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#1
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Icom in car won't turn on... amps?
I just got my car back from the shop, and that Icom IC-208H I have
wouldn't turn on... as I prepared for the long annoying battle with the dealership, I figured I should make sure it was definitely the radio... brought it to the basement and hooked it up to a 12v powersupply - it worked fine. Now - my 2002 Jeep Cherokee was getting the transmission replaced, and sat outside at the dealership during the 2 coldest weeks we've had in a while... so cold that when I took the radio out, it hurt to hold it for too long in my bare hand... but it still fired up in the basement even though it was obviously below the Icom operating temp of 14'... so, the problem must be with the car. So I get my battery tester (can't find my multi-meter), set it to 12v, hook the leads up to the connection in the car - 12v, no problem. This morning, I reconnect the radio to the power in the car, and I can hear it ticking... like its almost going to think about firing up, but... it doesn't happen. The setup is simple, its fed from the battery with a 30amp relay that trips off the fuse box when the car is turned on. 12v coming in... but it won't turn on, so I think to myself... 'no amps?'. At this point, my slowly decaying knowledge of electronics starts to flounder... but obviously its not the wiring because the current is getting there, and not the relay for the same reason. Any ideas? Could it be as simple as a bad connection somewhere? Thought I'd get more knowledgeable thoughts on it before I start to tear things apart out in the cold. Thanks for any input... Richard N0TZC |
#2
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Icom in car won't turn on... amps?
In article , RJValenta wrote:
I just got my car back from the shop, and that Icom IC-208H I have wouldn't turn on... as I prepared for the long annoying battle with the dealership, I figured I should make sure it was definitely the radio... brought it to the basement and hooked it up to a 12v powersupply - it worked fine. Now - my 2002 Jeep Cherokee was getting the transmission replaced, and sat outside at the dealership during the 2 coldest weeks we've had in a while... so cold that when I took the radio out, it hurt to hold it for too long in my bare hand... but it still fired up in the basement even though it was obviously below the Icom operating temp of 14'... so, the problem must be with the car. So I get my battery tester (can't find my multi-meter), set it to 12v, hook the leads up to the connection in the car - 12v, no problem. This morning, I reconnect the radio to the power in the car, and I can hear it ticking... like its almost going to think about firing up, but... it doesn't happen. The setup is simple, its fed from the battery with a 30amp relay that trips off the fuse box when the car is turned on. 12v coming in... but it won't turn on, so I think to myself... 'no amps?'. At this point, my slowly decaying knowledge of electronics starts to flounder... but obviously its not the wiring because the current is getting there, and not the relay for the same reason. Any ideas? Could it be as simple as a bad connection somewhere? Thought I'd get more knowledgeable thoughts on it before I start to tear things apart out in the cold. Thanks for any input... Richard N0TZC You would have to measure the voltage with the radio fired up. See if you can measure somewhere with everything connected. I am suspecting the relay, it might also have a voltage issue feeding the coil. If the relay is handy, try bridging the contacts. greg |
#3
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Icom in car won't turn on... amps?
The ground.
Check the grounding of the radio. If you have 12V at the radio try sticking the meter ground probe right on the radio and measure the 12V again. Good luck and good hunting. -Bob AD7OT |
#4
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Icom in car won't turn on... amps?
