[Elecraft] Is K1 re-alignment worthwhile?

[Mike Morrow]

Doug wrote:

> I have a K1 that I built several years ago. It seems to work fine,
> but I am wondering if it is worthwhile going back and doing a
> re-alignment. Do they drift out of adjustment over time?

The **most** critical adjustments on every tuned circuit of the K1 filter boards are made to peak transmitter output.  These adjustments are far more critical than any for receiver performance.

This means that the first sign of a need for filter board re-alignment is the inability to obtain 6 to 7 watts output on each band when the DC supply is about 14 vdc.

If you are getting good power output on each band, then there is **nothing** to be gained for either transmit or receive performance by re-alignment.

The only problems with drifting K1 alignment occurred with very early (2001-era) KFL1-4 four-band filter boards.  The original white-body tuning-adjustment capacitors were found to drift eith temperature change, which had great effect on the KFL1-4 sharply-peaked LC-circuits.  By 2002 superior new blue-body capacitors were supplied with with new KFL1-4 kits and also made available for back-fit in existing KFL1-4 boards.  I installed the back-fit and that permanently solved the problem.

The L-tuned KFL1-2 two-band boards never had the problem, but the circuits of the KFL1-2 are not as sharp as those of the KFL1-4 either.

Mike / KK5F