, ‎Feb‎ ‎9‎, ‎2014 at ‎1‎:‎33‎ ‎PM
To: Heinz Baertschi <[hidden email]>;  <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXPD3 Gold-plated contacts ?

Re:  Heinz Baertschi wrote> ...> BTW, some pictures of the mod done could be made available for publication> on the net.> ...There is a real nice set of photos showing the mod in the Yahoo Group (Files>KXPD3 Mod.), if you are a member of that group.  If not, I have attempted to share them on Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/22169464@N03/sets/72157640740273315/Be sure to click on the comments balloon for each photo for a short description.This is the simplest solution I have seen.  I hope Flickr lets you see them.   I am not very Flickr fluent. MarkKE6BB
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[KE6BB]

OK, I give up.  Yahoo keeps making its mail clients fancier, but less useful.  It seems to have a mind of its own.  Here is the link that I was trying to send:

        http://www.flickr.com/photos/22169464@N03/sets/72157640740273315/

Mark
KE6BB

From: Mark Petiford<[hidden email]>
Sent: ‎Sun, ‎Feb‎ ‎9‎, ‎2014 at ‎6‎:‎27‎ ‎PM
To:  <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXPD3 Gold-plated contacts ?

Tried to send the message below, but apparently my mail provider didn't actually send it.  See the post below if you are interested in accomplishing KXPD3 mod to correct intermittent operation.MarkKE6BBFrom: Mark Petiford<[hidden email]>Sent: ‎Sun, ‎Feb‎ ‎9‎, ‎2014 at ‎1‎:‎33‎ ‎PMTo: Heinz Baertschi <[hidden email]>;  <[hidden email]>Subject: Re: [Elecraft] KXPD3 Gold-plated contacts ?Re:  Heinz Baertschi wrote> ...> BTW, some pictures of the mod done could be made available for publication> on the net.> ...There is a real nice set of photos showing the mod in the Yahoo Group (Files>KXPD3 Mod.), if you are a member of that group.  If not, I have attempted to share them on Flickr:http://www.flickr.com/photos/22169464@N03/sets/72157640740273315/Be sure to click on the comments balloon for each photo for a short description.This is the simplest solution I have seen.  I hope Flickr lets you see them. 
  I am not very Flickr fluent. MarkKE6BB______________________________________________________________Elecraft mailing listHome: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraftHelp: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htmPost: mailto:[hidden email] list hosted by: http://www.qsl.netPlease help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
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