Icom ICA3/22 and 4 plug revival

[ZULU1]

I have noticed recently there are many requests for used intercoms on the forum, now we have seen a new interest in students countrywide. Most of these chaps are obviously trying to cut costs and as a result they wish to use the older generation radios that normally "come with the plane". Namely Icom ICA3 and the VOR version the ICA22. These radios are very good but are now a minimum of about 12 years old. As most of South Africas trikes are open, no pods and so on, older generation intercom systems traditionally had a long curly cable to connect the radio to the intercom. In those days no such devices such as transponders, hectic GPS toys, ipods, phones and so on were used in a trike environment. Hence no need for suppression. Now the curly cords after many years of use obviously flap in the wind, the small plugs are only 3,5mm and 2,5 mm diameter and a 1/2 metre of cable in flap mode eventually wears the small contacts out. This has become a problem and we used to repair the contacts but spares are difficult to come by. We have stopped over moulding the straight twin plugs over a year ago and these plugs with old radios never fitted properly due to wear on the small second pin. So we have come up with a suitable interim solution.

The two single plugs are inserted into the radio in question and pushed fully home, the radio is tested and then the small shroud is pushed over the two plugs and the shroud is superglued into position. The spacing of the shroud is 10,1mm, this forces the two contacts apart from each other and in most cases sorts the problem out. After fitment it is advisable to attach the two cables to the side of the radio with a cable tie to prevent further damage. Remove the radio by unplugging the small Hirose connector. If the Icom does die, its no issue to drop in a VXA radio on the same plug.

We can also repack the batteries but its very difficult to find the small rubber knobs for them, we have angle power sockets as well. This should help out a few Home fixers. Unfortunately not cheap as they are low production runs but we sell a kit consisting of:

Cable assembly with two plugs and shroud attached, Hirose male and female plug/socket assembly with a cable for connecting to intercom.

Ex factory R315,00

Zulu1