Vectronics VEC-820K User Manual

IMPORTANT WARRANTY INFORMATION! PLEASE READ

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Return Policy on kits When Not Purchased Directly From Vectronics: Before continuing any
further with your VEC kit check with your Dealer about their return policy. If your Dealer
allows returns, your kit must be returned

Return Policy on kits VVhen Purchased Directly From Vectronics: Your VEC kit may be
returned to the factory
once you begin installing and sold ering parts, you es sentia lly take over the role of th e device's
manufacturer. From this p oint on, neith er Vect ronics nor its d ealers can reas onab ly be h eld

accountable for the quality or the outcome of your work. Because of this, Vectronics cannot
accept return of any kit-in-progress or completed work as a warranty item for any reason
whatsoever. If you are a new or inexperienced kit builder, we urge you to read the manual
carefully and determine whether or not you're ready to take on the job. If you wish to change

your mind and return your kit, you may--but you must do it
within ten (10) working days of the time it a rrives .

in its pre-assembled condition only.

before you

begin construction.

The reason for this st ipulation i s,

before you

begin construction, and

Vectronics Warrants: Your kit contains each item s

Missing Parts: If you determine, during your pre-construction inventory, that any part is
missing, please contact Vectronics and we'll send the missing item to you free of charge.
However,
the marking on one of the other items provided with th e kit. Also, make certain an a lternative
part hasn't been substituted for the item you're missing. If a specific part i s no longer available,
or if Engineering has d etermined that an alternative component is more suitable, Vectronics
reserves the right to make substitutions at any time. In most ca ses, these chan ges will be clea rly
noted in an addendum to the manua l.

Defective Parts: Today's electronic parts ar e physically and electrica lly resilient, and defecti ve
components are rare. However, if you discover an it em during your pre-c onstruction in ventory
that's obviously broken or unserviceable, we'll rep lace it. Just return th e part to Vectronics at
the address below accompanied with an explanation. Upon receipt, we'll test it. If it's defectiv e
and appears unused, we'll ship you a new one right away at no charge.

Missing or Defective Parts After You Begin Assembly: Parts and materials lost or damaged

before you

after construction begins

supplied with VEC kits are relatively inexpensive and Vectronics can replace them for a
reasonable charge. Simp ly c ontact t he factory with a complet e d esc ription. We'll p roces s you r
order quickly and get you back on track.

Factory Repair After You Begin Assembly:

contact Vectronics,

are not covered und er th e t erms of this warran t y. However, most pa rts

please look ca reful ly

Kits-in progress and completed kits are spec ifically

excluded from coverage by the Vect ronics warr anty.

technicians are available t o evaluat e and r epair ma lfunctionin g kits for a minimu m ser vice f ee
of $18.00 (1/2
qualify for repair service, your kit must be fully complet ed, unmodi fied, and the p rinted ci rcuit
board assembled using rosin-core solder. In the event your repair will require more than an
hour to fix (or $36.00, subj ect t o ch ange), our technici ans wi ll contact you in ad van ce by
telephone before performin g the work. Def ectiv e units sh ould be shipp ed p repaid t o:

hour rate) plus $7.00 shipping and hand ling (p rices subj ect to chan ge). To

ecified in the parts list.

to confirm you haven't misread

However, as a s ervic e t o cust omers,

When shipping, pack your kit well and include the minimum payment plus shipping and
handling charges ($25.00 tota l). No work can b e perfo rmed with out p re-p ayment. Also, p r ovide
a valid UPS return address and a day time phone number where you may be reached.

VEC-820

K I

nstruction Manual CW Filte

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INTRODUCTION

Thank you for purchasing the VEC-820K CW Filter kit. The VEC-820K consists
of a four stage, switch selectable band pass CW filter, using selected co mponent s
that will make "cleaning up" CW signals effortless and easy. With the VEC­820K you bring up any hard to hear signal out of a "band pile up," for easy
listening, or get rid of unwanted, annoying signals. The VEC-820K also features
a headphone output that will allow the use of standard monoral headphones.
Although physically small in size, the VEC-820K is high on performance and
reliability. The VEC-820K is powered from a 9-volt transistor radio batterv.

Construction Area: Kit construction requires a clean, smooth, a nd well-ighted
area where you can easily organize and handle small parts without losing them.
An inexpensive sheet of white poster board makes an excellent construction
surface. while providing protection for the underlying table or desk. Well­diffused overhead lighting is a plus, and a supplemental highintensity desk lamp
will prove especially helpful for close-up work. Safety is an important
consideration. Be sure to use a suitable high-temperature stand for your soldering
iron. and keep the work area free of combustible clutter.

Universal Kit-building Tools: Although your particular kit may require
additional items to complete, virtually all construction pr ojects require a work
area outfitted with the followin

tools and supplies:

-

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q

g

BEFORE YOU START BUILDING

Experience shows there are
and

our kit will probably work on the first try! Here's wha t they are:

1. Installing the Wrong Part: It always pays to double-check each step. A 1K and
a 10K resistor may look
an electronic circuit! Same for capacitors--a device marked 102 (or.001 uF)
may have very different operating characteristics from one marked 103 (or
.01uF

2. Installing Parts Backwards: Always check the polarity of electrolytic

capacitors to make sure the positive (+) lead goes in the (+) hole on the
circuit board. Transistors have a flat side or emitter tab to help you identify
the correct mounting position. ICs have a notch or dot at one end indicating
the correct direction of insertion. Diodes have a banded end indicating
correct polarity. Always double-check--especially before applying power to
the circuit!

3. Faulty Solder Connections: Inspect for cold-solder j oints and solder bridges.
Cold solder joints happen when you don't fully heat the connection--or when
metallic corrosion and oxide contaminate a component lead or pad. Solder
bridges form when a trail of excess solder shorts pads or tracks together (see
Solder Tips below).

jour common mistakes

almost

the same, but they may act very differently in

builders make. Avoid these.

4. Omitting or Misreading a Part: This is easier to do than you might think!

Always double-check to make sure you completed each step in an assembly
se

uence.

Soldering Tips:
professional soldering. Before you install and solder each part, inspect leads or
pins for oxidation. If the metal surface is dull, sand with fine emery paper until
shiny. Also, clean the oxidation and excess solder from the soldering iron tip to
allow maximum heat transfer. Allow the tip of your iron to contact both the lead
and pad for about one second (count "one-thousand-one") before feeding solder
to the connection. Surfaces must become hot enough for solder to flow smoothly.
Feed solder to the opposite side of the lead from your iro n tip--solder will wick
around the lead toward the tip, wetting all exposed surfaces. Apply solder
sparingly, and do not touch solder directl y to the hot iron tip to promote rapid
melting.

Desoldering Tips: If you make a mistake and need to remove a part, follow these
instructions carefully! First, grasp the component with a pair of hemostats or
needle-nose pliers. Heat the pad beneath the lead you intend to extract, and pull

ently. The lead should come out. Repeat for the other lead.

Cleanliness

and good

heat distribution

are the two secrets of

VEC-820K Instruction Manual CW Filter Kit

orientation. Many specialized diode s and low-curre nt voltag e re gulators a lso use
this type packaging. Larger plastic transistors and voltage regulators use a case
backed with a prominent metal tab to dissipate heat (T-220). Here

orientation is indicated by the positioning of the cooling tab.

Integrated Circuits: Proper IC positioning is indicated by a dot or square
marking located on one end of the device. A corresponding mark will be silk­screened on the PC board and printed on the kit's parts-plac ement diagram. To
identify specific IC pin numbers for testing purposes, see the diagram below.
Pin numbers always start at the keyed end of the case and progress counter­clockwise around the device, as shown: