ELECRAFT W-2 WATTMETER OWNER S MANUAL. Preliminary October 15, Copyright 2009, Elecraft, Inc. All Rights Reserved

Transcription

1 ELECRAFT W- WATTMETER OWNER S MANUAL Preliminary October, 00 Copyright 00, Elecraft, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2 Contents Introduction... Customer Service and Support... Technical Assistance... Repair / Alignment Service... Specifications... Display Unit... Directional Couplers (Sensors)... Operation... Front Panel... Rear Panel... Directional Coupler (Sensor)... 7 Advanced Operation... 7 Updating Firmware... 7 Calibration... 8 Kit Assembly... 8 Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage... 8 Tools Required... Assembly Procedure... Display Unit Assembly... Directional Coupler... Appendix A Parts List... W Circuit Boards... Enclosure... Cables... W Hardware Bag (E80)... Sensors... 7 Appendix B PC Interface... 8 PC Data Cable... 8 Serial Interface Commands... 8 Appendix C Schematic Diagrams... 0

3 Introduction The Elecraft W is a versatile, auto-ranging RF power and SWR meter that utilizes remote sensing. Up to two remote sensors can be attached, with various power and frequency ranges available (see Sensors, page 7). Sensors use standard CAT shielded or unshielded cables. The W includes adjustable, high-brightness LED bargraphs for both forward power and SWR. These allow you to keep track of transmitter or amplifier performance at a glance, even in low lighting or across a large room. The power bargraph's full scale ranges are, 0, 00, and 000 watts, with either manual or automatic range selection or peak- hold capability. A PC-compatible serial interface is included, allowing easy firmware upgrading via the internet, as well as configuration of the W's advanced features. The serial interface cable can be connected directly to any RS port, or be used with our "KUSB" USB-to-RS adapter. Software applications can use the serial interface to accurately read forward power, reverse power, and SWR from both sensors. This is ideal for remote control as well as customized meter displays. Also provided is a general purpose alarm output (open-drain) and amplifier keying input/output jacks. The latter can be used to interrupt amplifier keying on power or SWR alarm conditions. Subsequent sections provide full specifications, operating information, and assembly instructions for building the no-soldering kit version of the W. Customer Service and Support Technical Assistance You can send to support@elecraft.com and we will respond quickly - typically the same day Monday through Friday. Telephone assistance is available from A.M. to P.M. Pacific time (weekdays only) at Please use 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 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 turnaround 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 Elecraft's -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. Specifications Display Unit Size (H x W x D) Weight Supply voltage Current drain.8" x." x." (. cm x. cm x. cm), not including connectors.. ( cm) deep including connectors, LEDs, rear panel brightness control..7 oz. (0. kg) - VDC maximum (0- VDC recommended) 0 ma idle, 0 ma max, 00 ma typical Directional Couplers (Sensors) Size (H x W x D) Weight Power Range: Accuracy: Frequency Range: Sensor Cable:." x." x.0" (. cm x.8 cm x.7 cm), not including connectors. 7. oz. (0. kg) typical (00W Sensor) 0-W, 0-0W, 0-00W, Auto ( KW sensor) 0-0W, 0-00W, 0-000W, Auto +/- 0. db typical (HF Sensors).8 - MHz (VHF Sensors) 0-0 MHz (8 cm) 8-conductor Ethernet (CAT ) with RJ connectors. One Sensor is required. Two may be connected to the display unit at the same time.

5 Operation Front Panel VERY IMPORTANT! If you use an antenna tuner, connect it to the LOAD side of the W's sensor if possible. The W will then display the matched SWR seen by the transmitter, rather than the unmatched SWR, and it will be better protected from high RF voltage or current. The sensor can be inserted between the tuner and the antenna, but it could be damaged if both power and SWR are high. NOTE: If the W powers up with the first green () power bargraph LED flashing, there is an error in the application program. Reload the firmware as described under Updating Firmware on page 7.

