My 7300 battery lasted about 2 years. I have it on daily. Now when I shut the radio off, the clock automatically resets to 00:00 as well as the date. So I just use the Icom ST-4003W Time Adjustment Software (almost a year now) When I power up.
For hams living in Florida where we are subject to near daily thunderstorms, unplugging the station power supply and other things from the wall power when not in use is critical to protect against lightning strikes.
That is exactly right. I've worked in the power business all my life. Simply turning off the power may work but the truth is: the grounding system that protects from electrocution provides a back door for a lightning strike to come back up through the ground system into the components unless they are physically unplugged. That's the dirty secret that the people who write NFPA 70 aka: The NEC (National Electric Code) keep under their hat!
Hi Dave. Thanks for all that you do. I've repaired several radios over the years. One thing I noticed is that modern rigs have a soft switch on the front panel. They don't really turn the power to the rig off completely. If the rig is off and the power supply is on , then there is power on the final board while that power supply is on even with the rig turned off. I worry about the Mean Time Between Failures for electronics that are always on. I usually recommend amateurs turn the power supply off if the rig is off.
The IC-706 is notorious for draining car batteries when it's wired directly in because it draws so much current when it's switched off. When power is applied you can hear a relay click, even when the set is switched off.
In the olden days, there were crystals sitting in ovens to provide stable oscillators. These things took a long time to come up to temperature and settle down. so, the oven was often left on. In the case of secondary standards, calibration was voided if the power was interrupted. Some radios had reduced voltage filament supplies to maintain dry conditions inside the radio when it was 'off.' These were designed to not require fan cooling, but to prevent condensation and mold. They also prevented shocking a cold filament when the main power supply was activated. None of these conditions apply to modern radios. However, avoiding mildew on your radio's innards is still a good idea. If the humidity is high, leave the radio on.
You read 2 Days to charge the battery, not 2 Hours like you mentioned near the end. Great video though a few probably don't know about the batteries. 🙂
We used to recommend leaving certain instruments in all the time at work. Two advantages were calibration stability, and thermal expansion/contraction of solder joints leading to failure. A Sony device in particular we used had chronic PC board failures of that sort.
Back in the seventies when I had a Swan 240, those rigs were famous for drifting off frequency until they were warmed up after a few hours. Hence, it was always on - it had it's own power supply built in. Fast forward to today's rigs - there were times that I would not power up my rig for days..I have a 7300 and did not realize why the clock in my clock was never accurate, so thank you once again Dave for another nugget of knowledge you have provided me. Keep up the excellent work that you do! de W6TR
I have two external clocks going (local and UTC) because I gave up on the internal battery and I did not want to leave my power supply on. I did see a video a long time ago with a fellow who opened up the icom 7300 and ran a set of wires out to the back of the radio where he attached a holder for a CR2032 watch battery which lasts a long time and could be easily replaced on the outside of the cabinet. It looked like you had to take a ton of stuff apart to get to the battery and then to even unsolder it from the board was tricky, Seems silly that icom does not just make the battery replaceable and accessible. As usual great video.
I've often wondered about this! My rule was to leave the power on if I'm coming back to it within an hour or so. Otherwise, I shut the power off. Thanks for the info.
I have a similar problem on my IC7100, it improved when I switched from a power supply to a battery which, I would supposed, is the same as leaving the power supply constantly on. Just make sure the battery remains charged. I use a golf caddy life4po battery and it lasts for a long time.
Leaving power on all the time can be rough on electrolytics in switched mode power supplies. This applies to computers, televisions, satellite receivers, etc, which are left on all the time.
My battery on my 7300 will no longer take a charge and my radio resets to no time when I turn off the power to it. It is a pain in the butt to replace this battery and my local ham radio store will not work on replacing it telling me I must send it back to Icom for bsttery replacement. Best to leave the power pn if you go gor long perods of time witout using the 7300.
