[Elecraft] K1 and K2 Builder Alert: Front Panel Right-Angle Connector

Mon Mar 24 23:33:00 2003

Thanks for the heads up Wayne. I checked my K1 serial number 1486
purchased in January and everything is as it should be. The connector
seats perfectly. I imagine a gap there would put undue stress on the RF
Board and the Front Panel board. Thanks again...

73's Trev KG6CYN
http://home.earthlink.net/~kg6cyn
http://www.qsl.net/kg6cyn

----- Original Message -----
From: Wayne Burdick <[email protected]>
To: Elecraft <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, March 24, 2003 11:26 AM
Subject: [Elecraft] K1 *and* K2 Builder Alert: Front Panel Right-Angle
Connector

> If you purchased a K1 kit that was shipped between about 12/20/02 and
3/21/03,
> or a K2 kit that was shipped between about 1/14/03 and 3/21/03, you
may have
> received a 20-pin, right-angle connector whose pins are slightly too
long. All
> later K1s (S/N 1553+) and later K2s (S/N 3385+) have the correct
connector pin length.
>
> If the connector does have pins which are too long, you'll need to
shorten the
> pins slightly as described below. This can be done either before or
after the
> transceiver is assembled. You DO NOT need a new connector. Trimming
the pins is
> entirely satisfactory and will take only a few minutes.
>
> The connector is designated P1 on both the K1 and K2 RF boards. To
determine if
> your P1 has pins which are too long and take corrective action, follow
the steps below.
>
> 1. If your kit is unbuilt, locate P1, which can be found in one of the
RF board
> component bags. Use the photo of P1 in the RF Board parts list in
Appendix A to
> identify the P1. Then skip to step 5.
>
> 2. If your kit has already been assembled, remove the bottom cover
(six screws).
> Look closely at the point where P1 on the bottom of the RF board mates
with J1
> on the Front Panel board. If there appears to be a large gap between
the two
> connectors (about 1/16" or 1.5 mm), proceed with step 3. If there's
only a small
> gap--about 1/32" or less (0.8 mm or less)--then no action is required,
because
> the pins must be of the correct length.
>
> 3. K2 only: Remove the top cover (six screws), then remove the two
screws
> holding the Control board to the Front Panel board. Also remove the
KAF2 module
> if installed.
>
> 4. K1 or K2: Remove the four screws holding the Front Panel assembly
to the
> chassis. Unplug the module. (There's no need to remove the knobs or
other front
> panel hardware.) You should now be able to see the pins of connector
P1, near
> the front-center of the RF board.
>
> 5. The normal length of the straight part of the pins of P1 is 2/10",
measured
> from the ends of the pins to where the black plastic body begins.
(2/10" is
> about 13/64" or 5 mm.) The incorrect-length connectors have a straight
portion
> which is 3/10" (about 19/64", or 7.5 mm). If your connector has the
wrong pin
> length, continue with step 6. Otherwise no action is required.
>
> 6. If you're certain that you have a connector with the wrong pin
length, you'll
> need to trim the pins as follows. This can be done with the connector
either
> loose or installed.
>
>   A. Using a fine-tip marker, make a mark about 1/16" (1.5 mm) back
from the tip
> of one of P1's outermost pins. (It is not necessary to trim off the
entire 1/10"
> (2.5 mm) excess length because the female connector on the Front Panel
board can
> accommodate some of the excess.)
>   B. Make a similar mark on the tip of a pin at the other end of P1.
>   C. Using a straight-edge aligned with both marks, draw a thin line
across all
> 20 pins.
>   D. Clip off the indicated amount of each of the 20 pins. Use
diagonal or flush-cutters.
>
> NOTE: Small variations in clipped length are OK; this will have NO
effect on
> performance or physical stability of the mated connection.
>
> 7. Assembled transceiver only: Reinstall the Front Panel module. Be
sure to
> press the Front Panel board firmly against the RF board along the
bottom edge so
> that the connectors become fully mated.
>
> This builder alert will be posted on our K1 and K2 pages shortly.
>
> Wayne,
> N6KR
>
>
> --
>
> http://www.elecraft.com
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[Elecraft] K1 *and* K2 Builder Alert: Front Panel Right-Angle Connector

[Elecraft] K1 and K2 Builder Alert: Front Panel Right-Angle Connector