ELECRAFT K3 User manual
ELECRAFT K3
HIGH-PERFORMANCE 160 – 6 METER
TRANSCEIVER
KXV3B INTERFACE OPTION
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS
Revision C2, July 27, 2015
Copyright © 2015, Elecraft, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
E740263
2
Contents
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Customer Service and Support ............................................................................................................................ 3
Technical Assistance ....................................................................................................................................... 3
Repair / Alignment Service ............................................................................................................................. 3
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage ....................................................................................................... 4
Choosing an Anti-Static Mat ............................................................................................................................... 5
Preparing for Installation .......................................................................................................................... 5
Tools Required .................................................................................................................................................... 5
Parts Included ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Installation Procedure ............................................................................................................................... 6
Removing the Top Cover .................................................................................................................................... 6
Removing the K144XV 2-Meter Module ........................................................................................................... 7
Removing the KRX3A or KRX3 Sub Receiver Module .................................................................................... 8
Removing the Bottom Covers and KIO3A/KIO3 Board .................................................................................... 9
Installing the KXV3B Board ............................................................................................................................. 10
Reinstalling the KIO3A/KIO3 Board ................................................................................................................ 13
Replacing the Top Cover .................................................................................................................................. 15
Enabling the KXV3B Module ................................................................................................................ 16
Elecraft manuals with color images may be downloaded from
www.elecraft.com.
3
Introduction
The KXV3B Interface provides a separate receive antenna input and output, an input and output for use with an
external transverter, and a buffered i.f. output. These inputs and outputs are via rear-panel BNC connectors.
The KXV3B also contains transverter I.F. in/out connectors for use with the K3 internal K144XV 2-meter
option module.
The KXV3B also adds a 20 dB ultra low-noise preamplifier for use on 12, 10 and 6 meters in addition to the
basic preamplifier available on the lower frequency bands. With this new preamplifier, the use of a PR6 or PR6-
10 external preamplifier is not recommended.
Complete details for using the KXV3B are included in your K3 Owner’s manual. This manual covers the
installation of the KXV3B Interface option in your K3 transceiver.
Only a few basic hand tools are needed (see page 5) to perform the installation. No soldering or wiring is
required.
Customer Service and Support
Technical Assistance
You can send e-mail to [email protected] and we will respond quickly - typically the same day Monday
through Friday. Telephone assistance is available from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M. Pacific time (weekdays only) at
831-763-4211. Please use e-mail rather than calling when possible since this gives us a written record of the
details of your problem and allows us to handle a larger number of requests each day.
Repair / Alignment Service (We want to make sure everyone succeeds!)
If necessary, you may return your Elecraft product to us for repair or alignment. (Note: We offer unlimited email
and phone support to get your kit running, so please try that route first as we can usually help you find the
problem quickly.)
IMPORTANT: You must contact Elecraft before mailing your product to obtain authorization for the
return, what address to ship it to and current information on repair fees and turn around times. (Frequently we
can determine the cause of your problem and save you the trouble of shipping it back to us.) Our repair location
is different from our factory location in Aptos. We will give you the address to ship your kit to at the time of
repair authorization. Packages shipped to Aptos without authorization will incur an additional shipping charge
for reshipment from Aptos to our repair depot.
4
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage
Sensitive components may be damaged by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) simply by touching them or a circuit
board containing them unless you take specific steps to prevent such damage. Damage may occur with static
discharges far too little for you to notice.
A damaged component may not fail completely at first. Instead, the damage may result in below-normal
performance for an extended period of time before you experience a total failure.
Parts which are especially ESD-sensitive are identified in the parts list and in the assembly procedures.
We strongly recommend you take the following anti-static precautions (listed in order of importance) to ensure
there is no voltage difference between the components and any object that touches them:
Leave ESD-sensitive parts in their anti-static packaging until you install them. The packaging may be a
special plastic bag that allow static charges to flow harmlessly over their surface, or a component’s
leads may be inserted in conductive foam that keep them at the same potential.
Wear a conductive wrist strap with a series 1-megohm resistor that will constantly drain off any static
charge that accumulates on your body. If you do not have a wrist strap, touch a ground briefly before
touching any sensitive parts to discharge your body. Do this frequently while you are working. You can
collect a destructive static charge on your body just sitting at the work bench.
WARNING
DO NOT attach a ground directly to yourself without a current-limiting resistor as this poses a
serious shock hazard. A wrist strap must include a 1-megohm resistor to limit the current flow. If
you choose to touch an unpainted, metal ground to discharge yourself, do it only when you are
not touching live circuits with any part of your body.
Elecraft's 1-Year Limited Warranty
This warranty is effective as of the date of first consumer purchase (or if shipped from factory, date product is shipped
to customer). It covers both our kits and fully assembled products. For kits, before requesting warranty service, you
should fully complete the assembly, carefully following all instructions in the manual.
