Re: [Elecraft] Broke my K2 :(
You can radically mitigate the issue by using a secondary container for that which you'll use in a week or so, and only open the quart/gallon to dispense to working container. I have dry argon in my shack to purge gas space in any container that is hygroscopic or oxidizes in presence of atmosphere. I use 99.9 for cleaning all boards (flush after "scrub").Where allowed, I follow up with RODI water flush and forced air drying. Clay Autery KY5G > > On Jul 15, 2021 at 06:51, Louandzip via Elecraft > wrote: > > > 99.9% isopropanol will only be 99.9% when you first open the bottle. It > starts aggressively absorbing water from the atmosphere as soon as exposed. > > Lou W7HV __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
Yep. I worked at an company where we had some boards with very high impedance circuitry (with the usual guard rings etc.). We tried many things trying to get wave soldering and aqueous flux to work, but no amount of rinsing washing got the surface conductivity down to where we needed it . We wound up using mildly active rosin based flux on those boards. The diluent in 70 and 91% isopropanol is water. 99.9% isopropanol will only be 99.9% when you first open the bottle. It starts aggressively absorbing water from the atmosphere as soon as exposed. Lou W7HV On Thursday, July 15, 2021, 4:06:54 AM MDT, Alan Bloom wrote: Don is exactly right about this. When I was at HP/Agilent, the company directive was generally not to try to clean the rosin with alcohol. (Rosin-core solder was used only in rework.) The rosin contains an acid to help with the soldering, but the acid is locked up inside the rosin where it does no harm. Once you dissolve the rosin with the alcohol it spreads out and can cause leakage paths between connections. Just leave the rosin there; it does no harm HP did clean production boards after going through the wave solder machine. But that used a water-soluble flux and the cleaning process was thorough enough to completely remove all traces of flux. That's basically not possible using alcohol and cotton swabs on rosin. Alan N1AL On 7/14/2021 5:20 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: > When I have cleaned boards with IPA or other cleaners, I apply the IPA > only in a small spot with a q-tip and then blot it with a paper towel > to help dry it - do not flood the board. > I generally do not recommend cleaning boards, solder flux is > non-conductive and will normally not cause a problem. > I only clean when the solder flux residue is really nasty as might > occur with Kester 44 solder. > Use of a solder with a mildly reactive flux (Kester 385) will reduce > the need for cleaning the board - there is almost no residue. > > If you do choose to clean the board, make sure your cleaning work is > complete. While solder flux is non-conductive, the flux plus the > cleaner may be conductive leading to resistive leakage paths. If you > can see any white stuff on the board, you have not done a complete job. > > 73, > Don W3FPR > > On 7/14/2021 6:41 PM, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) wrote: >> Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! >> I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl >> alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again >> next day turned out it worked perfectly again. >> >> From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA >> dry out completely... __ 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 louand...@yahoo.com __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
Don is exactly right about this. When I was at HP/Agilent, the company directive was generally not to try to clean the rosin with alcohol. (Rosin-core solder was used only in rework.) The rosin contains an acid to help with the soldering, but the acid is locked up inside the rosin where it does no harm. Once you dissolve the rosin with the alcohol it spreads out and can cause leakage paths between connections. Just leave the rosin there; it does no harm HP did clean production boards after going through the wave solder machine. But that used a water-soluble flux and the cleaning process was thorough enough to completely remove all traces of flux. That's basically not possible using alcohol and cotton swabs on rosin. Alan N1AL On 7/14/2021 5:20 PM, Don Wilhelm wrote: When I have cleaned boards with IPA or other cleaners, I apply the IPA only in a small spot with a q-tip and then blot it with a paper towel to help dry it - do not flood the board. I generally do not recommend cleaning boards, solder flux is non-conductive and will normally not cause a problem. I only clean when the solder flux residue is really nasty as might occur with Kester 44 solder. Use of a solder with a mildly reactive flux (Kester 385) will reduce the need for cleaning the board - there is almost no residue. If you do choose to clean the board, make sure your cleaning work is complete. While solder flux is non-conductive, the flux plus the cleaner may be conductive leading to resistive leakage paths. If you can see any white stuff on the board, you have not done a complete job. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/14/2021 6:41 PM, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) wrote: Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out it worked perfectly again. From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out completely... __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
99% Isopropyl is available from Uline. Aerospace industry standard is Miller-Stephenson Contact Re-Nu MS-530. Evaporates quickly and leaves no residue. Great stuff but pricey and you'll have to work to find it. GL - Steve WB6RSE > > Yup, it's the 90% stuff. It was impossible to get a year ago, but not > too bad now. Still, I had to wait a month or so when I ordered it from > Amazon. > > - Jerry KF6VB > > > > On 2021-07-14 16:06, John Marvin wrote: >> Hopefully this is obvious, but make sure you are using the 90-91% >> isopropyl alcohol, and not the 70% variety. It can still be hard to >> get the 90% variety these days. >> 73, >> John - AC0ZG >> On 7/14/2021 4:41 PM, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) wrote: >>> Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! >>> I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and >>> it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out >>> it worked perfectly again. >>> From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out >>> completely... >>> 73, >>> Peter - PA0PJE __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
