Keyboard Shortcuts
Likes
- BITX20
- Messages
Search
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýJim: ? I have built everything in my shack including an Elecraft K2 (I was a beta tester for the 100-watt linear amp), auto-tuner, and other smaller projects. So, I am fairly comfortable, but putting them in is far easier than getting them out¡a lesson learned from too much previous experience. ? What is the consensus, solder the relays on top or on bottom of the board? ? David A Posthuma, WD8PUO 1 (616) 283-7703 ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Sheldon
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2018 1:12 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement ? ? will get you the relays at the cheapest price in the USA that I know of ?They even have free overnight shipping. ? ? NO absolutely do NOT use a PC oven. ?You must use a solder sucker or solder braid from the underside of the board and unsolder each pin very carefully. In this case, using an oven would apply too much heat in all the wrong places with potentially disastrous results. ? Not knowing your electronics background/expertise, my suggestion to you if you aren't comfortable with de-soldering the relays one pin at a time, ?you might try to find someone with de-soldering experience to help you so you don't accidentally destroy your uBITX PC board. ? Jim, W0EB ? ? ? ------ Original Message ------ From: "David Posthuma" <davep@...> Sent: 10/12/2018 11:58:40 AM Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement ?
|
Re: Homebrew from scratch
#ubitx
Hi Peter,
Our radio club are so impressed we have 12 members who are going to build the the uBITZ using the through hole system. I'm sourcing components and PCB's using the gerber files. However the LPF's seem to be a plug in board similar to QRP labs LPF layout but about half their size. Any idea are these available or do we do our own design on a home produced daughter board. Thanks |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýSolder braid or a precision vacuum desoldering tool should be used IMO. ?If you have a Hakko or Pace desoldering station with heated tip vacuum tool this is best. ?I have a powerful spring loaded suction desoldering tool that I use with my soldering iron to suck the melted solder from the heated terminal pads, one at a time. ?Trying to heat all the pins at once spreads the heat out over the board and can overheat things. ?These relays are through hole and not SMD devices so hot air is not the way to go when removing them. Jim On Oct 12, 2018, at 12:31 PM, iz oos <and2oosiz2@...> wrote:
|
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
So a rework station like the one in the picture should be avoided for removing the relays, right? > ------ Original Message ------
> From: "David Posthuma" <davep@...> > To: [email protected] > Sent: 10/12/2018 11:58:40 AM > Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement > >> Jim: >> >> ? >> >> What are the actual part numbers of the Axion relays and where are you ordering them from? Did you need to use a PCB oven to remove the relays? What was your technique? I¡¯m sorry if these topics were already addressed and I missed it. >> >> ? >> >> David A Posthuma, WD8PUO >> >> 1 (616) 283-7703 >> >> ? >> >> From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Sheldon >> Sent: Friday, October 12, 2018 11:18 AM >> To: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement >> >> ? >> >> I have another V4 board that I'm going to build up, but I'm waiting on a special 3.2" Color TFT touch screen display (NOT a Nextion) for use with the Trimuvirate Skonk Worx "BITeensio" controller board.? We have 2.8 and 5" displays running nicely with released software and instructions for them.? The 5" draws too much current so the next is a compromise down to the 3.2" and that will probably be our last display iteration unless something really innovative comes out that's larger and keeps the current draw under 200 mA so we don't have to add heavy duty 3.3V regulators on the BITeensio. >> >> ? >> >> I've already replaced the relays on the 3rd board with Axions (mounted on top) and I have one more set of the Axion relays on hand.? I may just make up a test bed using a V3 board I have left over and keep it open frame with DIP sockets for the relays to make it easier to change them if something better than the Axion comes along. ? >> >> ? >> >> One thing the Axions seemed to help with was reduce radiated pickup of digital noise from the controller card & wiring.? It may be because I replace all 5 relays, or may be because I got better solder joints (non lead-free solder) when I replaced the relays. >> >> ? >> >> Jim -- W0EB >> >> ? >> >> ------ Original Message ------ >> >> From: "Gary Anderson" <gary.ag5tx@...> >> >> To: [email protected] >> >> Sent: 10/12/2018 9:45:08 AM >> >> Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement >> >> ? > |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
