[SMO]

I have an old Aerocom intercom in my -4, and the headset mics are now staying open - the squelch for the pilot mic usually does not work. After a half hour or so it sometimes starts to work.

Before I look for a replacement intercom, is there anything else that would cause this problem? I am using a Zulu headset.

 

[BobTurner]

I assume you have a manual squelch control.
This is a long shot, but inexpensive:
Go to Radio Shack, get some contact/control cleaner in a spray can.
Gain access to the squelch control, and spray it liberally with the cleaner, and move the control back and forth.
Good luck.

 

[DennisRhodes]

The ( non adjustable) squelch on my Aerocom 2 place intercom sometime is a problem if the second headset is left plugged in when no one is using it. I store it under the panel and it picks up a lot of noise. I usually pull the mic plug if no one is flying copilot and that helps minimize the the extra VOX in and out .

 

[SMO]

Dennis, I don't have the passenger headset connected, but sometimes the obvious gets missed so was a good thought.

Bob, your post motivated me to at least take this apart and have a look. I found a battery pack inside that had been creating some acid, and it had migrated onto the circuit board a bit. The squelch control is a sealed unit so I did not take it apart, but I sprayed some contact cleaner on it anyway, cleaned up the circuit board a bit, and put it back together.

Voila! It works properly now. Not sure exactly what I did that fixed it, but will see how long it lasts.

I am wondering about taking out the battery pack altogether. I will contact PS Engineering and see if they can tell me if the external power will work with the battery pack disconnected.

 

[DennisRhodes]

No battery needed if panel powered

It will operate just fine with no battery as long as panel power is plugged in. DRR