Comments for Walt's Ruminations http://n3mtj.net/WordPress The view from the space between my ears Tue, 18 May 2010 23:11:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on IC-7000 Heat Issue Revisited by Walt http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64&cpage=1#comment-70 Walt Tue, 18 May 2010 23:11:35 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64#comment-70 Sounds good! A lot of folks would be interested to see it. My log file shows a lot of interest in the heat issues. Sounds good! A lot of folks would be interested to see it. My log file shows a lot of interest in the heat issues.

]]> Comment on IC-7000 Heat Issue Revisited by WA9FVP http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64&cpage=1#comment-69 WA9FVP Mon, 17 May 2010 14:14:46 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64#comment-69 The temperatures I measured were on the top side of the main circuit board just above the 7808 regulators. The regulators were mounted on the bottom of the board. After 8 hours, receive only, I measured 98.4 degrees "C". If you calculate the thermal loss through the PC board and the package it's self, I'm sure the die temperature is a lot hotter. Using My IC-7000 as a ginni pig I fabricated a heatsink that solders to the 7808 regulator tabs and mates with the chassis. After 8 hours of run time, receive only, the temperature at the same spot on the main PC board measures 59 degrees "C". As soon as I document the mod, I'll up load it. The temperatures I measured were on the top side of the main circuit board just above the 7808 regulators. The regulators were mounted on the bottom of the board. After 8 hours, receive only, I measured 98.4 degrees “C”. If you calculate the thermal loss through the PC board and the package it’s self, I’m sure the die temperature is a lot hotter.

Using My IC-7000 as a ginni pig I fabricated a heatsink that solders to the 7808 regulator tabs and mates with the chassis. After 8 hours of run time, receive only, the temperature at the same spot on the main PC board measures 59 degrees “C”. As soon as I document the mod, I’ll up load it.

]]> Comment on IC-7000 Heat Issue Revisited by Walt http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64&cpage=1#comment-68 Walt Thu, 13 May 2010 22:12:59 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64#comment-68 I tried my calibrated finger as well to check that IC...with the same results! More heat sinking would have made the radio larger I guess so they decided to take the compact route. I don't know why but I have seen several radios myself with 8 volt supplies that didn't seem very well thought out. Alinco turned out the 610 (if I remember correctly) to replace the 605 and it had plenty of issues. A Motorola tech friend of mine had a 610 I helped him with - until he pinched a wire fed by the 8 volt regulator putting the cover back on. I think a lot of people get spooked feeling the display panel area get so warm as well. The up/down/up voltages remind me of an "Angry 5" military radio I used to have. I tried my calibrated finger as well to check that IC…with the same results! More heat sinking would have made the radio larger I guess so they decided to take the compact route. I don’t know why but I have seen several radios myself with 8 volt supplies that didn’t seem very well thought out. Alinco turned out the 610 (if I remember correctly) to replace the 605 and it had plenty of issues. A Motorola tech friend of mine had a 610 I helped him with – until he pinched a wire fed by the 8 volt regulator putting the cover back on.

I think a lot of people get spooked feeling the display panel area get so warm as well.

The up/down/up voltages remind me of an “Angry 5″ military radio I used to have.

]]> Comment on IC-7000 Heat Issue Revisited by WA9FVP http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64&cpage=1#comment-67 WA9FVP Thu, 13 May 2010 03:37:06 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=64#comment-67 I think the mai n issue with the IC-7000 is the power management and component placement. Out of the 5 or 6 7000's I repaired, I found that the highest heat concentration was near IC-1901 and R1902 (both mounted on the bottom side of the main board). R1902 is a 1.8 ohm in series with the 14v power. It feeds the 14 volts to R1902, a 7808 3 terminal regulator. The 8 volts from IC1901 feeds voltage to just about every board including the CPU, PA, Main, DDS and DSP. After 8 hours in receive mode I measured temperatures, using a Fluke 189 and a thermal probe, that exceed 92.4 degrees "c" or 198 degrees "f" on the top side of the main board. It's hotter on the bottom side and I can guarantee it's hotter than hell! With a few screws removed on the main board, there's enough room to reach under the board with my "pinky" and feel the regulator. It burnt my finger! There’s a second 7808 (IC2001) and a 1.8 ohm resistor (R2011). It feeds 8 volts to an RF amplifier IC on the main board and the control head. Here’s where it gets strange. In previous models and that included Yaseu and Kenwood. They would feed 12 volts to the control head and regulate down to 8 or 5 volts to power logic or analog circuits. The IC-7000 regulates down to 8 volts on the main board feeds the control head. To power LED’s and the LCD backlight, there’s a switching supply that kicks the voltage up to 12 volts. A 7805, 5v regulator (IC101) also feeds off the 8 volt line and powers the logic circuits. In my opinion, the current needed to run the control head adds to the heat problem on the second 8 volt regulator and creates additional heat on the main board. While making the heat measurement I discovered that if the top cover is removed temperatures drop about 10 degrees "c" I think the mai
n issue with the IC-7000 is the power management and component placement. Out of the 5 or 6 7000′s I repaired, I found that the highest heat concentration was near IC-1901 and R1902 (both mounted on the bottom side of the main board). R1902 is a 1.8 ohm in series with the 14v power. It feeds the 14 volts to R1902, a 7808 3 terminal regulator. The 8 volts from IC1901 feeds voltage to just about every board including the CPU, PA, Main, DDS and DSP. After 8 hours in receive mode I measured temperatures, using a Fluke 189 and a thermal probe, that exceed 92.4 degrees “c” or 198 degrees “f” on the top side of the main board. It’s hotter on the bottom side and I can guarantee it’s hotter than hell! With a few screws removed on the main board, there’s enough room to reach under the board with my “pinky” and feel the regulator. It burnt my finger!

