[Elecraft] KPA100 Question

[Don Wilhelm]

Mike,

I will venture a guess - that it is done bacause of the current.  When the
leads are soldered flat to the pads on the top of the board, there is more
contact area then would be available just soldering through the holes.  This
provides a lower impedance and a higher current carrying capability.

73,
Don W3FPR

----- Original Message ----- 
>
> Rev B KPA100 manual (just bought this so I am sure it is the current
issue)
> discusses installing C83, next to the large binocular core, by trimming
the
> leads to exactly 1/8 inch and folding them at right angles in order to
> solder the component to the surface of the board, instead of using the
> existing holes in the board that must have originally been provided for
> this. The note in the assembly manual states very emphatically "Solder C83
> to the tops of the indicated pads. Do not insert the leads into the holes"
> in bold print for emphasis. I am not stupid enough to go against the gurus
> at Elecraft when they clearly must have a good reason for this, but my
> curiosity has impelled me to try to find out what the actual issue is with
> mounting the capacitor in the holes as opposed to mounting it on the
surface
> of the board. I will likely be performing this step this evening, in the
way
> the manual requests, but I am curious as to what the reason is. Given that
> the holes are already in the board, the implication is that this part must
> have originally been mounted 'through hole' and that some problem was
caused
> by this.
>