[Elecraft] K2.. capacitor... need info

[Don Wilhelm]

Jean-Francois,

Yes, I believe you have indeed solved 2 problems.

You can leave the capacitor in place.  The one you have in there now is 
probably a higher voltage rating than the original.

Also, there is no harm in leaving the CAL CUR setting at 3.50 all the 
time.  If you are operating on battery, it is handy to lower the setting 
so you get a warning when the voltage drops (more current is required 
when the supply voltage is lower.

73,
Don W3FPR

JEAN-FRANÇOIS MÉNARD wrote:
> Hi everybody,
>
> When I was doing the alignment of my 3rd built KPA100, I found that I  
> have a "HI CUR" message on 80m only.
>
> A short history, I always have this message on 80m and need to set the  
> "CAL CUR" value a little bit higher when using the K2 in QRP mode....  
> 2.8 amp instead of 2.5 amp. I working that way since 2004.
>
> But now, "HI CUR" message appear on 80m with or without the KPA100  
> installed, and more than that.... even at 1W power level !!
>
> So I suspected a problem in the "LOW PASS" section of the K2 itself. I  
> found that a capacitor was a little bit burned. I went to my local  
> electronic store and only found a ceramic capacitor with the SAME  
> VALUE, but not with the same physical material.... normally these  
> capacitors are blue and little, and I found only a round ceramic  
> capacitor a little bit bigger.... but with the same value.
>
> I finally changed the bad capacitor, and by removing the PA area of  
> the K2, I also did a complete, clean, resoldering of both toroïds of  
> the 80m band.
>
> The amazing part is now, when I did a complete test on 80m, I can now  
> set the correct "CAL CUR" value of 2.5 amp when using the K2 at low  
> power without the KPA100, and when set to the recommended value of 3.5  
> amp when using the KPA100. I never saw the "HI CUR" again. So I think  
> I solved 2 problems... a bad capacitor and bad soldered toroïds.
>
> All this history for this small question......
>
> Is there a big difference when using ceramic capacitor in the low pass  
> section instead of the smaller blue capacitor !?!? I don't know if  
> there a difference in their properties........ Or I can leave it like  
> this.
>
> Thank all for your time.
>
> J-F VA2SS
>   
>