6 Rear Panel REAR PANEL CONNECTOR NOTES:. A power cable is provided with your W with an RCA plug at the supply end that may be connected directly to the VDC output on the back panel of an Elecraft K.. Remote Signaling Connector: Provides an alarm output on the ring, dropping from to ground when the SWR exceeds : (see note below) on the connector ring. Connector tip is a logic (0-V) input (TBD).. Remote PTT Control: Relay switched loop-through provided to disable a transmitter or exciter for high SWR protection. If the SWR exceeds : a normally-closed relay opens the loop-through line and all the front panel LEDs flash. Reset the W by pressing the SENSOR or RANGE button.. PC Data (Optional): Provides an RS data interface that may be used to connect the W to a personal computer. See Appendix B for details.. Sensor and : A suitable cable is provided with each Sensor unit to connect it to the display.

7 Directional Coupler (Sensor) A directional coupler is used to measure RF power and standing wave ratio (SWR). A typical directional coupler is shown below. Advanced Operation Updating Firmware From time to time, updated and improved firmware may become available for the W. The latest firmware may be downloaded from Elecraft and installed using the optional PC interface and the W Utility program which may be downloaded from You ll need a computer with an RS interface or a USB interface and a USB to RS converter such as the KUSB universal serial bus adapter available from Elecraft. You ll need an interface cable to connect your computer to the W. A suitable cable is described in Appendix B. Updated program files may be obtained in two ways. You can check the box in the W Utility that says Copy new files from Elecraft into local folder. This will download the latest production released firmware. Optionally, you can download the new file from the Elecraft web site manually and place it in a local folder, then browse for it within the W utility. This is the way to access the latest Beta firmware available from Elecraft. When you start loading new firmware, the green LED on the power bar graph will turn off and the yellow W LED will start flashing as new data is received. If the W LED stays on but doesn t flash, data is not being received by the W. You can force the W to load new firmware by turning the unit off, then hold the SENSOR button in while pressing POWER. When you release both buttons the green LED will start flashing indicating the firmware loader is active. Use the W utility to load the new firmware as described above. 7

8 Calibration Your W will meet factory specifications (see page ) without further calibration. If desired, you may adjust the calibration to agree with another wattmeter. Connect your W and the reference wattmeter in series between your transmitter and a suitable dummy load and connect your W to a PC and start the W Utility program. Apply power and compare the readings on the W and the reference wattmeter. On the PC, click on the UP or DOWN buttons to change the Ws reading as desired.. Kit Assembly Preventing Electrostatic Discharge Damage There is no climate or work location where the components of your W are safe from Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) unless you take specific steps to prevent such damage. Many components can be damaged by static discharges of only a few volts: far too little for you to notice. ESD damage may not be apparent at first. The damaged components may not fail completely. Instead, the damage may result in below-normal performance for an extended period of time before you experience a total failure. ESD damage cannot occur if there is no voltage difference between the components in any object that touches them. We strongly recommend you take the following anti-static precautions (listed in order of importance) to avoid trouble: 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 the component s leads may be inserted in conductive foam that keep them at the same potential. Parts which are especially ESD-sensitive are identified in the parts list and in the assembly procedures. Wear a conductive wrist strap with a series -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 -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 any live circuits with any part of your body. Use a grounded anti-static mat on your work bench. If you choose to use a soldering iron to work on your W for any reason, be sure your iron has an ESDsafe grounded tip tied to the same common ground used by your mat or wrist strap. 8

9 Tools Required. #0 and # size Phillips screwdrivers. Use the screwdriver that best fits the screw in each step. To avoid damaging screws and nuts, a power screwdriver is not recommended.. Needle-nose pliers. The following tools are strongly recommended:. ESD wrist strap.. Static dissipating work pad. Assembly Procedure Before starting construction, do a complete inventory, comparing the parts in your kit with the parts list in Appendix A, to familiarize yourself with all of the parts and to ensure the kit is complete.. If any parts are missing contact Elecraft for a replacement (see Customer Service and Support, page ). Display Unit Assembly Mount two standoffs and two D fasteners on the bottom of the main board as shown in Figure. Figure. Installing Hardware on Main Board.