I've never taken apart one of the relays that the uBitx comes with.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
But might be possible to grind off the plastic cover with a dremel tool first, then pluck the pins out one at a time with a needle nose pliers while heating that pin with a soldering iron, as Jim suggests. Another option is a hot air gun.?? I've got a 250 Watt heat gun built specifically for electronics, but a $20 hot air embossing tool off amazon would work about as well. Suspend the board in some sort of vice, cover the bottom of the board with tin foil except for the area you want to heat, then play the gun?under the relays while gently tugging at each relay from the top. Downside is that nearby parts may be damaged by the heat, or simply fall off the board Upside is that the uBitx has no surface mount parts on the bottom, so if you keep the board level the other parts should not be disturbed. Though the plastic on the antenna connector might droop a bit. Jerry, KE7ER On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 10:11 AM, Jim Sheldon wrote:
my suggestion to you if you aren't comfortable with de-soldering the relays one pin at a time, |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
? will get you the relays at the cheapest price in the USA that I know of ?They even have free overnight shipping. ? NO absolutely do NOT use a PC oven. ?You must use a solder sucker or solder braid from the underside of the board and unsolder each pin very carefully. In this case, using an oven would apply too much heat in all the wrong places with potentially disastrous results. Not knowing your electronics background/expertise, my suggestion to you if you aren't comfortable with de-soldering the relays one pin at a time, ?you might try to find someone with de-soldering experience to help you so you don't accidentally destroy your uBITX PC board. Jim, W0EB ------ Original Message ------
From: "David Posthuma" <davep@...>
Sent: 10/12/2018 11:58:40 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement
|
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
¿ªÔÆÌåÓýJim: ? What are the actual part numbers of the Axion relays and where are you ordering them from? Did you need to use a PCB oven to remove the relays? What was your technique? I¡¯m sorry if these topics were already addressed and I missed it. ? David A Posthuma, WD8PUO 1 (616) 283-7703 ? From: [email protected] <[email protected]> On Behalf Of Jim Sheldon
Sent: Friday, October 12, 2018 11:18 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement ? I have another V4 board that I'm going to build up, but I'm waiting on a special 3.2" Color TFT touch screen display (NOT a Nextion) for use with the Trimuvirate Skonk Worx "BITeensio" controller board. ?We have 2.8 and 5" displays running nicely with released software and instructions for them. ?The 5" draws too much current so the next is a compromise down to the 3.2" and that will probably be our last display iteration unless something really innovative comes out that's larger and keeps the current draw under 200 mA so we don't have to add heavy duty 3.3V regulators on the BITeensio. ? I've already replaced the relays on the 3rd board with Axions (mounted on top) and I have one more set of the Axion relays on hand. ?I may just make up a test bed using a V3 board I have left over and keep it open frame with DIP sockets for the relays to make it easier to change them if something better than the Axion comes along. ? ? One thing the Axions seemed to help with was reduce radiated pickup of digital noise from the controller card & wiring. ?It may be because I replace all 5 relays, or may be because I got better solder joints (non lead-free solder) when I replaced the relays. ? Jim -- W0EB ? ------ Original Message ------ From: "Gary Anderson" <gary.ag5tx@...> Sent: 10/12/2018 9:45:08 AM Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement ?
