[Elecraft] K2/100 condensation problem

[Fred (FL)]

I am puzzled by the reports of "condensation"
accumulating inside a K2, in a marine environment?

At last count - we've had 13 boats, and built 3 of 
them.  The boats with the least "corrosion" problems,
are mostly 100% fiberglass, and 100% stainless steel.

Some things to consider:

a.  DON'T CONSIDER SPRAYING ANYTHING INSIDE YOUR
NICE K2!  Once sprayed - its no turning back.

b.  Is your boat used in salt or brackish water?

c.  Electronics, or anything "metal" for that matter,
in Hawaii - turn to rust and junk in a few years!

d.  You might have a "marine AC power, and grounding"
problem - whereby, nearby boats are using your boat,
and your hooked-up equipments - to gain access to
the Marina's AC ground.  This is a common problem
in older or poorly maintained marinas.

e.  You might want to consider taking your K2 out
of the boat, and home safe and sound, at the end
of each boating day.

f.  At the very least (re: Grounding problems",
unhook your K2 from AC or DC power and especially
the boat's ground lines - when K2 is not in use.

g.  It could be that it is just that the K2 was
not designed with a marine environment in mind.
Icom gets big bucks for their SSB Marine Transceiver,
probably for the extra work they had to build into
their marine SSB transceivers.

I can't imagine such a cold, damp and harsh
environment a K2 must be in - to allow condensation
to form inside case and circuit boards.  Seems like
the arctic wouldn't do this, perhaps the amazon
would.

h.  If your boat has a "Grounding Plate" on hull,
this really doesn't protect one's boat from LIGHTNING
STRIKES, and often encourages the galvanic corrosion
action caused by stray thru-water DC miliamp
currents to come into your boat from other poorly
grounded nearby marina boats, and thru leak (leach)
thru your boat's ground connections or
boat/electronics grounded metal connectors -
eventually getting to the marinas AC ground contacts.
Galvanic action results, and things get eaten up.

IMHO - If it were me, I'd just truck my trusty
friendly K2, to my homebase - after a day's boating.
If I were considering an across the salty seas
cruise - I might want to consider an Icom HF SSB
Marine Transceiver.

Thanks,
Fred N3CSY
.....13 boats at last count.
7/05

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