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Reviews For: Windcamp ADP-1 powerpole converter for FT817

Category: Batteries & Chargers for Amateur Radio

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Review Summary For : Windcamp ADP-1 powerpole converter for FT817
Reviews: 2MSRP: $18 (est)
Description:
To convert the FT817 round "power plug" to powerpole power connector
Product is in production
More Info: https://www.windcamp-gear.com/productinfo/375914.html
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
0022.5
G4VRR Rating: 2020-10-22
Missed Opportunity Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
The item feels reassuringly solid and is reasonably priced by Windcamp's standards. What follows should be read in the context that I am judging it on the basis of an unrepresentative sample of one.

The counterbore is too shallow for the raised ground post on the rear apron, and the coaxial DC barrel connector is about 0.080" too long. The latter is a real potential problem with broken off tips sttuck in the bottom of the PCB mointed DC receptacle. These points add together and mean that it doesn't sit snug against the radio and moves laterally when installing an Anderson PowerPole. I refer again to the broken tips stuck inside the socket ...The seller was dismissive about these issues and after requesting pictures and a video (!) offered a small refund. I respectfully declined since they'd missed the point and thought you can buy off anything with Yuan.

The issue with the auto backlight is Yaesu's responsibility, as is the static drain even with the Windcamp adapter installed on its own. This will flatten the battery in a week and the Windcamp isolater should be used without fail or the LiPo will object. Thanks Yaesu. The idea of the polyfuse and diode is great but begs the question as to why Yaesu are still getting away with this after 20-odd years? I'd sooner see a "P" channel MOSfet inside. Plenty of cast aluminium inside to sink heat from passing a couple of amps?

The issues with using these PowerPole adapters and an FT818nd involve a string of Yaesu gotchas that although inextricably linked are outwith the scope of the Windcamp review.

Given the foregoing, I would not purchase this again for my FT818nd until Windcamp changes the mechanical design, and Yaesu wakes up and smells the coffee. in 2020 this is unacceptable. I understand the battery drain issue may not affect the FT817 series, or at least not as aggressively?

Update/ edit:

The Windcamp PowerPoles adapter story grinds on ... but since I've been less than charitable regarding the Windcamp adapter, it's only fair to give an update.

Prompted by a discussion on Groups.IO/ FT817, I dismantled the Windcamp adapter. I then *very* carefully set a pair of ViceGrips to support the coaxial barrel at just the length I wanted it to be without crushing the tube. I then applied downwards pressure on the PCB with open snipe nose pliers and warmed up the solder joint at the same time. It is a plated through hole with supporting solder on both sides. The coaxial tube slid through until the PC board touched the ViceGrips. I then repeated the exercise holding the PC board at a jaunty angle to enable a 90° aspect. It now fits without bottoming out in the PCB mounted DC connector in the radio, although the counterbored hole is still too shallow for the raised ground screw boss. Still, it is now usable notwithstanding the backlight and discharge issues which are down to Yaesu. It seems I may have had a Friday afternoon job? YMMV (sic).

It's also worth noting (I have done so before) that with the recessed ground screw arrangement on the Windcamp adapter, it is no longer possible to use the grounding point as intended by Yaesu. Basically, until Windcamp expends a little more thought on this, stick with the 3D printed jobs if the ground post is an important thing for you.

I see no reason to increase the star rating above "needs help".
PE1HZG Rating: 2020-09-06
Ok product, but could do better Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
In addition to the common "round plug to powerpole" converters that are often 3D-printed, Windcamp came with a ready product, the ADP-1.

To start with, this is a sturdy metal case, real PCB and in general much more rugged than the 3D-printers.

There are 2 aspects that I should mention though:
1. The display background of my FT818 switches on the contact in the round connector. With this adapter, that contact is continuously engaged and hence, if the backlight is set to "auto" it is now always on and you have to manually switch, the auto feature no longer works. I'm not sure how to fix this. It's not the end of the world but worth noticing.
2. The other issue is that this is just a connect-through.
It is a well-known issue that reverting power on the power connector damages the FT817. For that reason, all my FT817 power cables have a diode and a fuse so that if power is reverted (it may be powerpole, but the other end of the typical powerpole cable is banana plug), the diode conducts and the fuse will fuse and hopefully protect the radio (I tried, but w/o radio connected).
In any case, the ADP-1 doesn't have this feature. It can be easily added: 4 screws and the adapter is open, and there is ample space to add a 1N5404 and a 4A picofuse.

I think the diode/fuse should have been added and hence "OK" not more stars.