|
Re: Simpler spur fix
In post? ? ?/g/BITX20/message/60519
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Lawrence Galea pointed out a Hong Kong source for Axicom relays at $0.98 USD for quantity 1, $0.60 USD for quantity 1000.? If those are genuine, or perform as well as genuine, that might be a good source for HFSignals. Jerry On Fri, Oct 12, 2018 at 06:47 AM, Raj vu2zap wrote: The Axicom relays cost me about 5$ landed and taxed.. I am only going to change KT1,2,3 but in |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
I have another V4 board that I'm going to build up, but I'm waiting on a special 3.2" Color TFT touch screen display (NOT a Nextion) for use with the Trimuvirate Skonk Worx "BITeensio" controller board. ?We have 2.8 and 5" displays running nicely with released software and instructions for them. ?The 5" draws too much current so the next is a compromise down to the 3.2" and that will probably be our last display iteration unless something really innovative comes out that's larger and keeps the current draw under 200 mA so we don't have to add heavy duty 3.3V regulators on the BITeensio. I've already replaced the relays on the 3rd board with Axions (mounted on top) and I have one more set of the Axion relays on hand. ?I may just make up a test bed using a V3 board I have left over and keep it open frame with DIP sockets for the relays to make it easier to change them if something better than the Axion comes along. ? One thing the Axions seemed to help with was reduce radiated pickup of digital noise from the controller card & wiring. ?It may be because I replace all 5 relays, or may be because I got better solder joints (non lead-free solder) when I replaced the relays. Jim -- W0EB
------ Original Message ------
From: "Gary Anderson" <gary.ag5tx@...>
Sent: 10/12/2018 9:45:08 AM
Subject: Re: [BITX20] Harmonics and Relay Replacement Good Morning Jim, |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
Great find, Sarma, as the world continues to look into this problem.
I'll run a test later today with the 1mH inductor isolation of the relay coils and then see the effect of adding a 10nF capacitor across the coil. May be dependent on how the relay contact wiring is configured and what is on each armature. I wouldn't think there is a radiated problem between relays as he implies .....conducted, yes. 73 Kees K5BCQ? |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
Good Morning Jim,
Thanks for entertaining the idea.? Your shared data maybe useful as you have shown same board and relay with different measured results. For that particular board and the measurement data you gathered, I would say the results ARE encouraging from this viewpoint: You have 4.5 dBc more margin to FCC spec on your worst case data point (40m 3rd harmonic) with the supplied data set. Comments: I have no measurement error / uncertainty reference or relevant personal judgement / experience to truly offer. But, I would think it more difficult to accurately measure the case of more suppression, and so the uncertainty here would be higher. Note that the 2nd and 3rd harmonics are swapping (80m Top and 17m Bot) Regards, Gary AG5TX |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
Joe Puma
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On Oct 12, 2018, at 6:49 AM, Mvs Sarma <mvssarma@...> wrote:
|
Re: Simpler spur fix
Sorry Owen, Missed your reply. I put the inductors in a convenient place without obliterating the component legends. The seller on eBay had mentioned that they were Murata, the size may be 1210, slightly fatter than 1206. Shielding the toroid made a slight change but this issue may be because of hi Q ringing. I just soldered them as I saw fit and placed them at right angles to the toroid. That worked.. it also works in the exact place or the old toroids. Mike: I think a combination of Q and small size and probably they are internally shielded I don't know. I also replaced L1-4 with 330nH SMD and that helps a little on one test board. My interest was to fix these problem with the simplest solution without major surgery. The next gen board will probably be bigger with more inexpensive relays like two relays per filter. The Axicom relays cost me about 5$ landed and taxed.. I am only going to change KT1,2,3 but in production the cost has to be kept down in true BITX spirit. Raj At 12/10/2018, you wrote: I'd like to second this question about the required inductors. Is it that the SMD inductors have a lower Q, or is it the smaller physical size, or the change in position, or a combination of all these changes? |
Re: Simpler spur fix
I'd like to second this question about the required inductors. Is it that the SMD inductors have a lower Q, or is it the smaller physical size, or the change in position, or a combination of all these changes? Thanks Mike M. KU4QO? On Wed, Oct 10, 2018 at 12:01 PM ohwenzelph via Groups.Io <Ohwenzelph=[email protected]> wrote: I like this, but... |
Re: Harmonics and Relay Replacement
Interesting link by this Italian guy, surely not a macaroni one hihi, he also says to add a capacitor across (?) the coil. Il 12/ott/2018 12:49, "Mvs Sarma" <mvssarma@...> ha scritto: Regarding Filters and axicom realy towards band switching? , i saw an useful link. |
Re: Account issues
Turn off 2-Step Verification
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
Raj At 12/10/2018, you wrote: I was using 2 factor authentication with Google. It is still set for my account, and I need to get it turned off. How do I contact a group admin or someone that can help fix my account? |