On your computer, you can turn it off but do not unplug it or turn off the power strip that is powering it. There is a nonrechargable cell powering your cmos memory, and you will have to replace it a lot sooner. You may never have to replace it if you leave it plugged into the wall. On your laptop, depending on the model, it gets the cmos power from the main battery. Just don't let it go completely dead.
I live in South Florida, probably the leading lightning capital in the United States. I learned a long time ago that lightning can enter your shack in any number of ways, with very discouraging and costly results. I have set up my shack so it takes me about 10 seconds to not only turn everything off, but disconnect everything from my radio, my computer, etc., when I’m not in the shack. Storms can show up here in a moments notice, and lightning can strike. I still get raised eyebrows and comments from other amateur radio operators when I tell them this, but my feeling is, why take a chance? Food for thought..🤔
You can see varying opinions in the comments. I remember when they used to say the same about pc's. You'd see offices with rows of workstations glowing all night and some still do. I've also been involved with studio gear for many years and it's the same. But they were referring to mostly analog/tube gear needing to stabilize before use - not to prolong life. Studios would have eye watering power bills too. Perhaps there was time when hardware was sensitive to certain things. My own belief is modern gear isn't made the same way in 2024. I've never experienced thermal damage from cycling power but some say they have. If settings are lost - that's another topic.
I leave my power supply on, the 7300 supports turning off and on via CAT controls, which works well for me as I operate my station remotely 99% of the time.
Never ...the power . The power Co here a real snake. Popping or pulling the voltage. Then there is some sort of carrier wave on the distribution line. And I do hear it switching some things and it talk back. PS I spent money on serge protectors. To stop jolts. 😊😊😊😊
My 7300 battery lasted about 2 years. I have it on daily. Now when I shut the radio off, the clock automatically resets to 00:00 as well as the date. So I just use the Icom ST-4003W Time Adjustment Software (almost a year now) When I power up.
For hams living in Florida where we are subject to near daily thunderstorms, unplugging the station power supply and other things from the wall power when not in use is critical to protect against lightning strikes.
That is exactly right. I've worked in the power business all my life. Simply turning off the power may work but the truth is: the grounding system that protects from electrocution provides a back door for a lightning strike to come back up through the ground system into the components unless they are physically unplugged.
That's the dirty secret that the people who write NFPA 70 aka: The NEC (National Electric Code) keep under their hat!
Hi Dave. Thanks for all that you do. I've repaired several radios over the years. One thing I noticed is that modern rigs have a soft switch on the front panel. They don't really turn the power to the rig off completely. If the rig is off and the power supply is on , then there is power on the final board while that power supply is on even with the rig turned off. I worry about the Mean Time Between Failures for electronics that are always on. I usually recommend amateurs turn the power supply off if the rig is off.
The IC-706 is notorious for draining car batteries when it's wired directly in because it draws so much current when it's switched off. When power is applied you can hear a relay click, even when the set is switched off.
In the olden days, there were crystals sitting in ovens to provide stable oscillators. These things took a long time to come up to temperature and settle down. so, the oven was often left on. In the case of secondary standards, calibration was voided if the power was interrupted. Some radios had reduced voltage filament supplies to maintain dry conditions inside the radio when it was 'off.' These were designed to not require fan cooling, but to prevent condensation and mold. They also prevented shocking a cold filament when the main power supply was activated. None of these conditions apply to modern radios. However, avoiding mildew on your radio's innards is still a good idea. If the humidity is high, leave the radio on.
Hey Dave, yer looking much healthier as of late. Keep on rockin'.
You read 2 Days to charge the battery, not 2 Hours like you mentioned near the end. Great video though a few probably don't know about the batteries. 🙂
We used to recommend leaving certain instruments in all the time at work. Two advantages were calibration stability, and thermal expansion/contraction of solder joints leading to failure. A Sony device in particular we used had chronic PC board failures of that sort.
Back in the seventies when I had a Swan 240, those rigs were famous for drifting off frequency until they were warmed up after a few hours. Hence, it was always on - it had it's own power supply built in.
