[Elecraft] Socket IC's

[Don Brown]

Hi

This question comes up from time to time with new builders. You should not use sockets except where Elecraft provides them. The use of sockets in RF circuits will add capacitance and/or inductance and may cause the circuits performance to degrade. None of the mods to date have required removal of an IC except for the firmware upgrades and those IC are already in sockets. Sockets also add height to the part and may cause clearance problems when the boards are assembled or an option is added at a later date. Lastly a part installed in a socket is less reliable than a properly soldered part. Bottom line don't waste you time and money. Build your K2 exactly as the manual describes. I have built 14 K2's and never used any sockets other than the ones supplied.

Don Brown
KD5NDB
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Glenn Haffly<mailto:ghaffly at stic.net> 
  To: elecraft at mailman.qth.net<mailto:elecraft at mailman.qth.net> 
  Sent: Tuesday, June 15, 2004 5:26 PM
  Subject: [Elecraft] Socket IC's


  Hello All , I have K1 1850 up and running and a K2 in the box to assemble
  when time permits.
  When assembling the K1 several IC's were soldered directly to the RF board.
  When I build the K2 , Is there a reason for not using an IC socket soldered
  to the various
  boards rather than direct soldering an IC to the boards ? It seems logical
  that for future
  upgrades and component replacements a socket would  make more sense. Anyone
  building a K2 use IC sockets ?

  Tnx Glenn
  K5ZE

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