[Elecraft] K2 Upgrade Questions

[Jim Wiley]

Ken -


I recently added a KPA100 and KAT100 to my K2.  The K2 already had 
pretty much very option and upgrade, and I was not willing to give up 
things like the internal battery and KAT2 low-power tuner for  higher 
power.  So, as Don suggests, use the option of building your KPA100 into 
the external EC2 case.  In my case, I opted for the KAT100 tuner as 
well.  I also took this as an opportunity to make another mod that I 
personally, prefer - I purchased and installed the shorter 1.5" 
tilt-bails in place of the original versions.  Much better, IMHO.


I built the tuner first, and since I had the KIO2 already in the K2, it 
was just a matter of plugging things in.  If you use this route, the 
whole thing truly becomes "plug and play".   Other than having to make 
some tests with the system opened up, and providing a bit of temporary 
12 volt wiring for tests, once everything is built and running, it all 
buttons up into a really great looking package and works seamlessly 
between QRP and QRO power settings.


I did increase the current carrying capacity of the RF choke on the KIO2 
board, as suggested in the builder's notes found on the Elecraft web 
site, but that's all.  Since I did not plan to install the KPA100 in the 
K2 cabinet (I ordered the KAT100-2 version), I left the speaker where it 
was, and skipped the assembly steps in the KPA100 having to do with the 
speaker wiring and installation.   I did install the supplied speaker 
grille cloth for appearance sake.  Make sure you order the EC2 case at 
the same time as you order everything else. You will also need a KIO2 if 
not already installed in the K2.


Installing the KPA100 and KAT100 in the EC2 cabinet is one area where 
the KPA100 and  KAT100 manuals could use some editing - there needs to 
be a section in each showing what is needed and what can be skipped if 
you are externally mounting the KPA100.   The KAT100-2 is good in this 
respect, but it still needs some better notes for integrating it with an 
external KPA100.   
 

However, the bottom line is that it was not all that difficult to figure 
out what to do, and the whole system integrated with remarkable ease 
once I got the idea of what needed to be done.   I would be glad to 
offer assistance should you need it, but in truth the hints and reports 
from the Elecraft web site should be adequate.  The only problem with 
those notes is that it can be somewhat confusing because there are 
various versions of the upgrade / integration notes that might have you 
doing unnecessary work unless you read very carefully.   


Good luck!


- Jim, KL7CC



Don Wilhelm wrote:
> Ken,
>
> The solution to that situation is to mount the KPA100 in an external 
> EC2 enclosure.
> If you are considering the KAT100 as well, order the KAT100-2 which 
> has all the 'hooks' that you can plug the KPA100 into.  If you do not 
> choose the KAT100-2, then you will need to mount a coax input jack in 
> the lower rear panel of the EC2 enclosure.
>