Elecraft K1BKLTKT User Manual
A Backlighted LCD for your K1
(K1BKLTKIT)
Tom Hammond - NØSS, July 27, 2006
Rev C
Thanks to Wayne Burdick, N6KR for suggesting this implementation of backlighting the K1 display.
APPLICABILITY
This modification is applicable to all revisions of the K1.
BACKGROUND
Builders have often discussed various methods of adding backlighting to their K1 LCD display.
Early K1's were supplied with opaque rear polarizers which would not pass light. On current K1s
Elecraft now uses a 'transflective' rear polarizer, capable of both passing light from the back side AND
of reflecting ambient light entering from the front of the display. It is the transflective LCD display
which now permits backlighting.
Elecraft does not presently supply a backlight with the K1 kit. However, if you have not assembled your
K1, you can add a backlight at the time of construction. If your K1 has already been assembled, you
must remove the existing LCD (regardless of which type of LCD it happens to be), install the backlight,
then install the replacement LCD supplied with this modification kit. Both situations are covered here.
PARTS NEEDED
A kit of parts for use in making the changes can be ordered as the "K1BKLTKIT". This kit consists of
the following items:
Quan. Item Elecraft Part #
1 Transflective LCD display E600015
1 K1 Backlight E100192
1 Resistor, 330Ω1/4W (Orange-Orange-Brown) E500103
(for 6mA current draw, lower brightness backlight)
1 Resistor, 200Ω 1/4W (Red-Black-Brown) E500020
(for 10mA current draw, brighter backlight)
1 Insulator Card Assembly, K1 LCD E850215
MODIFICATION
Removal of K1 Front Panel
1. Remove the four (4) case screws which secure the K1 front panel to the main body of the radio.
2. Pull the front panel straight away from the body of the radio and set the rest of the radio aside in
a safe place.
3. Remove the three (3) knobs from the front panel and set them aside.
4. Remove the black keycaps from S1 and S2 and set them aside.
5. Remove the control nut and washer securing the 10-turn VFO pot to the front panel
6. Remove the bevel-head screw securing the Front Panel PC board to the front panel.
7. Separate the case front panel from the Front Panel PC board and set the case front panel aside.
Removal of the K1 MCU (If you have not yet installed the MCU, you may skip this step)
Experience has shown that when removing an IC from its socket, it is safest to insert the tip of a thinbladed screwdriver between the bottom of the IC and the top of the IC socket, and then to alternately
lift the two ends of the IC until it comes free of the socket.
8. Using ESD-safe practices, carefully remove the MCU (U1) from the bottom side of the Front
Panel PC board and store it in a safe place (anti-static foam, metal tray or wrapped in aluminum
foil).
Removal of the Existing LCD Display (If you have not yet installed the LCD display, skip steps 9-13)
While it is sometimes possible to remove the LCD display from the PC board without damaging the
pads or traces on the PC board, we do not recommend you attempt to do so. Experience has shown
that, unless you have significant experience in removing such devices and the proper equipment to do
so, you run a distinct risk of lifting one or more pads from the Front Panel PC board. We recommend
that the existing LCD display be removed as follows:
9. Using a fine-tipped wire cutter, clip each of the LCD leads about ¼" down from where they
make the bend down toward the PC board. This will leave you with a display which can be reused, if you wish, by attaching wire leads to the remaining leads from the display. Lift the LCD
display clear of the front panel PC board and set it aside in a safe place.
10. Using a pair of needle-nosed pliers or other similar device to grasp and hold one of the LCD pins
which remains attached to the PC board while heating that pin's connection on the opposite side
of the PC board. Remove the pin and repeat this step until all pins have been removed.
11. Using solder wick (or a better desoldering method, if available), carefully remove any solder
remaining in the LCD pin holes from which the pins were removed in the step above. NOTE
that, in order to easily use solder wick for this purpose, you may find it beneficial to actually add
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