10 Place the /8 (. mm) spacer under regulator U and temporarily secure it as shown in Figure. It is important that the spacer stay in place so it won t fall out later when you remove the screw to mount the bottom cover. Figure. Installing U Spacer. Check the front panel board for a nylon screw at each corner with the head on the rear (side opposite the LEDs) as shown in Figure. If necessary install a - / (.0 mm) nylon screw at each location. These screws are inserted until the heads just touch the PC board. They don t hold anything. When the W is fully assembled, the heads of these screws serve as bumpers that press against D fasteners in t he case to keep the front panel board from flexing when buttons are pressed. Figure. Nylon "Bumper" Screws in Front Panel Board. Press one gray keycap onto each of the three pushbuttons on the front panel boar d (see Figure ) Figure. Installing Pushbutton Key Caps. 0

11 Mate plug P on the bottom of the main board with jack J on the front panel board as shown in Figure. Note that one pin on P has been removed and a plug is placed in the corresponding hole in J. This is to help avoid misaligning the connectors. Be sure the connectors are aligned and fully mated as shown. Figure. Mating the Front Panel and Main PC Boards. Locate the bottom cover and remove the paint from the inside around the corner screw holes as shown in Figure so the cover will form good electrical contact with the standoffs and D fasteners when it is mounted. Figure. Preparing the Bottom Cover for Mounting.

12 Remove the screw holding the spacer between U and the pc board and mount the bottom cover as shown in Figure 7. Be careful not to dislodge the spacer. If it falls out, you must remove the cover and replace it as shown in Figure. Figure 7. Mounting Bottom Cover. CAUTION Do not put stress on the pc boards when installing the screws in the following step. It is best not to tighten the screws until the enclosure is fully assembled so the panels can move slightly as needed for best alignment. Secure the bottom cover as follows. No lock washers are used. Two / (.0 mm) black flat head screws in the corner holes nearest the front panel board (these holes are beveled so the flat had screws will be flush with the panel) Two / (.0 mm) black pan head screws through the holes near the rear panel.

13 Install a / (.0 mm) black pan head screw into the mounting hole for the PTT RY connector as shown in Figure. Do not tighten this screw! It only threads into plastic. Stop turning when the head reaches the back panel. Even though you don t tighten the screw, it provides critical support to keep the connector from flexing when connectors are inserted. Figure 8. Installing PTT RY Connector Screw. Locate the front panel cover and fit it over the LEDs so the holes on the bottom line up with the remaining open holes in the bottom D fasteners. Check the adjacent LEDs carefully to ensure they are all aligned in even rows. If needed, gently adjust their position for best alignment. This is best done with the cover off. Secure front panel cover to the D fasteners with two / (.0 mm) black flat head screws. Mount D fasteners with / (.0 mm) black pan head screws at each end of the rear panel cover as shown in Figure (A). Install one fastener at each end of the panel. Do not use lock washers. Mount D fasteners with / (.0 mm) black flat head screws at each end of the front panel cover as shown in Figure (B). Install one fastener at each end of the panel. Do not use lock washers. Figure. Mounting Front and Rear Panel D Fasteners.

14 Locate the two side panels. Note that there is a left and a right side panel. They are not interchangeable because of the beveled holes for flat-head mounting screws. Clean the paint from around the holes on the inside (flat) side of the panels as needed to ensure good electrical contact with the D fasteners when they are mounted. Be sure to scrape the paint only from the flat, inside surface. Mount both side panels on the W display unit using three / (.0 mm) black flat head screws in each panel. Do not use lock washers Make a final check of the screw securing U on the main pc board with the screw that runs through the bottom cover. Be sure the nut is tight against the board. NOTE The RJ connector, J, on the main pc board inside the W is used only for initial programming of the board at the factory. That s why it s hidden inside the W. Mount the top cover, sliding it on from the rear so the REM connector fits through the hole in the back. Secure the cover with two / (.0 mm) black flat head screws at the front corners and two / (.0 mm) black flat head screws at the back. Do not use lock washers. Mount the four self-stick feet near the corners on the bottom cover. Good locations are near the screws in corners, but take care not to cover the flat head screws or bridge the seam between the bottom and front panel. That completes the assembly of your W Display Unit. Directional Coupler The directional coupler sensor used to provide RF Power and SWR a measurement is furnished completely assembled and tested to ensure the greatest measurement accuracy. We recommend you do not open the unit. The interior of a typical directional coupler is shown in Figure 0. Figure 0. Typical Directional Coupler Sensor Interior View.

