I wasn't sure where the link was going 'til I realized it was morse x.
Nice article.
73, Mike NF4L
On 9/9/12 1:40 AM, Dick Wiltgen wrote:
I was discussing this with Marshall Emm, N1FN. He graciously shared a link
to something that he wrote on the subject of keyer contacts and
conductivity.
I was discussing this with Marshall Emm, N1FN. He graciously shared a link
to something that he wrote on the subject of keyer contacts and
conductivity. To me, it seems to definitively address the issue. He is an
excellent writer and I'll let him speak for himself:
Vic, K2VCO wrote
Some Begali keys used an alloy that caused the contacts to act like a
diode, with a
constant forward voltage drop. This caused problems with some, but not
all, keyers,
including my K2 internal keyer and a Logikey.
Cleaning and Deoxit did not help in this instance. I
It should not be doing that, and you don't have to use an external keyer
to get the best cw of any rig made in the world today. The K3's specialty
is cw. But I don't have the answer for you. If someone here doesn't have
an answer for you soon call support at the factory.
Rick K2XT
*Don:
I agree with Rick -- the K3 internal tuner is just fine and your problem is
perplexing. Just one idea, and you have probably already done this: **I
have noticed that my Begali is quite sensitive to dirty contacts. On my
Begali, intermittent operation is a sure sign the contacts need
Hi Don,
I would like to echo Lee's comments. After about 2 years of use my Begali
paddle became what I can only call sluggish when used with my K3. I
contacted Begali and he sent me an abrasive cleaning strip. It differs from
the strip that comes with the paddle. This was thicker and required me
These Begali keys that have needed contact cleaning: do they have the
silver contacts, or is it also sometimes necessary with the gold
contacts?
Peter W0LLN
On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 8:38 AM, Mike K2MK k...@comcast.net wrote:
Hi Don,
I would like to echo Lee's comments. After about 2 years
I have an older Begali 'Classic' (non-gold contacts) which has the same
problem. However, it is easily and non-abrasively corrected by applying
a drop or so of DeoxIT (Radio Shack Part No. 640-43380), which lasts 3
to 6 months before needing to be re-applied.
73, Dale
WA8SRA
On 9/4/2012
It's all about wetting current. On a building site machine design I used
30mA of dc and a level detector to sense when the switch had been pushed and
they lasted years. A few pA from digital circuits is often not enough to
wet precious metal contacts which are open to the ambient. Try
I have this strange, but confident feeling, that Mr. Begali will know precisely
what you should do.
Whether the contacts are gold or silver, you know you don't want to damage that
plating.
I have the Magnetic Classic, and haven't had the problem, and it's 2 years old
now, but
it always has
On Sep 4, 2012, at 7:42 AM, Lee Trout trou...@gmail.com wrote:
...I have noticed that my Begali is quite sensitive to dirty contacts. On my
Begali, intermittent operation is a sure sign the contacts need cleaning...
It seems you're correct. I switched to my hex key and the problem went
Some Begali keys used an alloy that caused the contacts to act like a diode,
with a
constant forward voltage drop. This caused problems with some, but not all,
keyers,
including my K2 internal keyer and a Logikey.
Cleaning and Deoxit did not help in this instance. I ordered replacement gold
Hi Bruna,
I moved my Leonessa Key from the CW Machine to my new K3 and encountered
failures on the dash sometimes. I think that I have confirmed it to be dirty
contact on the Leonessa since the K3 works fine with the Elecraft Hex key.
I would like specific instructions on how to clean this. I
Don,
One safe way to clean any set of contacts is to use a strip of paper -
copy paper, printer paper, etc, all will do just fine - cut it into
narrow strips a couple inches long.
Slide the paper strip between the contacts, gently close the contacts
and pull the paper through.
You will
On Tue, Sep 4, 2012 at 5:45 AM, Rick Stealey rstea...@hotmail.com wrote:
..you don't have to use an external keyer to get the best cw
=
The keyer in the K3 is terrific, generating CW that is as near to
perfection as any external keyer. I even had the unusual experience of
Don,
Agree with the paper strips as a cleaning method, but I don't think there's
any case for using Deoxit on gold contacts - the gold shouldn't oxidize -
although it might dissolve some kinds of dirt that the paper doesn't get,
who knows.. but a few drops of ethanol on a paper strip would
Gold gets goop from the air on it. Very small particles of cooking grease
over a long period of time. Soot from cigarette smoke.
Air is not pure just because you can see through it. There is a small
charge on the contacts, and one side will attract particle out of the air.
This will coat gold
Hi Don,
Just wanted to add to my previous post. The strip that Mr. Begali sent me is
about 4 inches long and feels like two fabric layers glued together. It is
rough to the touch but not what I would call abrasive. In the e-mail that he
sent me he advised me to wet the strip with alcohol and pull
From: w7...@msn.com
To: k...@comcast.net
Subject: RE: [Elecraft] [K3] Keyer Pause
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 10:59:17 -0700
Mike wrote:If the problem was contact oxidation Seem's like a little De-ox
fluid might work. (?)Laterde Bill-w7kxb. .
Date: Tue, 4 Sep 2012 10:53:34 -0700
From: k
On Sep 4, 2012, at 11:46 AM, David Cutter d.cut...@ntlworld.com wrote:
It's all about wetting current
David,
I never knew this term but it looks to me I'm seeing it's effects.
I moved the key back to the CW Machine and it's totally clean. I sent a large
string of 73s as well as my call
Craig Labs the maker of DeoxIT also has a specific product for gold contacts.
Here:
http://store.caig.com/
I have not used it so can not comment on it. I do use their S-Shield but my
old can is labeled
PreservIT. I use that on all coax connectors and have never had a problem with
any
... encountered a strange pause sometimes in cw character elements...
... a Begali Leonessa and I use it regularly on their CW machine...
If I were me, I'd use the CW Machine, and bypass the built-in keyer.
External keyer is always better, IMHO, as I'm used to the timing.
Ralph, VE7XF
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