Who is covered: This warranty covers the original owner of the Elecraft product as disclosed to Elecraft at the time of
order. Elecraft products transferred by the purchaser to a third party, either by sale, gift or other method, who is not
disclosed to Elecraft at the time of original order, are not covered by this warranty. If the Elecraft product is being
bought indirectly for a third party, the third party's name and address must be provided to Elecraft at time of order to
insure warranty coverage.
What is covered: During the first year after date of purchase, Elecraft will replace defective or missing parts free of
charge (post-paid). We will also correct any malfunction to kits or assembled units caused by defective parts and
materials. Purchaser pays inbound shipping to Elecraft for warranty repair, Elecraft will pay shipping to return the
repaired equipment to you by UPS ground service or equivalent to the continental USA and Canada. Alaska, Hawaii
and outside U.S. and Canada actual return shipping cost paid by owner.
What is not covered: This warranty does not cover correction of kit assembly errors. It also does not cover
misalignment; repair of damage caused by misuse, negligence, or builder modifications; or any performance
malfunctions involving non-Elecraft accessory equipment. The use of acid-core solder, water-soluble flux solder, or any
corrosive or conductive flux or solvent will void this warranty in its entirety. Also not covered is reimbursement for loss
of use, inconvenience, customer assembly or alignment time, or cost of unauthorized service.
Limitation of incidental or consequential damages: This warranty does not extend to non-Elecraft equipment or
components used in conjunction with our products. Any such repair or replacement is the responsibility of the customer.
Elecraft will not be liable for any special, indirect, incidental or consequential damages, including but not limited to any
loss of business or profits.
5
Use a grounded anti-static mat on your work bench (see below).
If you pick up a pc board that was not placed on an anti-static mat or in an anti-static package, touch
first a ground plane connection on the board such as a connector shell or mounting point.
If you use a soldering iron to work on a circuit board, be sure your iron has an ESD-safe grounded tip
tied to the same common ground used by your mat and wrist strap.
Choosing an Anti-Static Mat
An anti-static mat must bleed off any charge that comes in contact with it at a rate slow enough to avoid a shock
or short circuit hazard but fast enough to ensure dangerous charges cannot accumulate. Typically, a mat will
have a resistance of up to 1 Gigaohm (109 ohms). Testing a mat requires specialized equipment, so we
recommend that you choose an anti-static mat that comes with published resistance specifications and clean it as
recommended by the manufacturer. Testing has shown that many inexpensive mats that do not specify their
resistance have resistance values much too high to provide adequate protection, even after they were cleaned
and treated with special anti-static mat solutions.
Suitable anti-static table mats are available from many sources including:
U-line (Model 12743 specified at 107 ohms)
Desco (Model 66164, specified at 106 to 108 ohms)
3MTM Portable Service Kit (Model 8505 or 8507, specified at 106 to 109 ohms)
Preparing for Installation
Tools Required
1. #0 and #1 size Phillips screwdrivers. To avoid damaging screws and nuts, a power screwdriver is not
recommended. Use the screwdriver that best fits the screw in each step.
2. Wrench to remove jack screw nuts on the K3 back panel. 3/16” nut driver recommended.
3. Small diagonal cutters.
4. Small needle-nose pliers or tweezers to position small parts.
5. Soft cloth or clean, soft static dissipating pad to lay cabinet panels on to avoid scratching.
The following tools are strongly recommended:
1. ESD wrist strap.
2. Static dissipating work pad.
6
Parts Included
The following parts should be included in your kit. Check to ensure you have them all. If any parts are damaged
or missing, contact Elecraft for replacements (see Customer Service and Support, page 3).
ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION QTY. ELECRAFT
PART NO.
KXV3B Printed Circuit Board Assembly
ESD Sensitive. 1 E850644
XV3 Connector Panel 1 E100224SS
KXV3B TMP Cable Assembly 1 E850292
Screw, 4-40, 1/2” (13 mm) 2 E700030
Lockwasher, 4-40, inside tooth 2 E700010
Nut, 4-40 2 E700011
Installation Procedure
SPECIAL NOTE FOR K3 KIT BUILDERS: If you were directed here by the K3 Kit
Assembly Manual to install your KXV3B Module, inventory the parts in this kit against the list under
Parts Included on page 6 then begin installation at the step indicated on page 10.
Removing the Top Cover
Disconnect power and all cables from your K3.
Remove the nine screws to free the top cover as shown in Figure 1. After the cover is open, lift it gently to
reach the speaker wire connector. Unplug the speaker then set the top cover aside in a safe place.
Whenever you remove screws from a panel, if one screw seems too tight to loosen
without damaging it, first loosen the other screws then try again. Sometimes one screw
binds in its hole when the other screws are tightened.
