[Elecraft] W2 review

[Ron D'Eau Claire]

You can pick up a 1x2 RCA Phono plug adapter at any audio goodie shop with a
plug on one end and two jacks on the other. They're sold for paralleling
audio lines. 

You do need to watch the current demand. The 12 VDC output of the K3 is
rated 500 mA maximum. The W2 draws typically 300 mA and can be almost 600 mA
if the LED brightness is full up. 

The PR6 is another 50 mA. And then there's your relay...

The bottom bevel issue is handled in the errata. For some reason the W2 used
to write the manual had beveled screws on the front edge of the bottom
cover, all nicely done and painted just like it was designed that way. It
appears to have been the only one (obviously it was abducted by alien
screw-hole bevellers). 

Ron 


-----Original Message-----
I would certainly echo Ken's review of the W2.  It is, as with all Elecraft 
products, a joy to build and performs very well. I really like being able to

adjust the intensity of the LEDs. I noticed that the assembly manual 
mentions using flat head screws in beveled holes on the front of the bottom 
panel and the bottom of the front panel but the holes were not beveled in my

kit.  Pan head screws seem to work just fine and leave plenty of flat head 
screws for the other beveled holes.

I power the W2 from the RCA power connector on the back of the K3, along 
with my amplifier relay, and the 6 meter preamp.  I just need to find a way 
to power these 3 devices off of the power jack on the back of the K3 easily.

Todd, WA7U