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Reviews For: Icom PS-125

Category: Power Supplies

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Review Summary For : Icom PS-125
Reviews: 77MSRP: 299.95
Description:
This is a 25 amp continous and 30 amp peak power supply. It was built to match the Icom IC756 PRo and PRo 2
Product is in production
More Info: http://
# last 180 days Avg. Rating last 180 days Total reviews Avg. overall rating
00773.5
NP3ST Rating: 2010-05-24
ICOM SOUTH EAST Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
GOT A PS125 ALONG WITH A RADIO,BUT DID NOT WORK. SEND IT IN ,GOT IT BACK ,SITLL PROBLEMS! SEND IT BACK UNDER WARRANTY,AND GOT IT BACK IN PERFECT CONDITION.PROFECIONAL STAFF,VERY COURTEOUS,POLITE.WORKED TIL I WAS SATISFIED.CUSTOMER SERVICE IS EXELENT. GIVE A 4 BECAUSE MISHAP ON FIRST TRY. NEVERTHELESS,THEY STILL PROFECIONALS!
N0JYC Rating: 2010-01-21
Some Problems Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I am on my second one since buying my Icom 746 (non-Pro model). The one that originally came with my radio ("free") failed after 12 months. I liked the matched look, did not find the fan noise overbearing and detected no hash on the bands so I bought another offered by a ham on eham. This one has operated flawlessly for 7 years. I give it a "2" due to the failure of the first one. 12 months and out was not acceptable.

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Earlier 3-star review posted by N0JYC on 2008-08-18

I am on my 2nd PS-125. Got the first one "free" with my 746 in Nov. 2001. It died in 2004. Just didn't turn on one day. Got another off this site for $125. Both have performed exactly alike, except the second one is still running. I like the look and match to my IC-746. However,the short plug is nonsense. The fan comes on often. But, I have not had the whining sound others have complained about.
W0EAJ Rating: 2009-09-23
There's a REASON they give it to you Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
This switcher p/s is NOT made by ICOM - it's made FOR them by an outside entity. If they work, they work great - if they fail, just toss it, as it's not worth fixing.

The output is NOT fused (there is a 10a fuse, but if the surge supressor goes, it "saves" the fuse - typical Murphy Syndrome.

In case yours does fry the fat little black surge supressor (ZNR-1 on the schematic.. but it's NOT on the parts list), here's the ICOM part-number and component type:

p/n 6910016470 (ERZV14D621) $4.61 each

Buy yourself an Astron instead - it's not as black & pretty, but you'll be happier.
W6NFL Rating: 2009-06-04
Works fine Time Owned: 0 to 3 months.
Mine works as it should. The fan is audible but not near as loud as i was fearing from reading some of the other reviews. My computer's fan and amp fan is about the same loudness...no big deal at all. The PS-125 looks pretty good right next to the PROIII. As others have mentioned, the power plug that goes to the radio is very short so it really needs to be near the rig. Ive checked for hash and have not detected any on the bands from this supply. These are still "free" from most retailers when you buy a 746PRO so you can snag one at a pretty low price from fellow hams who just bout the 746PRO who have no need for the supply. Nice compact size too.
AA1ZO Rating: 2009-05-24
Good Power Supply Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I own two of these. One suddenly died after about 4 years. A switching supply must do 4 things. It must come on, it must continue to run, it must regulate and it must shut down if there is a problem. These four rules helped me to troubleshoot the unit. It turned out that it had a bad D26, a 15 volt zener. After replacing the diode, the unit fired right up. So it is back in operation. It's too bad that it doesn't have a volt/current meter. Indicators have a language of their own. They tell you what is going on at a glance. The fan is noisy but will only stay on for about 3-4 minutes. There is a sensor under the transformer that toggles an OP amp that turns the fan off/on. So even when it is just powering the receiver, the fan will cycle as it saturates the ferrite core of the transformer. It can't be helped. It is the nature of the beast. I also wish the power cord was longer. I believe they make it short to cut down RF hash. All in all though a decent power supply.
KE1IN Rating: 2009-04-14
Good Match to IC-746PRO Time Owned: 3 to 6 months.
My PS-125 was included with my IC-746PRO. Two months to the day after I got it, it failed. Sent to Icom Service in Bellevue, WA. It seems IC11, an op-amp, had failed. Icom Service repaired it under warranty and shipped it back to me packed better than I had shipped it to them.

