[Elecraft] Cable for K3 Aux I/O

[K8TB]

Cable for the K3 Aux I/O

I found a source for cables for the K3 AUX I/O connector, which uses all 
15 pins of a HD-15 connector. You can find many cables for the HD-15, 
but almost all of them are for video extension cables. I found a source 
of cables. They are made by L-Com (www.l-com.com <http://www.l-com.com>) 
. They are available from Newark, and directly from L-Com. The part 
numbers of concern are for a male to male cable. And why a male to male? 
So you can cut the cable in half and have two cables, one for you and 
one for your buddy, or your second K3!

The part number from L-Comm is CS2H15MM-5, for a five footer, (Newark # 
is 88M8465), and the CS2H15MM-10, which is ten feet. (Newark # 30M8735). 
I bought the five footer as Newark had those in stock. The cost is 
around $ 27.00 each. L-Comm’s website shows their very own checkout 
system. I called them and they do not have a minimum order, and they 
take most credit cards.

So I cut my five foot cable into a four and one foot length. I found the 
15 conductors surrounded by a foil shield, a drain wire for the shield, 
and an overall woven out shield. The 15 conductors are all there. I 
ohmed out the colors, and while they should be the same from cable to 
cable, you might want to check out the color codes of your cable before 
committing to these wires to your K3.

Pin # Color

1 Black (solid color)
2 Brown (solid color)
3 Red (solid color)
4 Orange (solid color)
5 Yellow (solid color)
6 Green, dark (solid color)
7 Blue (solid color)
8 Violet (solid color)
9 Gray (solid color)
10 White (solid color)
11 Pink (solid color)
12 Light Green (solid color)
13 Black with white strip
14 Brown with white strip
15 Red with white strip

I connected my cable to a captive wire barrier strip, plugged it into my 
K3, turned off, but with 12 VDC power. I shorted the Violet wire, pin 8 
(power on) to the light green, pin 12 (ground). My K3 turned on. This is 
good news for me as my second K3 is at my 6 meter SSB remote site, and 
these wires will be wired into a relay controller that comes off my 
computer located there. Now, if there is a power bump, I don’t have to 
make a trip up there!

Now, to convince L-Com to make a breakout HD-15 connector with captive 
wire screws on it, like they do for the DB-9!

Tom Bosscher K8TB