15 Appendix A Parts List W Circuit Boards ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO. Main PC Board E80 Front Panel Board E80 Enclosure ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO. Front Panel E000 Bottom Cover E00 Right Side Panel E00 Left Side Panel E00 Top Cover E00

16 Cables These cables are provided with both the factory-assembled and kit versions of the W. ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO. Power Cable E80 Sensor Cable per Sensor E808 Note: A cable kit (WSERK) for connecting your W to a computer serial port is also provided (See Appendix B PC Interface on page 8). Factory assembled W s come with a pre-assembled cable. W Hardware Bag (E80) ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION QTY. ELECRAFT PART NO. -D Fastener E , Lock washer, #, Split Z 7 E70000 Black Pan Head (Typical) -0, Screw, /, Black, Pan Head E , Screw, /, Black, Pan Head E7000-0, Screw, /, Black, Pan Head E , Screw, /, Black, Flat Head 0 E7000-0, Nut, Hex, Zinc E7000 -,Screw,. (. mm),pan Head,Nylon, E7007-0, Standoff, Round / (. mm) E7000 #,Spacer, Round, /8 (. mm) E7000 / X / ( mm X mm),rubber Foot, Self-Adhesive E7000 Keycap Gray E8007

17 Sensors ILLUSTRATION DESCRIPTION QTY. Directional Coupler.8- MHz 00 W ELECRAFT PART NO. E80 Directional Coupler.8- MHz KW Directional Coupler -0 MHz 00 W Note: Up to two sensors may be connected to one display unit. See note E80 TBD 7

18 Appendix B PC Interface The optional PC interface provides communications for updating the W firmware using files downloaded from It also supports controls and data signals between the PC and W to operate and display SWR and power information provided by the W. All data communications with the W takes place at 00 baud. PC Data Cable A cable wired as follows is required to communicate with a PC through an RS port. A -foot (.8 meter) serial interface cable is included with your factory-assembled W. A cable kit (WSERKT) in included with your kit W. If your computer has only Universal Serial Bus (USB) ports, you can use a USB adapter such as the KUSB adapter available from Elecraft. Serial Interface Commands The W responds to commands for data supplied by the external system. Nothing is sent until a command is received by the W. These requests are in the form of a single letter as shown below. The user sends a single character and receives one data string in response. The semicolon (;) is an end-of-string identifier, and will be at the end of every return string. All strings are fixed length; a space may be added to some strings to ensure this. TBD Command Command B L C M D N F Command 8

19 Command P R S U V W 7 Command 8 X 0

20 Appendix C Schematic Diagrams Rt Angle at Rear Panel Mount on Bottom Cover U VLED ADJ TAB C C0 Pin is keyed TP NJM7F 0 uf/v 0. uf JB SPARE RCJ-XX P FB BEAD VUNSW Q J D ZXTP0FTA U D D K PWM +VIN OUT 0 SM C C R C C VLED C JA 0. uf 0. uf 0 uf/v 0. uf GND TAB 0 uf/v RCJ-XX SRCK.mm 0K V 7 UA78M0 RCK D 8 SER R7 0K RANGE GE-P MMBD SENSOR R K POWER FP 0K C7 pf U MUX0 R8 7K J OSC RA0/AN0 MUX Y RA/AN SENSE MCLR RA/AN D R0 0R SENSE R 0R.0 MHz RA/AN SELECT C C pf RA C 0 PGD OSC BAT R 0R SWSENSE PGC R 0R RCK RB0 PWRHOLD R7 0K SER SDI/RC RB RANGE SRCK SDO/RC RB SENSOR TP FB BEAD ALARM SCK/RC RB 7 SCALE R K JB ICD- SS/RA RB SCALE MCLR RB L TP PGC MCLR 7 MUXA GND PGD PGC RC0 8 MUXB PGD RC L PWM Q RC L TXD TXD 0 VDD RC 7 FB TP 8 RXD N700K C GND RC7 0.0 uf BEAD SJD-- VUNSW B B J U D R K VREV VFWD MUX0 VFWD X0 X MMBD R K VSCL VSCL X SCALE VSCL X R K VFWD X R K C 0.0 uf 7 R K SENSE VREV MUX VREF VREV Y0 Y 8 R0 K VREF Y R 0K VREF Y 0 R 0K C C C C7 Y 0.0 uf 0.0 uf 0.0 uf 0.0 uf VCC JA SENSOR INH 8 U R M MUXA VSS 0 C R0 M MUXB A uf C 0. uf R M A VEE Q U R M CD7HC0M C8 U 0.0 uf 0.0 uf 0.0 uf N700K 0.0 uf J C0 C C8 SJD-- R8 K VREV R M R M R7 M R8 M R 0K 8 VSS VSS PIC8F0 R K VSCL A A R K SCALE MTG MTG R K VFWD GND GND 7 R K SENSE 8 R K VREF MTG MTG GND GND Title 0 W Power Meter C C C C C MTG MTG 0.0 uf 0.0 uf 0.0 uf 0.0 uf GND GND Size Document Number Rev SENSOR B A 0.0 uf Date: Saturday, August, 00 Sheet of R K RXD V SWSENSE R7 00K VLED C 0. uf R 0K Q N700K Q N700K POWER PWRHOLD uf C0 R 0K TP SPARE IN OUT + C 0.0 uf C 0.0 uf 0.0 uf C8 R8 0R Q7 N700K C 0. uf R 0K R0 0R C 0. uf R K R C7 0. uf C7 0.0 uf C 0.0 uf 0.0 uf C Q MMBT0 0

