[Elecraft] KXPD3 Gold-plated contacts ?

[Kenneth A Christiansen]

Hi to the group

I think I have an easy solution to the problem indicated here. The first problem may be the hinges of the paddles. I took a fine wire out of an audio cable and put one end under the screw on each paddle. I looped and soldered this wire to the ground terminal of the connector to the KX3. The paddles do not move enough to cause the wire to break. I use the paddles as a side swiper key any time I need a hand key and after the straight key nite on New Years the paddle I was using got intermittent. A small shot of WD40 fixed it and I have used it quite a bit since then. You may want to try the WD40 first and maybe that is all the hinges need too but I like the positive ground the wire provides.

I sure do like my KX3 and KXPA100 so expect to have lots of fun camping this summer.

73

Ken W0CZ  w0cz at i29 dot net

Sent from my iPad

> On Feb 7, 2014, at 4:28 AM, Heinz Baertschi <heinz.baertschi at bluewin.ch> wrote:
> 
> Mark Petiford wrote
>> RE:  "Has anyone tried to galvanically gold-plate the KXPD3 contact screws
>> and
>> posts?"
>> 
>> Heinz,
>> In an attempt to solve the "missing dit" problem?
>> Mark
>> KE6BB
> 
> Not at all, I never noticed the so-called dit Problem.
> Using an early (upgraded) and a late KXPD3, both with the light(est) spring.
> 
> Both paddles functioned flawless last year on over 100 SOTA expeditions
> (more than 6000 QSOs).
> The contacts become intermittent during the winter months (temp around 0C,
> sometimes foggy).
> Dry cleaning the contacts did always help for some time.
> 
> The KXPD3 has become my paddle of choice for SOTA through it's reliability
> (simplicity, robustness) and it's suitability for use also on higher keying
> Speeds.
> 
> That is why I am exploring an improvement.
> 
> Heinz HB9BCB
> 
> 
> 
> 
> --
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