[Elecraft] K1 illumination

Sandy, W5TVW [email protected]
Wed May 15 16:34:00 2002


Well!  I took the "plunge" today!  Local "Rat Shack" store had the 
yellow and the white LEDS.  I bought both.  Like the white ones the
best.  They are expensive....but makes the K1 a real 'night-time' 
radio now!  My total receive drain is 58 ma. with 13.5 volt supply.
Illumination looks the same on the 8 "AA" Ni-MH cell supply!
I used stock number 276-320.  
I picked up the ground on the "loop" terminal and the +12 volts on
pin 16 of the board 20 pin socket.  Used #20 insulated hookup wire
as it was "stiff" enough to support the LEDs.  A 1500 ohm 1/4 watt
carbon resistor interconnects the LED's over the LCD pins.  Strips of
stragetically placed #33 Scotch electrical tape used as insulators and
also "masks" to minimize light going towards the RIT/XIT LED and
switch cutouts.

This would be a VERY worthwhile "mod" to incorporate in a future
Panel PCB revision!  Also, some "flat" high intensity white or yellow or
green LEDs would be better than the round 5mm sized ones.

Thanks to all for the suggestions!  IO originally thought of using the
teeny-tiny grain of wheat 12 v. lamps, but this adds no additional current
drain worth talking about!  Additionally, they will probably NEVER
need replacement!

73,
Sandy W5TVW
K1 S/N 1178