21 U SWR SDI Q0 SWR VLED VLED SCK Q 7 SWR D GREEN R 0R D GREEN R 0R SCLR Q 0 SWR0 SWR PWR RCK Q 8 PWR OE Q PWR D GREEN R 0R D7 GREEN R 0R Q PWR SWR PWR VCC Q PWR7 Q7 D7 GREEN R 0R D8 GREEN R0 0R C SWR PWR D 0. uf D GND SDO D8 GREEN R 0R D GREEN R 0R SWR PWR TPICCD C 0. uf U SDI SCK SCLR RCK OE VCC GND TPICCD U Q0 Q Q Q Q Q Q Q7 SDO SWR SWR8 SWR7 SWR PWR0 PWR PWR PWR SWR D RED R 0R D GREEN R 0R SDI Q0 SWR SWR PWR C SCK Q C 7 SWR SCLR Q 0 SWR D RED R 0R D7 GREEN R 0R RCK Q 8 PWR SWR PWR OE Q PWR7 Q PWR8 D7 RED VCC Q R 0R D8 GREEN R0 0R PWR SWR PWR Q7 SWR SWR SWR7 SWR8 SWR SWR0 D GREEN D0 GREEN D GREEN D YELLOW D YELLOW D RED R 0R R 0R R0 0R R 70R R8 70R R7 0R PWR PWR PWR7 PWR8 PWR PWR0 D0 GREEN D GREEN D GREEN D GREEN D GREEN D GREEN R8 0R R7 0R R 0R R 0R R 0R R 0R C 0. uf GND SDO PWR D GREEN R 0R TPICCD D YELLOW R8 70R D0 GREEN R8 0R SENSE PWR R U D YELLOW R7 70R D GREEN R7 0R 00K SWR SENSE PWR SDI Q0 SCK Q TP 7 SENSE D GREEN R 0R SPARE SCLR Q 0 SENSE PWR7 RCK Q 8 OE Q Pin is keyed TP C PWR D YELLOW R 70R SPARE uf Q PWR RANGE Q J VCC PWR Q7 TP D YELLOW R 70R B PWM C RANGE B PWM 0. uf GND SDO D YELLOW R 70R RANGE TPICCD SRCK VLED D YELLOW R 70R 7 RCK U RANGE 8 SER PWR RANGE SDI Q0 RANGE 0 D YELLOW R 70R SENSOR SCK Q RANGE RANGE 7 POWER SCLR Q RANGE 0 RCK Q RANGE VUNSW 8 OE Q RANGE Q VCC Q PWR Q7 FP C 0. uf GND SDO S TPICCD POWER VUNSW ON_OFF A S A SENSOR SENSOR S Title RANGE W Power Meter: Front Panel RANGE Size Document Number Rev B A Tuesday, May, 00 Date: Sheet of

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