7
Figure 1. Removing K3 Top Cover.
CAUTION: Touch an unpainted metal ground or wear a grounded wrist strap
before touching components or circuit boards inside the K3. See Preventing Electrostatic
Damage Discharge on page 4 for more information.
Removing the K144XV 2-Meter Module
If you do not have the K144XV 2-meter option installed, skip this section and go to Removing the KRX3A or
KRX3 Sub Receiver Module on page 8.
Remove the stiffener bar that runs from side to side across the top of the K3 chassis. This is the bar the
three screws across the center of the top cover thread into. The bar is held in place by a single screw at each side
and, if the KPA3 100 watt option is installed, by two screws attaching it to the KPA3 shield. Some KPA3
shields have PEM nuts permanently attached to the shield for the screws. Others use ordinary nuts that must be
removed with the screws and lock washers.
The K144XV module is mounted on the left side panel of the K3. Remove the five screws shown in
Figure 2 and lift the top cover off of the module. Note: Some units may have a sixth screw in the hole near the
Elecraft name on the top cover that must be removed.
Figure 2. Removing the K144XV Top Cover.
Unplug the coaxial cables and the power connector attached to the K144XV module. Pull on the metal part
of the TMP coaxial connectors. Do not pull on the cables.
8
Remove the three 6-32 screws that secure the K144XV module to the side panel. Hold the module to keep
it from falling if the KRX3 sub receiver is not installed. Lift the module out, set the top cover on it to protect it,
and set it aside in a safe place.
Removing the KRX3A or KRX3 Sub Receiver Module
If you do not have the sub receiver installed, go directly to Removing the Bottom Covers and KIO3A/KIO3
Board on page 9.The sub receiver module is the “L” shaped metal enclosure (see Figure 3). Remove the sub
receiver module as follows:
Remove the chassis stiffener bar that runs across the top of the K3 chassis and is attached to the side panels.
If the KPA3A/KPA3 is installed, the stiffener will be attached to the shield by two screws. These screws may
have nuts and lock washers or they may thread into permanently-attached PEM nuts on the stiffener bar.
Remove the two 1-1/2” (38 mm) screws and lock washers shown in Figure 3. These screws extend all the
way through the sub receiver module and secure it to standoffs mounted on the main RF board that fills the
bottom of the K3.
Figure 3. Removing the KRX3A or KRX3 Module.
In the following steps you will handle small TMP coaxial connectors. These are friction-
fit connectors shown in Figure 4. Handle the connectors by the grips as shown. Do not pull
on the coaxial cable.
Figure 4. TMP Cable Connectors.
9
Hold the sub receiver module by the two brass knurled nuts on the top, and lift it straight up to gain access
to the small TMP coaxial connectors plugged into the module. There are two along the front. There may be one
at the back as well, depending upon the options installed. As you lift the module, it will unplug from two small
interface circuit boards. One is at the front and the other is at the rear. These small boards may come out with
the module or they may remain attached to the K3 main RF board.
Unplug the TMP coaxial cables leading to the sub receiver module, then lift the module free and set it aside.
Locate the two small interface circuit boards, remove them and put them in a safe place.
Removing the Bottom Covers and KIO3A/KIO3 Board
If you are replacing a previously-installed KXV3 with the KXV3B, you will not need to remove the
bottom covers and install a new TMP cable or cut jumpers W1 and W2 as described in the following
steps. Simply remove the existing KXV3 board and replace it with the KXV3B using the existing TMP
cable.
Remove the Digital I/O module from the KIO3A or KIO3 Board at the rear of the K3 as shown in Figure 5.
Figure 5. Removing the Digital I/O Module.
10
Tilt the top of the KIO3 or KIO3A Main board toward the front panel gently so the standoff at the top clears
the lip on the rear panel, then use the standoff at the top to lift up on the board while rocking it from side to side
to unplug the connector.
Remove the blank panel covering the space for the KXV3B module (see Figure 5). This panel will not be
replaced.
Turn the K3 upside down and remove the bottom covers (see Figure 6).
Figure 6. Removing the Bottom Covers.
Installing the KXV3B Board
SPECIAL NOTE TO KIT BUILDERS: If you were directed here to install your KXV3B
module as part of the overall kit assembly, begin with the following step.
Remove jumpers W1 and W2. The jumpers may be wires plugged into connector J66, or they may be wire
jumpers soldered to pads on the RF board (see Figure 7). If soldered to the board, take care not to lose any
pieces of wire inside the K3. No more than 1/8” (3mm) of lead length should be left to avoid the possibility of
shorting to a nearby circuit. Take care to identify the correct jumpers. Do not cut nearby jumpers W20 or
W21!
Figure 7. Removing Jumpers W1 and W2.
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27
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