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Hey, gang...
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Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.
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Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.
?
The photos show a early proof build unit.?
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There are Anderson power poles for input supply.
A field replaceable fuse
Reverse polarity protection
All kinds of noise and spike suppression
Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis
the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.
?
A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.
Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.
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I'm Mike, WB8VGE
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Mike,
Looks nice, but I've got a couple questions:
I only see one external connection, how is this unit connected to the radio? A jumper that passes thru the lid?
I suspect most FT-817/818 users power their radios from batteries, what is the use case for a power conditioner like this?
Thanks,
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On Jul 25, 2024, at 10:42, Mike Bryce <prosolar@...> wrote:
? Hey, gang...
?
Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.
?
Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.
?
The photos show a early proof build unit.?
?
There are Anderson power poles for input supply.
A field replaceable fuse
Reverse polarity protection
All kinds of noise and spike suppression
Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis
the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.
?
A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.
Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.
?
I'm Mike, WB8VGE
?
?
<IMG_0778.jpg> <IMG_0775.jpg> <IMG_0783.jpg>
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Hi, Ken,
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There is/will be a pigtail that runs from the conditioner to the radio. It simply was installed when these photos were taken.
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The active device is a low dropout adjustable regulator that will do 3A.?
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I use my 718 with internal batteries all the time, however just not for very long. You can suck 'em dry in a few hours depending on your operating style and mode of operation. This allows for an external power source that you can adjust to 10 V or so, that way the 718 won't get upset with higher input voltages, the heat ends up in the rear heatsink. ?The 718 will be much happier with 10V input.
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Or flip the switch and get full 13.8V ?to recharge the internal batteries or go full hog with 5 W of RF.
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Of course there is built in over current protection as well as reverse polarity protection. The new version has over voltage protection, too
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Mike WB8VGE
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Mike,
Thanks, your explanation answers my questions.
Note: you seem to keep referring to the FT-817 as 718, which brings to mind a competitor's radio, the IC-718.
Thanks,
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On Jul 25, 2024, at 11:08, Mike Bryce <prosolar@...> wrote:
? Hi, Ken,
?
There is/will be a pigtail that runs from the conditioner to the radio. It simply was installed when these photos were taken.
?
The active device is a low dropout adjustable regulator that will do 3A.?
?
I use my 718 with internal batteries all the time, however just not for very long. You can suck 'em dry in a few hours depending on your operating style and mode of operation. This allows for an external power source that you can adjust to 10 V or so, that way the 718 won't get upset with higher input voltages, the heat ends up in the rear heatsink. ?The 718 will be much happier with 10V input.
?
Or flip the switch and get full 13.8V ?to recharge the internal batteries or go full hog with 5 W of RF.
?
Of course there is built in over current protection as well as reverse polarity protection. The new version has over voltage protection, too
?
Mike WB8VGE
|
Mike, that power conditioner looks great. Without knowing how you have designed the circuits in the device, I am wondering if you have also (intentionally or otherwise) solved the excessive power-off battery drain that happens in the FT-817/818 when there is something plugged into the barrel connector. I felt I should share the attached schematic that details one potential fix.
The often-seen phenomenon of the overnight dead-battery is caused by a CPU-controlled sense on the DC jack that changes the radio's behavior. Anything connected to the jack, even an unpowered lead, will cause excessive power draw when the radio is off. The current drain is from the CPU; it's not a passive current draw.
You can tell a fix is needed with your powerpole adapter if the backlight (when set to Auto in settings) stays on all the time when there is a connector in the jack. This means the power-off draw is ~4 mA instead of the usual .5-1 mA. If your powerpole adapter is connected and the auto-backlight times out as it should, no further fix is needed.
toggle quoted message
Show quoted text
On 25 Jul 2024, at 8:42, Mike Bryce wrote:
Hey, gang...
?
Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.
?
Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.
?
The photos show a early proof build unit.?
?
There are Anderson power poles for input supply.
A field replaceable fuse
Reverse polarity protection
All kinds of noise and spike suppression
Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis
the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.
?
A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.
Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.
?
I'm Mike, WB8VGE
?
?
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I added a toggle switch to my power conditioner. Never a question about any drain issues. Easy.
Joe N1KHB?
On Thu, Jul 25, 2024 at 2:05 PM, Steve W2SGM <steve@...> wrote: Mike, that power conditioner looks great. Without knowing how you have designed the circuits in the device, I am wondering if you have also (intentionally or otherwise) solved the excessive power-off battery drain that happens in the FT-817/818 when there is something plugged into the barrel connector. I felt I should share the attached schematic that details one potential fix.
The often-seen phenomenon of the overnight dead-battery is caused by a CPU-controlled sense on the DC jack that changes the radio's behavior. Anything connected to the jack, even an unpowered lead, will cause excessive power draw when the radio is off. The current drain is from the CPU; it's not a passive current draw.
You can tell a fix is needed with your powerpole adapter if the backlight (when set to Auto in settings) stays on all the time when there is a connector in the jack. This means the power-off draw is ~4 mA instead of the usual .5-1 mA. If your powerpole adapter is connected and the auto-backlight times out as it should, no further fix is needed.
On 25 Jul 2024, at 8:42, Mike Bryce wrote:
Hey, gang...
?
Things have been slow in the shack, so I've raised from the dead a project I started back in 2018. This is a power conditioner for the 718/818.
?
Unlike Phil's design, I can't remember his call, this is an external box.
?
The photos show a early proof build unit.?
?
There are Anderson power poles for input supply.
A field replaceable fuse
Reverse polarity protection
All kinds of noise and spike suppression
Can do 3A output all day long without adding heat to the 718's chassis
the whole shebang mounts into a cast aluminum Hammond box.
?
A new design is being worked on, and if there is enough interest, I might move forward with this project.
Might have a need for a few beta testers soon.
?
I'm Mike, WB8VGE
?
?
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Oh, having a senior moment.... Yes, FT817 sounds a lot better
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mike wb8vge
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Thanks, Steve for the info
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I take it a 1.8K resistor across the 817's power jack will fool the internal micorprocessor into thinking nothing is plugged in?
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The solution I was planning on using was old school drop dead simple—unplug the conditioner when not in use!
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I plan on using the LV1085C low drop out regulator as it one of a few that will do 3A. I thought about using a garden variety LM317, but they kind of run out of steam at about 1.5A or there about.
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Mike, WB8VGE
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Mike,
As a side note, if you ever again come across a situation where the LM317 will not support the current draw that you need, you may look at its big brother, the LM383. It has the same form, fit, and function as the 317 but will support up to 5A continuous.
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-Albert
KI4ORI
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Isn't the LM383 is a 7 watt audio amplifier?
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On Jul 26, 2024, at 9:52?AM, Albert Marsh <hitekgearhead@...> wrote:
? Mike,
As a side note, if you ever again come across a situation where the LM317 will not support the current draw that you need, you may look at its big brother, the LM383. It has the same form, fit, and function as the 317 but will support up to 5A continuous.
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-Albert
KI4ORI
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I think it refers to the LM338.
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73
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--
Jose - EA7GAH
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Yes, LM338. Pardon the typo.
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What was in my head didn't make it to the keyboard accurately.
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-Albert
KI4ORI
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Jose L Perez (G)