[Elecraft] KX3 4 knobs and sea spray/salt corrosion
Hi, In the last year I have operated a few times /P from the beach often with sea spray and recently twice on long ferry crossings of the North Sea (return operating was cut short though) and out on deck most things end up with a mist or film of sea spray on them and you will see the small white spots of salt when the water evaporates. I have noted at least two of the 4 knurled knobs on my KX3 are showing signs of corrosion and were becoming difficult to turn. I have cleaned the nut threads (both sides) and applied a very little copper grease to them I also washed the whole of the KX3 inside and out (part disassemble needed) using cotton buds and isopropal alcohol where any salt effects were obvious. The front bezel screws had kept 99.99% out from the display but I have had to remove that and clean it up a bit. I might put back with a fine bead of silicon sealant. I have added a small copper braid flying lead between the two parts of the case and covered it with 'liquid rubber'. The clam shell style unfortunately is not great if you operate in these environments as sand/salt does get in no matter how hard you try to protect it. I do not immerse the radio in the sea but after a couple of weeks in this environment you will notice the effect. In the meantime antennas have had to have connectors remade etc. so it is not really a surprise. Has anyone got an alternative to these knurled knobs that are a little bigger as it is very difficult to open the case wearing gloves? (you only need to if you are using the AA batteries which I tend not to if that wet) I had thought about swapping them for Ali versions or cutting slots in them for a screw driver. Anything like those lay flat butterfly nuts/ knobs you used to find on old military kit might suit better. In definitely wet (i.e. raining) conditions the KX3 is used inside a tough see through plastic box (lock'n'lock) with leads passed through it with bathroom silicon sealant. I used to do this with my FT817 as well. Costs £5 from supermarket. I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when I have to do this, why is this still missing? 72 Dom M1KTA __ 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] KX3 4 knobs and sea spray/salt corrosion
Dom, I retired in 2009 from a 15-year job as radio tech for a company that had seven ships operating on salt-water (Cook Inlet Alaska) and salt corrosion can be a struggle to defeat. Most of the electronics I maintained were marine equipment so designed with salt-air/spray exposure anticipated (use of plastic cases and gaskets on the case, stainless connectors with small rubber boots for covering antenna and power connectors. But we also installed VHF business radios which were not designed for on water use. I will say most were enclosed in a pilot house or cabin so direct spray was extremely rare. But the boats were stored on a pier adjacent to the water year-round so constantly exposed to salt air. Any exposed metal would eventually show green-blue copper corrosion. The dc connections were made underside of cabinets or on the inside roof of cabins and not sealed. This could not be conveniently sealed with goop that is made to paint such connections as they needed to be accessible for quick change out (for safety reasons). Are you operating the radio on-board the vessel? If not, why not enclose the radio in a large plastic zip-lock bag to protect it from exposure? Likewise on the shore only expose it when actually in-use and keep in sealed inside a bag,otherwise. You still will have to do regular maintenance to clean the exterior surface, but this may reduce the exposure of the interior of the KX3. Silicone sealant is effective for retarding lots of this in some applications. Wrapping cables and connectors in tape works very well (I had coax connectors last over five years in our service as long as not unsealed). I'll be interested to see what others may offer. 73, Ed - KL7UW --- Date: Sun, 14 Jul 2013 16:33:45 +0100 From: Dominic Baines dominic.bai...@ntlworld.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 4 knobs and sea spray/salt corrosion Message-ID: 51e2c4d9.8020...@ntlworld.com Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed Hi, In the last year I have operated a few times /P from the beach often with sea spray and recently twice on long ferry crossings of the North Sea (return operating was cut short though) and out on deck most things end up with a mist or film of sea spray on them and you will see the small white spots of salt when the water evaporates. I have noted at least two of the 4 knurled knobs on my KX3 are showing signs of corrosion and were becoming difficult to turn. I have cleaned the nut threads (both sides) and applied a very little copper grease to them I also washed the whole of the KX3 inside and out (part disassemble needed) using cotton buds and isopropal alcohol where any salt effects were obvious. The front bezel screws had kept 99.99% out from the display but I have had to remove that and clean it up a bit. I might put back with a fine bead of silicon sealant. I have added a small copper braid