[Elecraft] RE: KX1 assembly/repair vulnerability & recommendation

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

Sorry to hear about the short, Niel.=20

Tom, N0SS, used some "fish paper" - the tough fiber paper often found in
motors and other electrical devices - to insulate the 30 meter module =
from
accidental contact with the case. He started doing that before the =
spacer
pads were added.=20

The pads are put on the PCB because it's difficult to position them =
exactly
right on the case itself so the module rests against them.=20

I haven't had any trouble with the pads falling off of mine (so far) but =
I
did add a layer of insulation to the inside of the case. I used some
heavy-duty clear plastic tape - the sort provided for sealing packages =
for
shipment. It has a very high resistance to puncturing. It's there =
strictly
as a safety feature in case I should have the same bad luck with the =
spacer
pads that you did. My KX1 has probably been apart at least 50 times now
(just tinkering... and it is the one I built to write the assembly
instructions for the manual so I was constantly opening it up to check =
this
and that). So far, I've had no problems with shorts.=20

Speaking of short circuits, it IS important to check for a 12 v line =
short
to ground after reassembly to make sure you haven't lost the shoulder =
washer
on the final transistor mount or otherwise created a short between the =
final
transistor metal lug and the case.=20

Ron AC7AC
KX1 0004

-----Original Message-----
...During the third open/dis-assembly, the 30m boards 'spacer' (on the =
side
by the 5v
connection) separated from the adhesive and fell off unobserved.   Since =
the
other 'spacer' remained, it created a bit of tilt in the 30m board =
forcing
the 5 / D connections up toward the case upon re-assembly, and appears =
to
have shorted the 5v line.

Suggestion:
In the near term, I might suggest that KX1 owners with the 30m options =
(95%+
??) might consider adding insulation to the inside of the case over the =
30m
board with black tape (or other ) so that when the small spacer moves or
disappears you have some protection for the 5v line and the rest of the
radio.

Thanks again for a neat rig Wayne,

Niel