Michael Babineau asked: >Can the KBT1 option be easily removed and the >original K1 top cover and speaker re-installed?
Not as supplied by Elecraft. As you stated, the connections are hard-wired to the RF PCB. You can use an in-line connector, and many have, but: 1. It must be polarized in some manner. There's no reverse polarity protection of the K1 if you get the connection backwards. 2. If the added connector going to the RF-PCB has exposed pins, care will have to be exercised to avoid pin contact to other components when the KBT1 is removed and the connector is floating around in the K1 case. 3. If the added connector going to the KBT1 has exposed pins, care will have to be exercised to avoid shorting the batteries when the KBT1 is being stored outside the K1. The KBT1 would be far, far more useful if: 1. A fixed, polarized two-pin male connector were mounted *on* the K1 RF-PCB (similar to the speaker connector.) 2. A cable with the two-pin female matching connector were attached to the KBT1. This way, there will be no dangling connector in the K1 to short out when the KBT1 is removed, and the connections going to the battery would not be exposed to shorts when the KBT1 is removed from the K1. I'd also like to see the KBT1's reverse current blocking diode mounted *on* the RF-PCB. That way, if somehow the connector got inadvertently reversed when installing the KBT1 assembly, the K1 would be protected from reverse polarity damage. There's enough room on the K1 RF-PCB to easily accomodate these improvements in a future PCB revision. These changes would make removal/replacement of the KBT1 a one-minute evolution. I had the KBT1 installed for more than a year before deciding to remove it permanently. I did this because: 1. I don't like having a potential corrosive chemical leak source (AA-cells) within the K1 case. 2. I didn't find it all that convenient to re-charge the cells. 3. I like the larger original K1 speaker much better than the KBT1 speaker. (The K1 just sounds and looks better with the larger original speaker.) 4. I like using a higher supply voltage than 8 AA-cells provide. (I like an external 10-AA-cell pack.) 73, Mike / KK5F _______________________________________________ Elecraft mailing list Post to: Elecraft@mailman.qth.net You must be a subscriber to post to the list. Subscriber Info (Addr. Change, sub, unsub etc.): http://mailman.qth.net/mailman/listinfo/elecraft Help: http://mailman.qth.net/subscribers.htm Elecraft web page: http://www.elecraft.com