flying lead between the two parts of the case and covered it with 'liquid rubber'. The clam shell style unfortunately is not great if you operate in these environments as sand/salt does get in no matter how hard you try to protect it. I do not immerse the radio in the sea but after a couple of weeks in this environment you will notice the effect. In the meantime antennas have had to have connectors remade etc. so it is not really a surprise. Has anyone got an alternative to these knurled knobs that are a little bigger as it is very difficult to open the case wearing gloves? (you only need to if you are using the AA batteries which I tend not to if that wet) I had thought about swapping them for Ali versions or cutting slots in them for a screw driver. Anything like those lay flat butterfly nuts/ knobs you used to find on old military kit might suit better. In definitely wet (i.e. raining) conditions the KX3 is used inside a tough see through plastic box (lock'n'lock) with leads passed through it with bathroom silicon sealant. I used to do this with my FT817 as well. Costs ?5 from supermarket. I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when I have to do this, why is this still missing? 72 Dom M1KTA 73, Ed - KL7UW http://www.kl7uw.com dubus...@gmail.com Kits made by KL7UW __ 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] KX3 4 knobs and sea spray/salt corrosion
Re: I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when I have to do this, why is this still missing? Dom, Not quite sure what you mean by lock frequency, but try holding the RATE/KHZ key down for at least 3 seconds (longer than the normal press/hold). The display will show a lock icon next to the frequency display, and the vfo A knob will not change the frequency. See the owner's manual page 11 for more info and how to lock VFO B. I have been reluctant to use my KX3 at the beach. I have an ATS-3b that I used often at the beach for many years, and it has its share of damage from the salt fog environment. It is much easier to seal, though, because there are no knobs to turn. Everything is done with button presses, so operating it inside of a plastic freezer bag is relatively simple. For the KX3, I have considered using something thinner, such as a turkey basting bag, but I really haven't had the time to experiment with one yet. Sounds like the knurled knobs that hold the case together are your concern. I don't think I would want to open my KX3 up in the salt fog environment I am usually in...not even sure I want to take the radio out of a plastic bag! If I had unlimited resources (money), I would go ahead and operate and throw the radio away when it stops working, but that isn't really an option right now. I am interested in what others are doing/considering. Mark KE6BB From: Dominic Baines dominic.bai...@ntlworld.com To: elecraft@mailman.qth.net Sent: Sunday, July 14, 2013 8:33 AM Subject: [Elecraft] KX3 4 knobs and sea spray/salt corrosion Hi, In the last year I have operated a few times /P from the beach often with sea spray and recently twice on long ferry crossings of the North Sea (return operating was cut short though) and out on deck most things end up with a mist or film of sea spray on them and you will see the small white spots of salt when the water evaporates. I have noted at least two of the 4 knurled knobs on my KX3 are showing signs of corrosion and were becoming difficult to turn. I have cleaned the nut threads (both sides) and applied a very little copper grease to them I also washed the whole of the KX3 inside and out (part disassemble needed) using cotton buds and isopropal alcohol where any salt effects were obvious. The front bezel screws had kept 99.99% out from the display but I have had to remove that and clean it up a bit. I might put back with a fine bead of silicon sealant. I have added a small copper braid flying lead between the two parts of the case and covered it with 'liquid rubber'. The clam shell style unfortunately is not great if you operate in these environments as sand/salt does get in no matter how hard you try to protect it. I do not immerse the radio in the sea but after a couple of weeks in this environment you will notice the effect. In the meantime antennas have had to have connectors remade etc. so it is not really a surprise. Has anyone got an alternative to these knurled knobs that are a little bigger as it is very difficult to open the case wearing gloves? (you only need to if you are using the AA batteries which I tend not to if that wet) I had thought about swapping them for Ali versions or cutting slots in them for a screw driver. Anything like those lay flat butterfly nuts/ knobs you used to find on old military kit might suit better. In definitely wet (i.e. raining) conditions the KX3 is used inside a tough see through plastic box (lock'n'lock) with leads passed through it with bathroom silicon sealant. I used to do this with my FT817 as well. Costs £5 from supermarket. I wish the KX3 had a lock frequency function which would be useful when I have to do this, why is this still missing? 72 Dom M1KTA __ 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
