Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Hi All, Notwithstanding the commentary to the contrary, I retrofitted my K1 some years back with the backlight option. It certainly wasn't a "piece of cake", but it wasn't that daunting either. It just took a little time and effort. If you assembled your K1, you certainly can do the retrofit! Just take a look at the instructions and make your own decision. Dave W7AQK __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
I've also installed the backlight retrofit and did not find it particularly difficult - just a little tedious. The tedious part is removing the remnants of the old LED pins and cleaning the holes after snipping the LED off. It helps to have a good solder sucker and braid. Just put on some soothing music, take your time, follow the directions, and try not to breathe too much of the solder fumes. Will, AI4VE Sent from my iPhone __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Thanks for that input, Eric! 73, Phil -- Sent from my iPhone 5S > On Mar 12, 2014, at 11:09, EricJ wrote: > > Not so fast, Phil. It IS a fun project. I've done two: my own and one for a > fellow ham. (That's mine in the photo on the K1 Mods order page) It isn't > "exceptionally" difficult if you follow the Elecraft directions explicitly > for the retrofit. If you can build a K1, you can retrofit the backlight. > > However, it's not so easy that I would build a K1 knowing I was going to > retrofit it soon. If you have a chance to install it at the time of the > original build, that's the way to go. > > Eric > KE6US > >> On 3/12/2014 9:47 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote: >> Thanks, Peter. I have a 4-band K1 I seldom use (S/N #18) and was considering >> adding the backlight as a "fun project". Maybe not so "fun" :-) >> >> My less exotic approach of wearing a headlamp will have to do. >> >> 73, Phil w7ox >> >>> On 3/12/14, 9:13 AM, Peter Wollan wrote: >>> Retrofitting the K1 backlight is exceptionally difficult, and installing >>> new is easy. You could start assembling the K1, but for sure wait on the >>> lcd assembly till you get the backlight parts. The assembly instructions >>> are on the Elecraft site, you can read up on it before anything arrives. >>> >>> Peter W0LLN >> >> __ >> 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 > > __ > 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Not so fast, Phil. It IS a fun project. I've done two: my own and one for a fellow ham. (That's mine in the photo on the K1 Mods order page) It isn't "exceptionally" difficult if you follow the Elecraft directions explicitly for the retrofit. If you can build a K1, you can retrofit the backlight. However, it's not so easy that I would build a K1 knowing I was going to retrofit it soon. If you have a chance to install it at the time of the original build, that's the way to go. Eric KE6US On 3/12/2014 9:47 AM, Phil Wheeler wrote: Thanks, Peter. I have a 4-band K1 I seldom use (S/N #18) and was considering adding the backlight as a "fun project". Maybe not so "fun" :-) My less exotic approach of wearing a headlamp will have to do. 73, Phil w7ox On 3/12/14, 9:13 AM, Peter Wollan wrote: Retrofitting the K1 backlight is exceptionally difficult, and installing new is easy. You could start assembling the K1, but for sure wait on the lcd assembly till you get the backlight parts. The assembly instructions are on the Elecraft site, you can read up on it before anything arrives. Peter W0LLN __ 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 __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Peter wrote: > Retrofitting the K1 backlight is exceptionally difficult, and > installing new is easy. Phil wrote: > Thanks, Peter. I have a 4-band K1 I seldom use > (S/N #18) and was considering adding the backlight > as a "fun project". Maybe not so "fun" :-) I confirm Peter's assessment. I retrofitted the back-light to my K1 #175 after ten years of use. It was the **most UN-fun*** several hours I've ever had in doing electronic work for 50 years (but I don't do SMT). OTOH, once installed, it's been a very very useful addition that consumes negligible power. I will re-state what I have posted here many times: The back-light should be a standard part of every new K1 that is sold (even at a higher price), due to: (1) How valuable the back-light is, (2) How easy the light is to install on new construction, and (3) How difficult the light is to back-fit. Elecraft does a disservice to the new K1 customer by making the back-light optional at time of purchase. 73, Mike / KK5F __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Thanks, Peter. I have a 4-band K1 I seldom use (S/N #18) and was considering adding the backlight as a "fun project". Maybe not so "fun" :-) My less exotic approach of wearing a headlamp will have to do. 73, Phil w7ox On 3/12/14, 9:13 AM, Peter Wollan wrote: Retrofitting the K1 backlight is exceptionally difficult, and installing new is easy. You could start assembling the K1, but for sure wait on the lcd assembly till you get the backlight parts. The assembly instructions are on the Elecraft site, you can read up on it before anything arrives. Peter W0LLN __ 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
[Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Got all the information I needed on it. Thanks to all that responded. Jim - W0EB I picked up an unopened, 2 band K1 kit from an individual that bought a KX3 before he got around to opening & building the K1. It's arriving today and I want to install the display backlight option (I don't believe he had ordered this option with the kit). I plan on starting the build as soon as the mailman delivers it, but may have to slow it down a bit depending on how hard it is to retrofit the backlight after the radio is completed. Any K1 builders want to chime in with the info? Please reply OFF the reflector to keep brother Eric from having to limit the responses, thanks. Jim Sheldon - W0EB (The K1 is the only Elecraft radio I haven't owned or built previously.) __ 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
Re: [Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
Retrofitting the K1 backlight is exceptionally difficult, and installing new is easy. You could start assembling the K1, but for sure wait on the lcd assembly till you get the backlight parts. The assembly instructions are on the Elecraft site, you can read up on it before anything arrives. Peter W0LLN On Wed, Mar 12, 2014 at 10:55 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote: > I picked up an unopened, 2 band K1 kit from an individual that bought a > KX3 before he got around to opening & building the K1. It's arriving today > and I want to install the display backlight option > > > __ 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
[Elecraft] K1 Kit display back light
I picked up an unopened, 2 band K1 kit from an individual that bought a KX3 before he got around to opening & building the K1. It's arriving today and I want to install the display backlight option (I don't believe he had ordered this option with the kit). I plan on starting the build as soon as the mailman delivers it, but may have to slow it down a bit depending on how hard it is to retrofit the backlight after the radio is completed. Any K1 builders want to chime in with the info? Please reply OFF the reflector to keep brother Eric from having to limit the responses, thanks. Jim Sheldon - W0EB (The K1 is the only Elecraft radio I haven't owned or built previously.) __ 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
