[Elecraft] K1 component damage angst

[Eric Swartz - WA6HHQ, Elecraft]

Hi Chris,

I would not worry. Its normal to see a little cracking of the conformal 
coating on cap leads when you bend the leads. As long as its not 
cracking along the main body of the cap you should be OK.

Also, the 2N7000 is probably OK. 6mm is usually specified to provide 
clearance for other boards that may go above it at some point. Its not 
super critical, and its OK to bend the leads as needed to get it close 
to the board.

73, Eric   WA6HHQ
----


On 3/16/2010 10:12 AM, egernet at hushmail.com wrote:
> Assembling my very first major kit, the K1, I'm worried that I
> might have damaged two components while putting the front panel
> together:
>
>      - C2, blue 82 pF, got a barely visible crack in the blue
> varnish 1 mm from the lead while I was trying to straighten the
> leads for assembly.
>
>      - Q2, 2N7000. I could not get it within the required 6 mm from
> the PCB, and in doing so I ended up touching the leads with my
> fingers without the proper anti-static precautions.
>
> It is easy to exchange the components now but later it would be
> quite difficult, I imagine, so my questions are:
>
>      - Is it harmful for the blue varnish over the leads of a cap
> (not the body proper) to crack? The body of the cap looks okay.
>
>      - How afraid should I be of handing the 2N7000 MOSFET, and how
> important is it to get it 6 mm from the PCB?
>
>
> 73, Chris
>
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