Fast forward to today's rigs - there were times that I would not power up my rig for days..I have a 7300 and did not realize why the clock in my clock was never accurate, so thank you once again Dave for another nugget of knowledge you have provided me. Keep up the excellent work that you do! de W6TR
I have two external clocks going (local and UTC) because I gave up on the internal battery and I did not want to leave my power supply on. I did see a video a long time ago with a fellow who opened up the icom 7300 and ran a set of wires out to the back of the radio where he attached a holder for a CR2032 watch battery which lasts a long time and could be easily replaced on the outside of the cabinet. It looked like you had to take a ton of stuff apart to get to the battery and then to even unsolder it from the board was tricky, Seems silly that icom does not just make the battery replaceable and accessible. As usual great video.
my 7300 has been on for about 3 years 24/7 as a remote station. I wouldn't worry about it.
If you don’t leave power supply on. The 7300 will forget what time it is
Hi David! One of my Primary boys listens to you and is learning ham radio from his dad.
Thanks for this info. I'm just starting out, but I haven't got my license yet. I'm gathering all the information I can!
I've often wondered about this! My rule was to leave the power on if I'm coming back to it within an hour or so. Otherwise, I shut the power off. Thanks for the info.
I have a similar problem on my IC7100, it improved when I switched from a power supply to a battery which, I would supposed, is the same as leaving the power supply constantly on. Just make sure the battery remains charged. I use a golf caddy life4po battery and it lasts for a long time.
Leaving power on all the time can be rough on electrolytics in switched mode power supplies. This applies to computers, televisions, satellite receivers, etc, which are left on all the time.
What are the effects of power cycling the electronics? Capacitors etc.?
I have had to change the backup batteries in my HTX202 and HTX404 twice now... about every 12-15 years.... 😎
I like your rotary dial phone!
My battery on my 7300 will no longer take a charge and my radio resets to no time when I turn off the power to it. It is a pain in the butt to replace this battery and my local ham radio store will not work on replacing it telling me I must send it back to Icom for bsttery replacement. Best to leave the power pn if you go gor long perods of time witout using the 7300.
Just open it up and change it. How hard can it be?
@@chublezit’s stupid hard. Check it out.
When they build and install the mixing board for a recording studio it is powered up... and never turned off. Just FYI.
On your computer, you can turn it off but do not unplug it or turn off the power strip that is powering it. There is a nonrechargable cell powering your cmos memory, and you will have to replace it a lot sooner. You may never have to replace it if you leave it plugged into the wall. On your laptop, depending on the model, it gets the cmos power from the main battery. Just don't let it go completely dead.
I live in South Florida, probably the leading lightning capital in the United States. I learned a long time ago that lightning can enter your shack in any number of ways, with very discouraging and costly results. I have set up my shack so it takes me about 10 seconds to not only turn everything off, but disconnect everything from my radio, my computer, etc., when I’m not in the shack. Storms can show up here in a moments notice, and lightning can strike. I still get raised eyebrows and comments from other amateur radio operators when I tell them this, but my feeling is, why take a chance? Food for thought..🤔
Center Point has the power lines in my part of Houston. Powering off!
You can see varying opinions in the comments. I remember when they used to say the same about pc's. You'd see offices with rows of workstations glowing all night and some still do. I've also been involved with studio gear for many years and it's the same. But they were referring to mostly analog/tube gear needing to stabilize before use - not to prolong life. Studios would have eye watering power bills too. Perhaps there was time when hardware was sensitive to certain things. My own belief is modern gear isn't made the same way in 2024. I've never experienced thermal damage from cycling power but some say they have. If settings are lost - that's another topic.
I leave my power supply on, the 7300 supports turning off and on via CAT controls, which works well for me as I operate my station remotely 99% of the time.
Was the intro sped up? or did you start drinking coffee?
Never ...the power . The power Co here a real snake. Popping or pulling the voltage. Then there is some sort of carrier wave on the distribution line. And I do hear it switching some things and it talk back. PS I spent money on serge protectors. To stop jolts. 😊😊😊😊
Parasitic draw is ever place.