There’s a second 7808 (IC2001) and a 1.8 ohm resistor (R2011). It feeds 8 volts to an RF amplifier IC on the main board and the control head. Here’s where it gets strange. In previous models and that included Yaseu and Kenwood. They would feed 12 volts to the control head and regulate down to 8 or 5 volts to power logic or analog circuits. The IC-7000 regulates down to 8 volts on the main board feeds the control head. To power LED’s and the LCD backlight, there’s a switching supply that kicks the voltage up to 12 volts. A 7805, 5v regulator (IC101) also feeds off the 8 volt line and powers the logic circuits. In my opinion, the current needed to run the control head adds to the heat problem on the second 8 volt regulator and creates additional heat on the main board.

While making the heat measurement I discovered that if the top cover is removed temperatures drop about 10 degrees “c”

]]> Comment on IC-7000 “Hidden” Setup Menu by Walt http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-64 Walt Tue, 12 May 2009 01:37:39 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72#comment-64 I'll have to play with it a bit, I forget what the means is to make an adjustment "stick". I found the same thing when I bumped FM deviation up a bit (very small bit!). I’ll have to play with it a bit, I forget what the means is to make an adjustment “stick”. I found the same thing when I bumped FM deviation up a bit (very small bit!).

]]> Comment on IC-7000 “Hidden” Setup Menu by ki4cmx http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-63 ki4cmx Mon, 11 May 2009 18:36:54 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72#comment-63 Hello how can you change the value of the s-meter i tried to turn the big tune knob did not work so i hit set and it changed it, but i want it back to the orginal value any ideas tnx thomas Hello how can you change the value of the s-meter i tried to turn the big tune knob did not work so i hit set and it changed it, but i want it back to the orginal value any ideas tnx thomas

]]> Comment on IC-7000 “Hidden” Setup Menu by ka1jy http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-62 ka1jy Sun, 05 Apr 2009 21:45:10 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72#comment-62 Just a comment on changing the power out. The total gains are not the answer on HF. Put a 1.5Khz tone in with a signal generator or what I did was use my PC speaker pointed at the mic and some generic tone gen software for the sound card. Advance the menu to Po MAX(HF). Set the power output where you want it. (be sure you have enough VOLUME on the speaker) Then hit SET - the menu will advance to APC then it SET again. It is this second set that matters. The limiting factor on the IC7000 isn't the gain it is the ALC or APC - the power out control. Obviously be sure you have a quality dummy load hooked up for this change. I took my 7000 from 50-60 watts on every band to 90 with no issue. Just a comment on changing the power out.
The total gains are not the answer on HF.
Put a 1.5Khz tone in with a signal generator or what I did was use my PC speaker pointed at the mic and some generic tone gen software for the sound card.
Advance the menu to Po MAX(HF). Set the power output where you want it. (be sure you have enough VOLUME on the speaker)
Then hit SET – the menu will advance to APC then it SET again. It is this second set that matters.
The limiting factor on the IC7000 isn’t the gain it is the ALC or APC – the power out control.

Obviously be sure you have a quality dummy load hooked up for this change.

I took my 7000 from 50-60 watts on every band to 90 with no issue.

]]> Comment on IC-7000 “Hidden” Setup Menu by Revisiting the IC7000 “Hidden” Menu Settings http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72&cpage=1#comment-61 Revisiting the IC7000 “Hidden” Menu Settings Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:58:15 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=72#comment-61 [...] More specifically, revisiting the sensitivity settings. See the original hidden menu entry. [...] [...] More specifically, revisiting the sensitivity settings. See the original hidden menu entry. [...]

]]> Comment on Moderate Drinking for Health Questioned Again – and – Again by Walt http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=28&cpage=1#comment-60 Walt Sat, 02 Dec 2006 19:32:33 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=28#comment-60 Yes, the shame is when people can't stop before they do unhinge. I still wonder what they will find several years from now about damages to the body...then retract that later on... Yes, the shame is when people can’t stop before they do unhinge. I still wonder what they will find several years from now about damages to the body…then retract that later on…

]]> Comment on Moderate Drinking for Health Questioned Again – and – Again by jewellz http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=28&cpage=1#comment-26 jewellz Thu, 23 Nov 2006 23:11:54 +0000 http://n3mtj.net/WordPress/?p=28#comment-26 Interesting information, I know researchers have reported similar results for wine intake before but not 'drink' which seems like a more random amount of alcohol. It makes sense though if it's a relaxation method - that old moderation bugaboo- meant only to unwind; not unhinge. Interesting information, I know researchers have reported similar results for wine intake before but not ‘drink’ which seems like a more random amount of alcohol. It makes sense though if it’s a relaxation method – that old moderation bugaboo- meant only to unwind; not unhinge.

]]>