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Icom 7100 acting in a bad way

222DBFL said:
RS nailed it. Those fuse holders do become a pain. Are yours the black screw together ones Tallman. Saw the new IC7100's come with a different power cable..
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It has two 30a blade fuses in line with heavier wire. The connector on back of the radio is a little lacking too. Four small pins do all of the work and as they heat up the plastic melts a little and gets brittle. The pins are just not up to the task.
 
Ah the pins. Yes I do know about those stupid pins. I have made mine very tight and have had no issue with them. But when I first got radio the plug itself had the female part of the plug were opened up and radio would would lose power as in output power. I tightened all mine up and haven't had an issue since. But then again, I don't move the radio around much so they have stayed pretty tight. My quarrel is with the way the older wire harness came with the holder with a screw on to hold the fuses. My fuses are factory, but the holders that are factory aren't very well made. But the new ones u wouldn't think would have the issue. But the pins becoming loose I have fought that one and so far won! Hope you get your situation resolved!! Have a good one my friend and keep us posted and show some pics of what you did to resolve the issue if possible.
Again, have a good one and tell that lovely wife hello for me!!
 
Seems to be the main issue is the Icom power cord with the molex connector or is it the molex connector on the radio itself or both?

I have an extra Kenwood power cord that is wired the same using the same molex connector, wouldn't this be better than the Icom???
 
They are honestly about the same Fourstringburn. I cannot tell the difference between my kenwood and Icom power cables other than the fuse holders on the kenwood wire I have has yellow ones that are different from the Icom ones for sure. Never really looked at the kenwood one I have very well. It may be a better cord. What is funny is they used heavier wire and blade fuses on the IC-7100 but this is the one that Tallman appears to be having the issue with. It's the way they have the wires connected at the male female end of the cable that plugs into the radio. At least that what we the issue with mine. The female plug inserts aren't solid all the way around, but rather can open up and get loose very easy if you move the radio around from my experience anyways. And then you have to fix them to make a tight connection into the male end at the radio. Correct me if I a wrong Tallman, but is this the issue you're having, or is it both ends. At the radio and the wire harness?? Pay all that money for a radio and the bastards can't get the power plugs made worth a sh**!! Darn Chinese crap!!! Sorry had to say it. Again, I know you'll get it fixed, just don't throw it out the window before doing so. Or at least let me make it up there before you do!!
73 and God Bless
Sean
 
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The problem starts at the back of the radio and ends at the bare end of the wire.
The connector at the back of the radio is a mousey little four pin Molex connector with four little mousey pins. Not like the big six pin connector on the IC-746 that we both love. When I say mousey I'm saying very small and not up to the task.
Sort of like sending a mouse instead of a LION to do the job.
It is the only poorly designed item I have found on Icom radio so far.
(I have not removed the covers yet)
222DBFL you know how much I love I my Icom radios.(Wife says hello) I have seen some that look like they were made for duty in the military service and no where did you see MOUSEY little connectors.
I know that it had to be a cost reduction program that started using cheaper parts to get the cost down a bit.
If they offered me a job to help them get cost down and quality up I probably would not refuse!
 
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I have started rebuilding the cables starting at the connector for the truck power up to the four pin connector on back of the radio. I disassembled the fuse connector and when I opened the bottom of the fuse block I was shocked that at the lack of quality of the crimp joints. Out of four connections all four would have been rejected back for rework. I had to take the pins out and soldered the crimp joints. I don't know if that is going to fix the heating/resistance problem or not. I guess that depends on how well the blades of the fuse are making contact with the connector. I have taken a bunch of photos of the processes. I have also made a butt connector that I think I will use instead of buying the commercial version. I can guarantee that after soldering the only heating will be from applying heavy duty heat shrink covers. I will post pictures once the project is done along the fresh test results.
 
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Tallman said:
I have started rebuilding the cables starting at the connector for the truck power up to the four pin connector on back of the radio. I disassembled the fuse connector and when I opened the bottom of the fuse block I was shocked that at the lack of quality of the crimp joints. Out of four connections all four would have been rejected back for rework. I had to take the pins out and soldered the crimp joints. I don't know if that is going to fix the heating/resistance problem or not. I guess that depends on how well the blades of the fuse are making contact with the connector. I have taken a bunch of photos of the processes. I have also made a butt connector that I think I will use instead of buying the commercial version. I can guarantee that after soldering the only heating will be from applying heavy duty heat shrink covers. I will post pictures once the project is done along the fresh test results.
Click to expand...

