[Elecraft] Who would spend 30 hours+ building an Elecraft K2? (plus: special pricing)

[Robert Kasten]

Thanks for taking the time to post that, Wayne! I was a little worried we
were about to hear of the K2 going EOL.

Almost exactly a year ago I bought a K2 and have since built every option
available, and it has been a joyous experience. I just love every aspect of
the K2. It is my favorite (non-Heath) radio, and among my most prized
possessions. I would also like to mention Don Wilhelm being one of the
contributing factors toward making the K2 building and ownership experience
so great. Anyway...thanks to you and Eric for the K2 - I am "Elecraft for
life".
Bob / W9KKB
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

[Elecraft] Some K2 notes after completion

[Robert Kasten]

Anthony - I have been working through a K2 (with literally every option
available) project since January and am down to only one remaining option.
Apart from the incorrectly supplied 12m bandpass trimmer caps issue
mentioned a while back, I also had the 7185 waof issue you did. I ended up
removing RFC15 and C88. Of course in both cases, Don immediately had an
answer. Don and his generosity with his expertise is literally one of the
best reasons to build/own a K2!

When my KX3 main oscillator (Y1) failed, and I was forced to send it to
Elecraft. I came to the realization that the K2 is really the only modern
radio I am interested in (for what I do). I BUILT IT AND I CAN FIX IT and
to me that is everything...
Bob / W9KKB
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

[Elecraft] K2 12m Alignment

[Robert Kasten]

My Fluke doesn't measure caps below 100pf, so to test the K2's 12m BPF caps
(including the 1pf), I ended up getting some cheap $15 made-in-China-junk
called a "Honeytek A6013L Capacitor Tester" and assumed I would be
returning it...but I was quite pleasantly surprised at its ability to
pretty reliably measure the 1pf cap. Anyway just another data point...
Bob / K0LAK

Date: Mon, 27 Feb 2017 15:13:19 -0800
> From: "Ron D'Eau Claire" 
> To: "'Dauer, Edward'" ,  
> Subject: Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m Alignment
> Message-ID: <001601d2914f$1604c160$420e4420$@biz>
> Content-Type: text/plain;   charset="utf-8"
>
> For those who have a DMM with capacitance measuring capabilities, you can
> measure small caps well enough to separate caps (within a couple of pF) by
> setting the meter on the bench and running the leads to where you can apply
> the probes to the capacitor without moving them. Hold the probes near the
> capacitor and note the reading, then touch the terminals of the cap and
> note the change. The change is the capacitance of the unit under test.
> That is a neat little kit, Ted. Tnx for the lead.
> 73, Ron AC7AC
>
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

Re: [Elecraft] K2 12m alignment

[Robert Kasten]

Indeed, I have the brown trimmers at C32/C34 as well as C44/C46. The latest
errata sheet from Nov 2016 says C44/C46 should have red bodies and be about
25pf. The ones I have do not go below low-30pf. Thanks for the help, Don!
Bob

On Sun, Feb 26, 2017 at 5:10 PM, Don Wilhelm <donw...@embarqmail.com> wrote:

> Bob,
>
> You have too much capacitance at C32 and C34.
>
> Contact Elecraft support and ask them to send 2 trimmer caps to replace
> C44 and C46.  The ones you have with your kit do not have a small enough
> minimum capacitance.  The p/n you need is E540011 and the bodies were red
> the last time I saw them.
>
> The 35 to 70pF range you measured is higher than I would expect.  They
> should measure about 20pF to 45pF.
>
> If you have a similar problem with the maximum power on 18 MHz as well,
> ask for replacements for C32 and C34.  The part number is E540002 and they
> have yellow bodies.
>
> See the latest Errata page - download it from the Elecraft website.
> Trimmer capacitors have become a problem for Elecraft over the past 6
> months or so.  I believe you have brown body trimmers at C32, C34, C44 and
> C46.  Several of those were found not to meet the manufacturer's specs for
> capacitance range and were dropped.
>
> 73,
> Don W3FPR
>
>
> On 2/26/2017 5:41 PM, Robert Kasten wrote:
>
>> Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was
>> just like old times.
>>
>> All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W
>> output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power
>> setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47
>> and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are
>> adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf.
>>
>>
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com

[Elecraft] K2 12m alignment

[Robert Kasten]

Finished my K2 in the last few days and really enjoyed the build. It was
just like old times.

All bands except 12m have aligned OK...but I cannot get any more than .5W
output on 12m - no matter the C44/46 trimmer cap settings or the power
setting. And while it not fun, I pulled components C42,C43,C44,C45,C46,C47
and C48 and they all showed fine on the cap tester. C32 and C34 are
adjustable from about 35pf to 70pf.

I measured RF voltages. All transmit stages were fine up until the bandpass
filter. Zero RF volts at W6 and the anode side of D1. One thing I have seen
on keydown is the RF on both sides of C48 jumping to about .4V RF, then
right back to 0. Cap C42, on the other hand shows well over 1V RF on
keydown.

Because 10m is aligning/peaking totally fine and putting out 14W, and the
caps and inductors test good, at this point should I assume K7 isn't
swithing? I am not really sure of the best way to test K7 in place. Any
tips would be most appreciated. :-)

Bob - K0LAK
__
Elecraft mailing list
Home: http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft
Help: http://mailman.qth.net/mmfaq.htm
Post: mailto:Elecraft@mailman.qth.net

This list hosted by: http://www.qsl.net
Please help support this email list: http://www.qsl.net/donate.html
Message delivered to arch...@mail-archive.com