FT817, 818 PowerPole® Adapter

Powerpole Adapter for the Yaesu FT-817 and FT-818 (includes Powerpole lead)

The FT-817 is a great radio but it does have a few weakness. A common problem that users encounter is the failure of the DC input connector on the rear panel. In use, any stresses and strains from the power lead tend to make the DC power socket in the radio shear off the printed circuit board, causing intermittent operation and eventually total failure. The socket is a surface mount item and thus is hard to replace - and even if replaced, it is likely to fail again.

This neat adapter screws to the rear of the FT-817/818 and minimises strain on the radio's power socket. It is fitted with PowerPole connectors (of course). We supply it with a ready-made lead with a PowerPole connector already fitted. Lead length approx. 1 m (3 ft).

Fitting time for the adapter, about 3 minutes (and that's only if you take time finding your screwdriver). An easy upgrade that will save you money in the long run.

New improved design! Same weight but with a much stronger plastic shell thanks to a higher quality 3D printing method being used. This adapter is now designed and built entirely by Sotabeams.

This adapter is suitable for all models of the FT-817 and the FT-818.

• Its compact design allows it to become a permanent part of your FT-817, FT-817ND or FT-818
• Quit worrying about voltage drop on the stock adapter's low gauge wire
• No more broken barrel plugs stuck in your radio.
• Simple to install:  Just put the plug into the radio while placing the plastic shell over the radio's ground post. Then screw in. You can still use the screw to ground your radio. We supply a M3x12 and M3x14 screw and M3 washer with the adapter. For use without a ground wire, or with a thin ground wire or solder tag, the shorter M3x12 screw should be sufficient. For thicker connectors or wires, try the M3x14 screw.
• Fabricated with genuine Anderson PowerPoles® and other quality components.
• Adapter weight approx 11 grams (including the ground stud screw, but excluding the lead that we supply with the adapter).
• Made of hard, durable plastic (SLS 3D-printed PA12 nylon, in black). 

Troubleshooting

If no power is reaching the radio through the adapter, or the barrel plug doesn't seem to push in far enough, this may be because the insulating ring from the original power supply plug has broken off and is stuck in the socket. If this is the case, try to either remove the debris from the socket (tricky!), or cut off or file down the insulator on the adapter's barrel plug. See later posts in this SOTA Reflector thread, the same problem has also been reported by some of our customers. With the revised adapter design, this should be less of a problem because the barrel plug in the new adapter has its centre contacts closer to the tip, so the plug does not need to push in as far to start making electrical contact.

If the adapter plug does not line up properly with the socket on the radio, try loosening or removing the screw which holds the barrel plug assembly to the adapter. This should allow the plug a small amount of movement relative to the adapter to accommodate slight variations in the placement of the socket. This is unlikely to be necessary for most radios.

Comments on using PowerPole adapters with the FT-818 (based on advice about the previous version of this adapter from Jon N0WL, who designed and manufactured that version)

Although the FT-817 and the FT-818 are extremely similar, there are some minor differences. One difference relevant to the use of Powerpole adapters is that Yaesu changed the battery charging circuit in the FT-818.  As a consequence the FT-818 draws about 4mA from the internal battery when an external power plug is attached to the radio, the radio is powered off, and the external source is not powered.  This current will drain the internal battery in less than a week.  But be aware that both the FT-818 and FT-817 have a current draw of about 0.2mA all the time - even without an external power plug attached - and that the internal battery will always completely drain in less than 2 months.  This applies to any plug, even the original one supplied with the radio.

While not directly related to the adapter, it does call into question how best to use the internal battery of an FT-818 and whether it is a good idea to permanently attach the adapter to an FT-818 if the user intends to use the internal battery.  

Our recommendations are:

1. Because of internal leakage current in the FT-817 or FT-818, users should never store the radio, even for a day, with a battery connected (internal or external).  Rather, they should charge the battery and then immediately unplug it.  Doing anything else will risk permanent damage to the battery.

2. Keeping any external power cord plugged into the FT-818 will accelerate the problem for users of the internal battery.  This includes the PowerPole Adapter.

3. Keeping an external power cord plugged into the FT-817 does not increase the leakage current, but the advice from #1 above is still the same.

Click here to see our other accessories for the FT-817, FT-818.