Elecraft

REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

Classic

List

Threaded

10 messages Options

Rod Ai7NN

REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

Well,

For me yes.

I'm going to put everything in storage for a few years until solar
activity picks up. Pretty much everything is boxed up and stored in
the garage already. But I'm curious about the best way to store my K2
and a few other electronic items for the long term. I thinking a big
zip-lock bag, a little desiccant and a store in the house to minimize
temp/humidity cycling.

Ideas for long-term storage only please--I have no interest or desire
to spend money on station improvements to make operating more
successful/interesting.
--
73, Rod Ai7NN
_______________________________________________
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

Don Wilhelm-4

Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

Rod,

If you keep it dry, electronics will store nicely for a good long time.
Temperature is not a consideration as long as condensation is
controlled. If it is at a temperature extreme when put back into
service, a bit of time to acclimate to ambient before applying power is
prudent.

Remove any batteries before storing - that has been learned from
experience :-) , even though I know better, it sometimes happens -
reminders are good IMHO.

73,
Don W3FPR

[hidden email] wrote:

> Well,
>
> For me yes.
>
> I'm going to put everything in storage for a few years until solar
> activity picks up. Pretty much everything is boxed up and stored in
> the garage already. But I'm curious about the best way to store my K2
> and a few other electronic items for the long term. I thinking a big
> zip-lock bag, a little desiccant and a store in the house to minimize
> temp/humidity cycling.
>
> Ideas for long-term storage only please--I have no interest or desire
> to spend money on station improvements to make operating more
> successful/interesting.
> --
> 73, Rod Ai7NN
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>
>
>

_______________________________________________
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

David Woolley (E.L)

Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

Don Wilhelm wrote:
> <div class="moz-text-flowed" style="font-family: -moz-fixed">Rod,
>
> If you keep it dry, electronics will store nicely for a good long time.
> Temperature is not a consideration as long as condensation is

Although not as significant as when devices are under bias, the
Arrhenius equations still implies that the failure rate will have an
exponential dependence on temperature and thermal cycling will still
cause mechanical stress. I'd guess that the combination of under bias
degradation and thermal shock from operation will probably age the
system more in a few weeks of operation than two years of storage, though.

The other consideration for long storage, although probably not for two
to three years with modern components, is that eletrolytics will
depolarize; that can result in excessive currents if there is no natural
current limitation, until the oxide reforms. If the current is too
limited, it may prevent them reforming, which is, I suspect, how the
electronics in one of my cameras died when I didn't use it for several
years.

I'd guess a couple of years is OK with modern components, but it would
be advisable to power it up overnight from time to time if it is going
to be mothballed for a very long time. This is the main reason why very
old equipment, which hasn't been used for a long time, should be treated
with extreme care, as old electrolytics can explode quite spectacularly
if their oxide has decayed and they are effectively short circuit.
Modern ones are designed to break open before they explode.

Because some power lines are only active on transmit, you may need to
key the transmitter, at low power, into a dummy load, to ensure that the
electrolytics are reformed.

> controlled. If it is at a temperature extreme when put back into

--
David Woolley
Emails are not formal business letters, whatever businesses may want.
RFC1855 says there should be an address here, but, in a world of spam,
that is no longer good advice, as archive address hiding may not work.
_______________________________________________
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

w9cf

Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

In reply to this post by Rod Ai7NN

Dear Ron,

My experience is that all radios depreciate in constant dollars with time.
So another way of "storage", that is almost certainly more economical,
would be to sell your K2. That money plus the interest earned will likely
buy a better rig, for example a used K3, when and if you decide to get
back on the air.

73 Kevin w9cf

>I'm going to put everything in storage for a few years until solar
>activity picks up. Pretty much everything is boxed up and stored in
>the garage already. But I'm curious about the best way to store my K2
>and a few other electronic items for the long term. I thinking a big
>zip-lock bag, a little desiccant and a store in the house to minimize
>temp/humidity cycling.
>
>Ideas for long-term storage only please--I have no interest or desire
>to spend money on station improvements to make operating more
>successful/interesting.
>--
>73, Rod Ai7NN

dave.wilburn

Re: Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

A used K3? Who has ever heard of such a thing? ;)
-

David Wilburn
[hidden email]
K4DGW
K2 S/N 5982

On Sun, 2008-01-06 at 14:49 -0700, Kevin Schmidt wrote:

> Dear Ron,
>
> My experience is that all radios depreciate in constant dollars with time.
> So another way of "storage", that is almost certainly more economical,
> would be to sell your K2. That money plus the interest earned will likely
> buy a better rig, for example a used K3, when and if you decide to get
> back on the air.
>
> 73 Kevin w9cf
>
> >I'm going to put everything in storage for a few years until solar
> >activity picks up. Pretty much everything is boxed up and stored in
> >the garage already. But I'm curious about the best way to store my K2
> >and a few other electronic items for the long term. I thinking a big
> >zip-lock bag, a little desiccant and a store in the house to minimize
> >temp/humidity cycling.
> >
> >Ideas for long-term storage only please--I have no interest or desire
> >to spend money on station improvements to make operating more
> >successful/interesting.
> >--
> >73, Rod Ai7NN
> _______________________________________________
> 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

Thom LaCosta

Re: Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

On Sun, 6 Jan 2008, David Wilburn wrote:

> A used K3? Who has ever heard of such a thing? ;)

Well, sooner or later the ARRL will buy one, review it and then auction it off.

Thom,EIEIO
Email, Internet, Electronic Information Officer

www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon
www.tlchost.net/hosting/ Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month
_______________________________________________
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

WILLIS COOKE

Re: Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

The way ARRL auctions go, it will probably auction for
about $5,000.

--- Thom LaCosta <[hidden email]> wrote:

> On Sun, 6 Jan 2008, David Wilburn wrote:
>
> > A used K3? Who has ever heard of such a thing?
> ;)
>
> Well, sooner or later the ARRL will buy one, review
> it and then auction it off.
>
> Thom,EIEIO
> Email, Internet, Electronic Information Officer
>
> www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the
> Baltimore Lexicon
> www.tlchost.net/hosting/ Web Hosting
> as low as 3.49/month
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>

Thom LaCosta

Re: Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

On Sun, 6 Jan 2008, WILLIS COOKE wrote:

> The way ARRL auctions go, it will probably auction for
> about $5,000.

For years I've thought the black helicopters flew over Newington...maybe I can
get a tin foil hat with the ARRL Logo and my call sign.

This logoized world is confusing....just today I thought I saw a man walking
down the street backwards...and then realized that not only was he enough of a
dim-bulb to pay top dollar for a jacket that advertised its maker on the front,
but the jacket also had the logo on the back.

Maybe I can offer k3 embroidered logos that can be ironed onto the adjustable
hats with the call signs.

Branding..it's all about branding!

Thom,EIEIO
Email, Internet, Electronic Information Officer

www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon
www.tlchost.net/hosting/ Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month
_______________________________________________
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

WILLIS COOKE

Re: Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

In reply to this post by dave.wilburn

When the K4 is released there will no doubt be some
available. Rod may have to wait a while.

--- David Wilburn <[hidden email]> wrote:

> A used K3? Who has ever heard of such a thing? ;)
> -
>
> David Wilburn
> [hidden email]
> K4DGW
> K2 S/N 5982
>
>
> On Sun, 2008-01-06 at 14:49 -0700, Kevin Schmidt
> wrote:
> > Dear Ron,
> >
> > My experience is that all radios depreciate in
> constant dollars with time.
> > So another way of "storage", that is almost
> certainly more economical,
> > would be to sell your K2. That money plus the
> interest earned will likely
> > buy a better rig, for example a used K3, when and
> if you decide to get
> > back on the air.
> >
> > 73 Kevin w9cf
> >
> > >I'm going to put everything in storage for a few
> years until solar
> > >activity picks up. Pretty much everything is
> boxed up and stored in
> > >the garage already. But I'm curious about the
> best way to store my K2
> > >and a few other electronic items for the long
> term. I thinking a big
> > >zip-lock bag, a little desiccant and a store in
> the house to minimize
> > >temp/humidity cycling.
> > >
> > >Ideas for long-term storage only please--I have
> no interest or desire
> > >to spend money on station improvements to make
> operating more
> > >successful/interesting.
> > >--
> > >73, Rod Ai7NN
> > _______________________________________________
> > 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
>
> _______________________________________________
> 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
>

Thom LaCosta

Re: Re: REPRISE: As good as it gets...for now?

On Sun, 6 Jan 2008, WILLIS COOKE wrote:

> When the K4 is released there will no doubt be some
> available. Rod may have to wait a while.

By then I expect that the entire population of Ellfville will have moved to
Aptos, and the fat man in the red suit will take on a non-christmas career of
Quality Control Supervisor.

Instead of cookies and milk, children will leave notices of license issuance and
QSL cards.

Ruldolf will have a wifi link to the Mrs. Claus.

And of course, folks will flock to make a 200 per cent downpayment to be in the
RAB Batch (Right After Beta)

Thom,EIEIO
Email, Internet, Electronic Information Officer

www.baltimorehon.com/ Home of the Baltimore Lexicon
www.tlchost.net/hosting/ Web Hosting as low as 3.49/month
_______________________________________________
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