Exactly what I had to do with my Yaesu cable. That solved the issues I was having.
 
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I see what you are speaking of now that I looked at my pals ic7100. Poor design to begin with. Small a** connector for that many amps! I know you'll fix it!! Be safe
 
Started getting reports on my old Yaseu ft-100d "Fming on 6m ssb" big connectors good quality blade fuses and holders .The fix was to solder the crimps . So like I said common problem not just Icom or the mollex plugs.
 
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Yes sir, VK, I knew about the larger plugs on the base radios having issues as well. I hate the power wire I have and like you said, recrimped all ends and also soldered. I want to change the plug itself and add larger wire into the plug itself from the main wires. Also bump them up to #8awg wire. For now I don't have any issues with power and I get the full power out, 110 watts pep on SSB and a 40w carrier on AM for a brief time, very brief. My power supply is set at 13.85vdc and it does increase the power on SSB about 10-12 watts. They definitely don't like to be starved for voltage or amperage!!!
Tallman, get that thing fixed up right and send a pic to Icom and let them know what the deal is. I know it most likely won't do much, but a letter attached with some good writing might catch someone's eye. YA never know. Anyways, knowing you it will be HD when done and won't have any issues. And thanks VK for clearing the air about the larger plugs, suppose I should have mentioned that I did have issues with mine when I first got the radio and it took me some time to fix it all. Still don't like the glass fuses and the spring loaded screw together crap and will change that here soon. Anyways, to all, have a Great Day!! And tell the wife I said hello again Tallman and hope she is enjoying herself.
73 and God Bless.
222DBFL.
 
I had no idea this was such a common problem. I'll keep it tucked away somewhere in my gray matter for when I ever have a problem! Thanks for all the good tips, guys.

73,
Brett
 
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222DBFL said:
I see what you are speaking of now that I looked at my pals ic7100. Poor design to begin with. Small a** connector for that many amps! I know you'll fix it!! Be safe
Click to expand...
Thinking about it for a minute !
The double molex pins actually have more surface area than a single blade style plug and would handle more current.
 
Yes there is more surface area on the larger molex plugs, but if they aren't making a tight connection then the surface area only helps with heat dissipation and not good voltage and current. My issues with the large molex type plugs found on the larger Icom radios like the 746 is that the female pins get plugged and unplugged and over time the female connections become out of round or don't fit snuggly. And also the pins, if not lined up, will push the female pins back which makes for a crappy contact both ways. Guess this isn't an issue if you don't plug and unplug the connector too much. I unplug mine to clean and also cover it when not in use, so the connections get a bit loose from time to time. All that is needed is to tighten the female pins up and make sure they line up properly.
Also I have noticed that the fuse holders can have issues. If the screw top isn't tight and/or the glass fuses aren't making good contact you get a crappy connection as well. I know it's not as big a deal as the new radios with the 4 pin type molex connector, but it has happened to me with the large molex ones. Maybe it was just mine that was like this as I purchased my radio used. It was in pristine condition, but the wire harness female pins were loose upon me receiving the radio and I had to fix the issue. Wasn't seeing full power and when I would move the radio around power would shut off then back on very quickly from the loose connection. Again, this issue may not be as prevelant as the newer type plugs, but it does happen. As wel as the black glass fuse holders not being either crimped properly and soldered, or just not right enough of a connection. There are ways to resolve this. Just takes using your grey matter as 2RT307 says LOL. At any rate, like I said, this must not be as prevelant of an issue as I thought. Apologies. Must have just been my wire harness. At any rate, it may help someone else or it may not. But I just thought I would throw it out there. Just my own experience.
I am anal about the small things at times I suppose, and like to make sure that my radio and all related equipment is functioning like its supposed to before I start using the radio. Or at least transmitting on it. I am not rich or should say, at this time in my life I don't have the money to replace my radio if it fails, so I take every precaution I can to assure that I don't have any issues. Being paranoid, most likely. But with me taking a big cut in pay to stay at home with my parents and help my mother deal with my dad that has Alzheimer's, I can't afford some of the luxuries I could a few years ago when I was making truly good money. But I was also away from home weeks and months on end. At any rate my life story aside, sorry to have confused anyone and hopefully what happened to me doesn't happen to many others if anyone. But at least it's something to take at look at. Like I said it may not happen at all to anyone else. But maybe ol' Murphy's Law likes to hang around my house ever since my uncle left the damn magnet on the fridge many years ago for my father LOL!!
Anyways, sorry for the text wall and to all have a great day.
73 and God Bless.
 

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