[Elecraft] New KPA100 Rev.

[Don Wilhelm]

Ron,

I built up one of the first new KPA100 kits and had no problem with loose RF
chokes as you describe - I just checked it and the cores are tight.  Yes,
the mounting holes are wide-spaced, but the leads can still be snugged down
so the cores do not move - a gentle tug with the pliers while soldering is
sufficient.

If one is a 'real purist' and insists that the toroids line up squarely with
the silkscreening on the board, then yes, the leads will have to be a bit
loose, but there is no real need to 'square-up' the toroids, and for the
sake of longevity, it is better just to snug the leads and let the cores
twist where they may.

73,
Don W3FPR


> -----Original Message-----

> Hi
>      I have just finished making a K2/100 for a friend here, and I notice
> that the KPA100 is now up to REV D-1 ( Sept 28 2006) and has a  quite few
> changes in it.
> Amongst them is the addition of two new toroidal RF chokes that
> are filled
> with #26 wire and because they are so full, the mounting holes on
> the (Rev
> B) board are a bit far apart to be able to pull them down tight. I was a
> bit alarmed at having a choke this size dangling upside down on flimsy
> wires ( when in the K2) that I have broken the Elecraft Golden Rule and
> used a small amount of non-acidic RTV under each choke to hold it
> in place.
> ( I guess the Warranty just expired after admitting that!)
> I wonder if any other recent constructors have had the same
> concern for the
> mechanical stability of these components?
> Among the changes I see the pesky RFC10 on the antenna socket has
> disappeared!
> Cheers.....Ron ZL1TW
>