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Started building my K2 have a few ?

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Matt Palmer-4

Started building my K2 have a few ?

Almost complete with the control board and had a couple questions for the
peanut gallery. There are pads on the board for a C44, however this cap does
not appear in the inventory, and is not mentioned in the manual, I assume it
is for an additional module but we know what happens when you assume things.
Also does anyone know the gold plating thickness on the right angle
connectors? I am generally unhappy with the wetting I am getting on several
pins and am concerned about these solder joints breaking somewhere in the
future, has anyone else had this problem (Before I get the canned responses
I am using a Metcal RF soldering iron with a 037 tip and am building the
board in compliance with JSTD 001D Class 3)

Thanks a bunch.

Matt Palmer
KD8DAO
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Don Wilhelm-3

Re: Started building my K2 have a few ?

Matt,

Control Board C44 is not used - that location should have nothing in it.

I don't know the pin plating thickness, but if they are not wetting
easily, check your soldering temperature. I normally use 700 to 750 deg
F and find no problem.

There is a big difference in wetting capability between solder as well -
I use Multi-Core 63/37 with type 370 5 core flux and it wets nicely. I
had some old Weller Rosin core solder in the garage drawer that I
recently tried to use when soldering some antenna wire - it had no
wetting ability at all and I threw it in the trash.

73,
Don W3FPR

Matt Palmer wrote:

> Almost complete with the control board and had a couple questions for the
> peanut gallery. There are pads on the board for a C44, however this cap
> does
> not appear in the inventory, and is not mentioned in the manual, I
> assume it
> is for an additional module but we know what happens when you assume
> things.
> Also does anyone know the gold plating thickness on the right angle
> connectors? I am generally unhappy with the wetting I am getting on several
> pins and am concerned about these solder joints breaking somewhere in the
> future, has anyone else had this problem (Before I get the canned responses
> I am using a Metcal RF soldering iron with a 037 tip and am building the
> board in compliance with JSTD 001D Class 3)

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Brett gazdzinski-2

RE: Started building my K2 have a few ?

I cant say I had any solder problems at all, on
any elecraft stuff I built.

Then, I am used to soldering 30 year old resistors and other old parts,
so anything newer then 15 years old is a snap to solder!

Oh the joys of soldering a (seemingly) endless amount of NEW clean
parts!

And I do it with 20 year old solder...at least that's how long I have had
it...

Brett
N2DTS

> I don't know the pin plating thickness, but if they are not wetting
> easily, check your soldering temperature. I normally use 700
> to 750 deg
> F and find no problem.
>
> There is a big difference in wetting capability between
> solder as well -
> I use Multi-Core 63/37 with type 370 5 core flux and it wets
> nicely. I
> had some old Weller Rosin core solder in the garage drawer that I
> recently tried to use when soldering some antenna wire - it had no
> wetting ability at all and I threw it in the trash.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR