[Elecraft] Modification I made to KXPD3

[Kenneth A Christiansen]

My KX3 came last Monday and I used it extensively camping this week end. The contacts on the KXPD3 acted dirty after about 4 hours of CW so I finished the QSO with my Palm Mini Paddle. I cleaned the contacts with paper and WD40 but soon it again got just as bad. I took it apart and noticed the ground for each side passed through the paddle hinge. My fix was to remove one fine stand of wire from a speaker cable. I soldered the middle of the wire to the ground pin of the 4 conductor jack. I loosened each spring screw and put a wire under each screw head. I tightened the screw heads and put the paddle back together. I ran CW for many more hours and never had any more trouble. I now think this is the best paddle I have ever owned. The movement is so slight on the corners of the wires I don't expect to have any problem with metal fatigue breaking the wire.
Ken    W0CZ
w0cz at i29 dot net

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