ELECRAFT® K3 HIGH-PERFORMANCE 160 – 6 METER TRANSCEIVER KAT3 100-WATT AUTOMATIC ANTENNA TUNER INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS Rev C, June 24, 2008 Copyright © 2008, Elecraft, Inc.
Contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................... 3 Customer Service and Support............................................................................................................................ 3 Technical Assistance ....................................................................................................................................... 3 Repair / Alignment Service ....
Introduction The KAT3 option is an internally-mounted 100-watt automatic antenna tuner. Complete details for using the KAT3 are included in the K3 Owner’s manual. This manual covers the installation of the KAT3 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 support@elecraft.
Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage There is no climate or work location where the components of your K3 are safe from Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) unless you take specific steps to prevent such damage. Many of the components in your K3 can be damaged by static discharges of only a few volts: far too little for you to notice. It is those low-voltage but destructive discharges that easily happen anywhere and under virtually any environmental conditions. ESD damage may not be apparent at first.
• Wear a conductive wrist strap with a series 1-megohm resistor. 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. DO NOT attach a ground directly to yourself as this poses a serious shock hazard. • Use a grounded anti-static mat on your work bench.
Installation Procedure 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.
Remove the two 1-1/2” (38 mm) screws and lock washers shown in Figure 2. These screws extend all the way through the KRX3 module and secure it to standoffs mounted on the main RF board that fills the bottom of the K3. Figure 2. Removing the KRX3 Module. In the following steps you will handle small TMP coaxial connectors. These are frictionfit connectors shown in Figure 3. Handle the connectors by the grips as shown. Do not pull on the coaxial cable. Figure 3. TMP Cable Connectors.
Removing the Right Side Panel Remove the hardware securing the heat sinks of U13 and U12 to the right side panel (see Figure 4). Be careful not to lose the lock washers inside the K3. Figure 4. U13 and U12 Mounting Hardware. Remove the screw holding the KANT3 board to the standoff and the screw holding the 2D fastener to the rear panel near the SO239 antenna connector shown in Figure 5. Do not lose the lock washer inside the K3.
Remove the five screws shown in Figure 6 from the right side panel to release it. The side panel will lift off with the 2D fastener and standoff shown in Figure 5 attached. Figure 6. Removing Side Panel Hardware, Part 2. Removing the KANT Module Unplug the antenna connection to the KANT3 board (see Figure 7) then unplug the KANT3 from the RF board and lift it out. Flex the back panel outward slightly as needed to clear the edge of the board.
Installing the ANT2 Connector Remove the dummy plug from the ANT2 connector hole in the back panel. The plug is released by squeezing two tabs on opposite sides (see Figure 8). Figure 8. Installing ANT2 Connector. Install the SO239 coaxial connector in the ANT2 space using the hardware shown in Figure 8.If the KRX3 AUX RF connector is installed, remove the 3/8” (9.
Plug the connectors on the wires leading to the ANT1 and ANT2 jacks into the KAT3 board as shown in Figure 10. ANT1 goes to the connector nearest the rear panel, and ANT2 goes to the one farthest from the rear panel as shown. Support the top of the KAT3 board when plugging in these connectors. The fit may be very tight and the KAT3 board does not have any mechanical support at the top yet. Figure 10. Installing the KAT3 Board.
Replacing the Top Cover Hold the top cover above the K3, route the speaker wire under the stiffener bar and plug it into P25 on the KIO3 board at the left rear of the K3 as shown in Figure 11. Figure 11. Connecting Speaker Cable. Position the top cover on the K3. Note that the tab on the back center goes under the rear lip of the K3 rear panel. Secure the top cover with the nine 4-40 3/16” (4.8 mm) black flat head screws you removed earlier.
