[Elecraft] K3 front panel encoders

[Wayne Burdick]

Olli,

The SHIFT/LO control, etc., are mechanical encoders with a typical rotational life of 100,000 rotations. The are easily replaceable, and we can send you as many as you need. I believe the price is quite low. I don't believe is is possible to clean them, as they are sealed.

In contrast, the VFO A and B encoders are optical, not mechanical, and they are specified at 10 million rotations. But the cost difference between optical and mechanical is huge (about 40:1). The mechanical encoders are very small, fitting in the available space, and are a pragmatic choice for the function controls.

73,
Wayne
N6KR


On Nov 11, 2014, at 8:57 AM, "Olli Tuppurainen" <oh6ct at sral.fi> wrote:

> Has anyone figured out how to clean or fix front panel encoders  (SHIFT/LO ,
> HI /WIDTH) ?  These cheap ( ~ 0.5$  encoders ) in my K3 has always been
> quite " jumpy " i.e.  value jumps up and down in random steps . Also the"
> feeling " is not what you would expect form rig in this price range.
> 
> Similar issue was in FT-1000MP RIT encoder in 90s . Dust got inside the
> optical encoder and turning RIT knob jumped frequency steps quite randomly.
> 
> Olli
> OH6CT
> 
> 
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