When I have cleaned boards with IPA or other cleaners, I apply the IPA only in a small spot with a q-tip and then blot it with a paper towel to help dry it - do not flood the board. I generally do not recommend cleaning boards, solder flux is non-conductive and will normally not cause a problem. I only clean when the solder flux residue is really nasty as might occur with Kester 44 solder. Use of a solder with a mildly reactive flux (Kester 385) will reduce the need for cleaning the board - there is almost no residue. If you do choose to clean the board, make sure your cleaning work is complete. While solder flux is non-conductive, the flux plus the cleaner may be conductive leading to resistive leakage paths. If you can see any white stuff on the board, you have not done a complete job. 73, Don W3FPR On 7/14/2021 6:41 PM, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) wrote: Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out it worked perfectly again. From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out completely... __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
Yup, it's the 90% stuff. It was impossible to get a year ago, but not too bad now. Still, I had to wait a month or so when I ordered it from Amazon. - Jerry KF6VB On 2021-07-14 16:06, John Marvin wrote: Hopefully this is obvious, but make sure you are using the 90-91% isopropyl alcohol, and not the 70% variety. It can still be hard to get the 90% variety these days. 73, John - AC0ZG On 7/14/2021 4:41 PM, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) wrote: Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out it worked perfectly again. From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out completely... 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 14-07-2021 om 14:54 schreef jerry: Actually, I suspect that when I scrubbed it with isopropyl alcohol, it shorted out __ 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 jm...@themarvins.org __ 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 je...@tr2.com __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
Hopefully this is obvious, but make sure you are using the 90-91% isopropyl alcohol, and not the 70% variety. It can still be hard to get the 90% variety these days. 73, John - AC0ZG On 7/14/2021 4:41 PM, Peter Eijlander (PA0PJE) wrote: Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out it worked perfectly again. From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out completely... 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 14-07-2021 om 14:54 schreef jerry: Actually, I suspect that when I scrubbed it with isopropyl alcohol, it shorted out __ 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 jm...@themarvins.org __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
Yes Jerry, isopropyl alcohol does this! I once cleaned a working print of a GPS receiver with isopropyl alcohol and it stopped working. Letting it be and trying it again next day turned out it worked perfectly again. From then on I leave a PCB to rest after cleaning to have the IPA dry out completely... 73, Peter - PA0PJE Op 14-07-2021 om 14:54 schreef jerry: Actually, I suspect that when I scrubbed it with isopropyl alcohol, it shorted out __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
On 2021-07-07 12:29, Victor Rosenthal 4X6GP wrote: Remember PTTL? Poorly Tinned Toroid Leads. Actually, I suspect that when I scrubbed it with isopropyl alcohol, it shorted out one or more high-impedance crystals; because at one point, it was tuning WWV with no heterodynes - just like an AM receiver. When the IPA dried off, it came back. - Jerry KF6VB __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
Remember PTTL? Poorly Tinned Toroid Leads. Look for them. 73, Victor, 4X6GP Rehovot, Israel CWops #5 Formerly K2VCO https://www.qsl.net/k2vco/ On 07/07/2021 22:19, jerry wrote: So I went out this morning to replace the CW filters with the upgrade kit. Unsoldered the 5 crystals. Removed one of them - whups, it's got the "S"! That means that the upgraded crystals are already installed. I thought there was no "S" - it was hard to read with them installed. So I resoldered the crystals. Being in there, I gave the RF board a scrub with IPA. Back to the shack ...Audio is way down. No transmit, not on CW nor on phone. I hauled it back to the bench, got out a visor magnifier and a powerful flashlight, and looked over the whole board for solder splashes and cold joints. Didn't find any splashes. Found & touched up a few iffy joints. Found one joint with no solder at all - just the component lead sticking up through the hole with air all around it. Soldered that one. Back to the shack. Still no joy. Guess I gotta troubleshoot it. Hauled the scope to the operating position. Brought up the schematic. Ready to start troubleshooting. Punched the power button and Everything works! Nice loud audio. Good transmit RF. Go figure... - Jerry KF6VB __ 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] Broke my K2 :(
So I went out this morning to replace the CW filters with the upgrade kit. Unsoldered the 5 crystals. Removed one of them - whups, it's got the "S"! That means that the upgraded crystals are already installed. I thought there was no "S" - it was hard to read with them installed. So I resoldered the crystals. Being in there, I gave the RF board a scrub with IPA. Back to the shack ...Audio is way down. No transmit, not on CW nor on phone. I hauled it back to the bench, got out a visor magnifier and a powerful flashlight, and looked over the whole board for solder splashes and cold joints. Didn't find any splashes. Found & touched up a few iffy joints. Found one joint with no solder at all - just the component lead sticking up through the hole with air all around it. Soldered that one. Back to the shack. Still no joy. Guess I gotta troubleshoot it. Hauled the scope to the operating position. Brought up the schematic. Ready to start troubleshooting. Punched the power button and Everything works! Nice loud audio. Good transmit RF. Go figure... - Jerry KF6VB __ 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
