NEScaf

I got the NEScaf kit. I did not get the 10K pot with
center detent. Please send.
My address is Jerry Olson
2424 Cavell Ave. S.
Saint Louis Park,Minn. 55426

When I first completed my NESCAF kit, it worked fine for about five minutes, then the output gradually disappeared. Turning the power off for a few seconds bought me another five minutes of flawless operation. It turned out that C17, the 1uF input capacitor was defective. I found what looked like the exact same part of the same value at Radio Shack, replaced the original and the problem was solved.

However, last week the NESCAF developed a similar problem when the bandwidth was set wide. Gradually the output would shut down. This time C7 in the 555 timer circuit had failed.

Rather than have to go back in and replace them again, I changed out all three of those caps, C7, C9, and C17, the three tantalum pale yellow epoxy dipped electrolytics. I substituted the standard blue cylindrical electrolytics of the same value and the filter works fine.

I use the NESCAF daily with my Wilderness Sierra and find it to be an indispensible addition to an already fine rig. Thanks to the NE QRP Club for making this nifty kit available to us.

73,

Jim, K4AXF
Strasburg, VA

Thanks for posting your message about the problems you had with the capacitors in you kit, Jim. Up to this point, we have not had any problems with components (except for the occaisional missing one, and I think one damaged pot).

Since we have shipped over 800 kits to date, and no other problems have cropped up, I don't believe we got a "bad batch" of caps. You, however, have had the unfotunate experience of having a couple fail (?). Very odd.

I would be interested to know how long ago you purchased your kit. Perhaps we could correlate that to a particular kitting time, etc.

Thanks once again for the feedback, and I'd be glad to ship you replacement capacitors (of recent vintage) if you desire.

72/73,
Bruce N1RX