RJValenta wrote:
I just got my car back from the shop, and that Icom IC-208H I have wouldn't turn on... as I prepared for the long annoying battle with the dealership, I figured I should make sure it was definitely the radio... brought it to the basement and hooked it up to a 12v powersupply - it worked fine. Now - my 2002 Jeep Cherokee was getting the transmission replaced, and sat outside at the dealership during the 2 coldest weeks we've had in a while... so cold that when I took the radio out, it hurt to hold it for too long in my bare hand... but it still fired up in the basement even though it was obviously below the Icom operating temp of 14'... so, the problem must be with the car. So I get my battery tester (can't find my multi-meter), set it to 12v, hook the leads up to the connection in the car - 12v, no problem. This morning, I reconnect the radio to the power in the car, and I can hear it ticking... like its almost going to think about firing up, but... it doesn't happen. The setup is simple, its fed from the battery with a 30amp relay that trips off the fuse box when the car is turned on. 12v coming in... but it won't turn on, so I think to myself... 'no amps?'. At this point, my slowly decaying knowledge of electronics starts to flounder... but obviously its not the wiring because the current is getting there, and not the relay for the same reason. Any ideas? Could it be as simple as a bad connection somewhere? Thought I'd get more knowledgeable thoughts on it before I start to tear things apart out in the cold. Thanks for any input... Richard N0TZC I see some others have already answered but here is my $.02 worth- 1- First place I would check is the relay. Possibility the contacts have become corroded. Check voltage on both sides of the contacts under load. If you can access the contacts, clean them with fine grit sandpaper or a jewelers file (be sure to disconnect the circuit from the power source when doing this). 2- Check your ground to the radio. The radio should NOT be getting its ground for power via the antenna shield. The ground lead to the power connection should have a good clean connection with the vehicle chassis. 3- Check any fuses that are directly inline with the radio. Check the fuse contacts as well as the fuse itself. I have seen some glass fuses that appeared intact, but were open near one of the metal ends. I have also seen some the ATC and ATO type fuses get oxidation and gunk built up on the contacts. They would read "normal" voltage with a VOM until you put the circuit under load. 4-Check the contact point where the high current line ties into the battery. Make certain there is no oxidation or sulphation built up at this point. Andy WD4KDN |
#5
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Icom in car won't turn on... amps?
Does it do it with the car warmed up and the engine charging the
battery? With the engine running, what is the voltage at the radio feed to the nearest 1/10 of a volt? I assume you have decent gauge wiring from that relay to the radio. I would recommend 12-gauge as a minimum. I use 4-gauge to a feedpoint under the seat, then the stock Icom power cable from there. Dick - W6CCD On Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:46:56 -0800 (PST), RJValenta wrote: I just got my car back from the shop, and that Icom IC-208H I have wouldn't turn on... as I prepared for the long annoying battle with the dealership, I figured I should make sure it was definitely the radio... brought it to the basement and hooked it up to a 12v powersupply - it worked fine. Now - my 2002 Jeep Cherokee was getting the transmission replaced, and sat outside at the dealership during the 2 coldest weeks we've had in a while... so cold that when I took the radio out, it hurt to hold it for too long in my bare hand... but it still fired up in the basement even though it was obviously below the Icom operating temp of 14'... so, the problem must be with the car. So I get my battery tester (can't find my multi-meter), set it to 12v, hook the leads up to the connection in the car - 12v, no problem. This morning, I reconnect the radio to the power in the car, and I can hear it ticking... like its almost going to think about firing up, but... it doesn't happen. The setup is simple, its fed from the battery with a 30amp relay that trips off the fuse box when the car is turned on. 12v coming in... but it won't turn on, so I think to myself... 'no amps?'. At this point, my slowly decaying knowledge of electronics starts to flounder... but obviously its not the wiring because the current is getting there, and not the relay for the same reason. Any ideas? Could it be as simple as a bad connection somewhere? Thought I'd get more knowledgeable thoughts on it before I start to tear things apart out in the cold. Thanks for any input... Richard N0TZC -- Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com |
#6
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Icom in car won't turn on... amps?
The setup is simple, its fed from the battery with a 30amp relay that trips off the fuse box when the car is turned on. *12v coming in... but it won't turn on, so I think to myself... *'no amps?'. no amps unless you can get the 13.8 volts. I would check the voltage when the radio is turned on. are you going into the cigar lighter??? direct feed. sounds like an open ground lead somewhere. check across the radio terminals NOT positive to the car ground. good luck |
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