TKEY-1 Touch Key Kit

MI0PYN

MI0PYN

Super Member
I've just had a TKEY-1 touch paddle key kit delivered from EA3GCY.
I went for the one with the included metal box. Seems like quite a simple little kit, a little pricey perhaps, but I'll keep a little build log including pictures here, along with a review at the end.
It did include the battery and battery holder which was a nice touch, it uses a little CR2032 button cell which should be easy to get locally when it runs out.
I'll be interested what the battery life is like too.
 
I would certainly be interested to hear how you get on. Not just with the kit but also with operating using them.

I've used the capacitive touch paddles on my Morserino and they make for a surprisingly pleasant experience (although you do have to be careful where your fingers are when you're not sending).

I tried to build my own touch paddles but it was a failed experiment - the touch sensors triggered when my finger was about 1 or 2 mm above the surface and that proved to be unworkable.
 
Being the idiot I am, I've fallen at the first hurdle. I didn't read all the way through the instructions and sodlered the components on, except I got the voltage regulator (which I don't actually need with the metal housing and battery) and one of the diodes swapped about.

Now I need to check whether I have another diode of similar spec, and desolder some stuff before doing it right  bh  bh  bh

Oh well, you'd think I'd have learned by now, right?
 
I've not, work's been manic and my spare parts bin is a little depleted at the moment, but I'll try to get the bits and have another go at this maybe next week.
 
Unfortunately I've not, work and family have got in the way (as has getting a new radio to play with).

It's still sitting on the desk looking at me accusingly though, so I will definitely get back to it, just not sure when.

73,
Stefan
 
MI0PYN said:
Unfortunately I've not, work and family have got in the way (as has getting a new radio to play with).

It's still sitting on the desk looking at me accusingly though, so I will definitely get back to it, just not sure when.

73,
Stefan
Click to expand...
Meanwhile, a few months later... ;D

Any updates? Did the patient live?

73, Mark...
 
Hi Mark, sorry for taking so long to get back to you.

Unfortunately, it didn't. I messed up big time with the iron temp and managed to completely mess up some of the tracks and pads, they lifted off the board completely.
Not my finest hour with a soldering iron I'm afraid. It might be fixable with patience and skill, but I'm afraid I have neither in enough quantity...

Stefan MI0PYN
 
Yeah, SMD work can be pretty tricky at times. The range of tips we use on out soldering irons here at work is mind-blowing!

For desoldering we generally use hot air, but even that can be difficult with the modern lead free solders used. The melting point of the solder seems to be about one degree below the spontaneous combustion point of the PCB! :))

Multi-layer boards can be awkward too, too much heat applied to an eight layer board is guaranteed to kill it internally.

I nearly obtained one of those kits someone was selling on eBay, but I forgot about the listing and found later the item had sold for pretty much the cost of the postage. bh

73, Mark...
 
Hi Mark,

I wish I could use that excuse, I messed up the through hole bits...  bh bh bh bh bh

I've looked at the hot air rework stations but just wouldn't use it enough to make it viable, so in the meantime I destroy things one board at a time.

73,
Stefan MI0PYN
 
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