[ICOM] IC-756PROIII No Transmit ESD Failures

[mschellur at earthlink.net]

Hi Phil,

What ICE Model do you use? Are you using a switching power supply or an iron core transformer PS? I have an ICOM 756PRO and have had no problems. I disconnect the coax when not on the air. I short the coax before connecting to the 756. Also, the AC power has surge protection at the breaker box.

Look forward to your reply.

73,

Mike KF2LF

-----Original Message-----
>From: Phil Krichbaum <vailphil at sopris.net>
>Sent: Mar 15, 2010 10:33 PM
>To: ICOM Reflector <icom at mailman.qth.net>
>Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-756PROIII No Transmit ESD Failures
>
>  My PROIII has died 5 times from ESD and always the power out goes, not 
>the RX. It is about $250 a pop for the Icom fix to replace diodes and 
>FETs in the tuner that IMO are inadequate for the job. At first I was 
>using Polyphasers but due to the fact they need to jump a gap to 
>discharge, they are not up to protecting the under designed circuits in 
>the PROIII. Every time there is any least bit threatening WX, I 
>disconnect the antennas and AC power gets unplugged as much of the 
>damage comes in thru the PS even if off, or the computer control wires 
>or CW keying lines. The first time my PROIII died I'd just taken it out 
>of the box and in the first hour on the air ever I made two short QRP CW 
>QSOs and one at 100w and all of a sudden no power out! Icom at first 
>refused to honor the warranty saying I'd operated out of warranty. There 
>was no weather occurrence or wind that night and after a few phone calls 
>Icom reluctantly agreed to pay the repair. I have no clue what they 
>thought I did that was out of warranty! I was not impressed with Icom 
>service at that point and used another repair service for the next three 
>repairs. I also have a FT1000MP and have used it on the same antennas on 
>the same table and never one problem in many more hours of operating. I 
>doubt I'll be buying another Icom in the near future. Since going with 
>the ICE 300 series protection boxes a year ago I've not had another 
>failure but I have been very careful. Lots of others with this problem 
>also live in the dry, dusty and sometimes windy western US. I'm not the 
>Lone Ranger. I know of several people who had the failure, had it 
>repaired and either dumped the rig or are afraid to use it! I do very 
>much like the RX (other than the clunky dual watch for split). Anyone 
>want some Polyphasers? I'm not using them anymore.
>I also had a PROII destroyed by a nearby strike that came in via the 
>neutral side of the AC mains. I've since had the power company install a 
>Meter Treater on my power meter which has three big MOVs in it. Do not 
>leave the PS plugged in when you leave the shack even if it is off! You 
>need to disconnect all three AC wires to anything in the shack.
>Phil N0KE Western Colorado
>
>ALAN ZACK wrote:
>> Does anyone have an opinion of which suppressor does a better job, ICE or
>> PolyPhaser? Seems they don't actually work the exact same way.
>>
>> BTW, I am in the same situation as Dick in Northern Nevada here in the Las
>> Vegas Valley. In the summer it is not uncommon to get a shock when getting
>> in or out of your car or opening a door with a metal handle. I have seen a
>> 1/4 inch arc when touching my house key to the door lock. But this is mostly
>> in the summer. Right now when I had my latest ESD strike we have been having
>> record rain spells with the higher humidity associated with the dark clouds
>> over the valley. Just rain, no lightning or thunder. This is why I have 12
>> by 24 inch ESD mats on my computer desk and on the ham radio desk in front
>> of the rig. These mats have a snap on ground wire that is tied to ground.
>> These are the same ESD mats you would find on a ESD work bench. This is to
>> drain off any static electricity that may be on my body when I sit down at
>> these desks.
>>
>> I have taken all these precautions with the ICE suppressors on the coax,
>> having a antenna switch that grounds all my antenna inputs and heavy duty
>> computer style AC power battery backup with surge suppressors that ALL my
>> ham gear (Rig P.S., rotor, table lamp, etc) are plugged into and still get
>> these ESD hits. There are no interface cables between the rig and a PC or
>> any other external devices. I work my little RTTY from the front panel of
>> the 756PROIII. Everything is linked together with short ground jumpers, tied
>> to the center neutral wire of the 220 volt connection in the shack for my
>> amp and to the 8 ft ground rod just outside the house wall. To me it is very
>> strange that I only get ESD hits when the rig is turned off and that the
>> receiver is not effected, only these T/R switching diodes. Seems if ESD was
>> getting thru the ant input the receiver preamps would also be blown. Only
>> transmit is affected. Last hit was during the ARRL DX SSB Contest. I was
>> SOLP 20 mtr only. When 20 mtrs went dead Sat night I turned off the rig. At
>> 5:00 a.m. Sun, the very next morning I turned the rig on, tried to answer a
>> CQ and no power out. Hooked up the old IC-746 (non pro) and completed the
>> contest and still using the 746 until I decide what to do with the
>> 756PROIII.
>>
>> Alan, K7ACZ
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net [mailto:icom-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On
>> Behalf Of Dick Flanagan
>> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2010 1:14 PM
>> To: ICOM Reflector
>> Subject: Re: [ICOM] IC-756PROIII No Transmit ESD Failures
>>
>> Where I am in the high desert of Northern Nevada I am more concerned 
>> with static build-up than I am with catastrophic lightning hits.  The 
>> ability to drain off static charges before they become large enough 
>> to damage my equipment seems very desirable.  Then again a 10 meg 
>> resister from the center conductor to ground would probably do the 
>> same thing, but I like the engineering of the I.C.E. units.
>>
>> Dick
>>
>> At 12:50 PM 3/12/2010, Gary P. Fiber wrote:
>>  >That I.C.E. 300 looks nice, a coil and gas discharge tube in parallel to
>>  >earth on the antenna side and a resistor to earth on the radio side.
>>  >Small voltages likely will not get by. Though it may not stop a huge
>>  >direct lightning hit but again not much will.
>>  >
>>  >Gary K8IZ
>>  >
>>  >On 3/12/2010 11:53 AM, Dick Flanagan wrote:
>>  >> The only place I have purchased I.C.E. gear is from the
>>  >> manufacturer.  http://www.iceradioproducts.com/ There may be other
>>  >> sources, but I haven't investigated them.  You could probably contact
>>  >> I.C.E. and ask them for a list of their retail dealers.
>>  >>
>>  >> Dick
>>  >> --
>>  >> Dick Flanagan K7VC
>>  >> dick at k7vc.com
>> --
>> Dick Flanagan K7VC
>> dick at k7vc.com
>>
>>
>> ----
>> Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>> Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
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>>
>>   
>----
>Your Moderator: Dick Flanagan K7VC: icom-owner at mailman.qth.net
>Icom Users Net: Sundays, 1700Z, 14.316 MHz
>Icom FAQ: http://www.qsl.net/icom/
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