[ICOM] IC-756 Pro flat ribbon cables

[Phil Krichbaum]

    I had a 756 PROII that was destroyed by a spike that came in the 
neutral side of the power line. It was connected to to the Icom PS which 
was ON but the rig was OFF and the PS still is in use and need no 
repairs. I also had a interface cable between the puter and rig for rig 
control and another for CW to the CW jack on the back. The puter was off 
but plugged into the AC mains and it was toasted by what ever came in 
the neutral side. On the rig side of each connection from the puter 
there were signs of damage. The rig was totally dead and I sent it to be 
repaired but not at Icom. The guy told me that even if he could get it 
working, he couldn't guarantee anything as no telling how much damage 
might show up down the road. This was from a nearby lightening strike 
and the antennas were disconnected. I also lost a TV, answering machine 
and Internet modem and LNA on the dish where I was receiving a 2.4 GHz 
internet connection.
    I found that for insurance companies to pay off for lightening 
damage, it best be a direct strike and there better be some singe marks 
on the house. If it comes in the power or phone lines, you are out of 
luck! A friend had a similar problem with a FT1000MP about the same time 
and got the same story from Yaesu, we can get it going for $1100 but no 
guarantee on how long it will work. He did not have it fixed and gave it 
to another ham who had all but the tuner fixed. The rig worked well for 
about a year before developing a new set of problems and is a boat 
anchor now.
      I had my power company install a "meter treater" at my power 
meters which has three big MOV's in it (I also lost the relay on my 
water pump meter). No further problems with spikes coming down the line 
although I loose a router about every other year. Last summer I saw, 
heard and smelled a strike all at the same time that hit the overhead 
line between my house and my neighbor. I'd disconnected the antennas and 
disconnected all AC juice in the shack and no damage to the ham gear. I 
now have a master strip that I unplug. The 756PROII and III rigs are not 
well protected from ESD incidents. I use lightening protection  devices 
that are the constant discharge type, not ones where the spark has to 
jump a gap. I have a big 3 blade knife switch that I'll install in the 
AC line to the shack eventually where one switch kills all the AC, even 
the neutral. I've not had any damage to any antennas save the indicator 
POT on a HAM IV.
    73 Phil N0KE

Stephen Budensiek wrote:
> Hello all,
>
>    Had a IC-756 Pro that got spiked in a power problem (sitting turned
> off, but plugged in)   All the problems seem to be confined to the
> main board, but I'm experiencing problems with the flat ribbon cables
> after unplugging them to remove and work on the main board, then
> plugging  them in again for testing a few times.   Several of the
> traces on various flat (ribbon) cables have had the traces come part
> way loose and peal back where they plug into the main board jack, so
> they don't make contact with the plug.   Had another Icom recently do
> the same thing with no plugging/unplugging sequences.   The 756 Pro
> would turn itself off randomly (not like hitting the power button off,
> but like having a power loss to the radio, receiving one moment, black
> display on a dead radio the next).  Are the flat ribbon cables real
> fragile, or am I the only one seeing this problem.   Curious what
> other users are/have experienced.   Anyone find a way to re-attached
> the traces on the cables, or is the only alternative buying new ones?
>     Thank you.
>
> Stephen, K0SD
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