I didn't see any other reviewers noting this problem, so perhaps mine was isolated. I've had no noticeable problems with RF hash or fan noise.

I agree with other reviewers that the short DC cable limits the PS to being placed to the right of the transceiver.

Note that the new PS-126 that's designed for the IC-7600 is probably the same basic supply with just a 4-pin power connector on the DC cable.

73,
David, KE1IN
W7KPQ Rating: 2008-12-01
What's the BEEF? Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I received the PS-125 free when I purchased my Icom IC-756 Pro III. Currently, I'm using a Kenwood PS-53 PS for the Pro III. The Kenwood PS-53 is a great linear PS. Recently, I made a trip and took the PS-125 with me to operate fixed mobile as it's definitely more compact than the Kenwood power supply. I've had the PS-125 for three years – never taking it out of the box. From what I've read on eham.net, many hams feel it is a "dog" – it creates hash and has a noisy fan, so I was quite dubious about its performance.

Well, to my chagrin the PS-125 does not create ANY hash that I can detect, and the fan noise ISN’T an issue! Yes, one can hear the fan run if you put your ear next to it. If you’re listening to a normal conversation on your rig you won’t hear the fan run. It’s actually very quiet!

If there is one item I would change it would be the connecting cable between the PS and the transceiver. The cable goes directly into the back of the PS-125. It would be nice if it had screw terminals like the Kenwood so one could add small devices that also require 12v to operate; like my RF Power/SWR meter.

Otherwise this is a fine piece of equipment. Small, compact, a quiet fan, and no hash whatsoever. FREE can be a good thing!

Richard
W7KPQ
K9CTB Rating: 2008-11-23
Nice Little Supply Time Owned: more than 12 months.
I got my PS-125 as a "bonus" with my IC-746 Pro, but I still consider that I paid for it. ;-)

Nice little unit that matches the '746 and provides a clean 13.6 volts (according to my Fluke 87). I really appreciate the improvements over my PS-85, including a quieter fan that actually cycles with internal temperature. Although I've had no problems with this supply in the year I've owned it, I prefer the quiet reliability of my Astron RS-35Ms. I'll happily revise this review if the PS-125 lasts the 20+ years my Astrons have.
W1ZE Rating: 2008-08-18
Works for me Time Owned: more than 12 months.
No excess fan noise or hash in the one that came with my 746PRO. Provides a well regulated 13.6 volts too. If there is any hash or birdies I could not detect them. My PC and TNC delivers more RFI than the PS-125

CONS(minor) would have been nice to have a 2nd voltage output for aux equipment.
AE5EH Rating: 2008-08-18
Works for me! Time Owned: more than 12 months.
Don't understand the complaints really! Noisey, too noisey & interferes with converstion? Really now, if someone wants a recording w/video audio (taken from another reciever) of me in QSO with PR781 hooked to my 756PROIII powered by a PS125, let me know. There is no acoustical noise that bad coming from the power supply. Sorry. It's not there. Maybe folks are using their mic installed in the middle of a parabolic dish?

RFI hash? Nope sorry. Not there either to degree that is that bad. Your PC's processor you use for logging puts out more RFI hash than the PS125! The power supply was made to place next to a 746,910H,756. Why would you want a longer power cord? That's silly.

The only thing I see wrong with the PS-125 is the price. MSRP is a too high. But otherwise, a decent unit. It's small, light, simple, plug directly in to your 756PROII, III, 746PRO, 910H. By the way, it should be common knowledge by now, that these have been given away as package deals with 756 & 756, and Gigaparts is selling them at a decent price right now. Cheaper than can be had off of ebay used.

People may mean well, but be careful of what you read in these reviews. Come on folks this is getting out of hand.

Terry-AE5EH