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RF Guru

9kW ICAS High-Power Dual-Core Band Specific 1:1 Current Balun or Choke

9kW ICAS High-Power Dual-Core Band Specific 1:1 Current Balun or Choke

€206,00 EUR
€206,00 EUR
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Band
Connector
Grounding terminal
Complementary: Stainless Steel (RVS / INOX 316) Mounting Kit available — use the small version for this choke.
All our products are handmade, and fulfilment times may vary depending on order volume. Please allow 2–3 weeks for your order to be completed and shipped.

Engineered for serious HF operators, these high-power current chokes are built on stacked dual-core architecture inside a rugged polycarbonate enclosure with HV coating, custom gaskets, and a decompression valve for outdoor QRO use. Each choke is hand-assembled and verified for proper impedance across its specified range. All performance values listed below are conservative real-world figures based on measured results.

Related reading:
Baluns in a Nutshell
Why “Common-Mode” Is the Most Abused Term in Ham Radio
How Much Choking Do You Really Need — for RX and TX?

Built for the Long Run

Each model is designed for high-power ICAS duty cycles, tested to withstand sustained legal-limit operation and beyond. The fully sealed build resists moisture, salt, and UV exposure, while the internal HV coating prevents corona discharge and maintains stable impedance under high voltage stress. Available with PL-259, N-type, or 7/16 DIN connectors for maximum compatibility with your station’s feedline system.

Variants

160–40 m Dual-Core Current Choke (9 kW ICAS)

Optimized for the low bands, offering deep suppression of common-mode currents on 160, 80, and 40 meters. If extended operation on 30 m is needed, an upper-HF choke can be placed in series. Supplied with your choice of PL-259, N-type, or 7/16 DIN connectors. Impedance values are conservative and verified under real QRO load conditions.

Band Choking Impedance (Ω) Impedance-Equivalent dB (from |Zc|)
160 m 3.5 kΩ 42.9 dB
80 m 7.0 kΩ 48.9 dB
40 m 8.0 kΩ 50.1 dB
Approx. 5.0 kΩ → 44.0 dB on 30 m for this choke alone. In series with the 30–10 m choke (≈ 3.0 kΩ / 41.6 dB on 30 m) gives ≈ 8.0 kΩ / 50.1 dB total.

*Impedance-Equivalent (dB) values are computed directly from measured |ZCM| using a 50 Ω common-mode source reference. Real antennas seldom present 50 Ω in common-mode, so these numbers represent the choke’s intrinsic suppression capability, not the attenuation you would see under a specific antenna load. Full explanation: Why dB Attenuation Specs on Ham Chokes Are a Mess.

30–10 m Dual-Core Current Choke (5 kW ICAS)

Broad upper-HF design providing consistent isolation from 30 through 10 meters. Ideal as a feedline choke for multiband verticals, Yagis, or EFHWs operating above 10 MHz. Available with PL-259, N-type, or 7/16 DIN connectors. All impedance and dB figures are conservative and based on real-world, loaded test setups.

Band Choking Impedance (Ω) Impedance-Equivalent dB (from |Zc|)
30 m 3.0 kΩ 41.6 dB
20 m 2.5 kΩ 40.0 dB
17 m 2.3 kΩ 39.3 dB
15 m 2.1 kΩ 38.5 dB
12 m 1.9 kΩ 37.6 dB
10 m 1.7 kΩ 36.7 dB
*Impedance-Equivalent (dB) values are computed directly from measured |ZCM| using a 50 Ω common-mode source reference. Because real antennas rarely present a 50 Ω common-mode impedance, these values represent the choke’s intrinsic suppression capability, not the attenuation that would occur with a specific antenna load. Full details:
Why dB Attenuation Specs on Ham Chokes Are a Mess.

When multiple chokes are installed in series, their impedances add, increasing the total common-mode suppression. Each doubling of total choking impedance corresponds to roughly +6 dB of additional intrinsic suppression.

6 m Dual-Core Current Choke (3 kW ICAS)

Compact VHF choke engineered for 50–54 MHz operation. Provides high-frequency common-mode isolation for 6 m beams, verticals, and feedlines prone to RF-on-shield issues. Offered with PL-259, N-type, or 7/16 DIN connectors. All figures are conservative, with verified impedance under load.

Band Choking Impedance (Ω) Impedance-Equivalent dB (from |Zc|)
6 m (50–54 MHz) ≈ 2.0 kΩ ≈ 38.0 dB
*Impedance-Equivalent (dB) values for VHF use the same method: |ZCM| converted on a 50 Ω common-mode reference. This ensures consistent comparison across products but does not imply that a 6 m antenna presents 50 Ω in common-mode. These values express the choke’s inherent ability to impede shield current, not the attenuation produced in a particular antenna installation. More explanation:
Why dB Attenuation Specs on Ham Chokes Are a Mess.

Maximum ICAS/CCS Power Ratings

Connector Type 160–40 m Band 30–10 m Band 6–2 m Band Limiting Factor
PL-259 / UHF ≈ 2.7 kW ICAS ≈ 1.3 kW ICAS ≈ 0.6 kW ICAS Connector
Type-N ≈ 10 kW ICAS ≈ 5 kW ICAS ≈ 2 kW ICAS Coax
7/16 DIN ≈ 10 kW ICAS ≈ 5 kW ICAS ≈ 2 kW ICAS Coax

Construction Highlights

  • Dual-core architecture for extended thermal and magnetic headroom
  • High-voltage internal coating to prevent corona and arcing
  • Polycarbonate housing with precision-cut silicone gaskets for IP-rated sealing
  • Integrated decompression valve for pressure equalization
  • Connector options: PL-259, N-type, or 7/16 DIN (field-serviceable)
  • All impedance and dB values stated are conservative and verified under load
Technical Validation — How We Measure It

At RF.Guru Lab, all baluns are evaluated using EMC-standard dual-probe common-mode testing. One probe injects controlled common-mode current into the device under test, while a second probe measures the resulting CM current at the output.

This method reveals the choke’s true common-mode suppression — including behavior under high voltage, reactive loads, and realistic coax geometries — without the differential-mode contamination typically seen in simple VNA S21 shield-to-shield tests.

Most VNA fixtures excite the coax in differential mode, not common-mode, and therefore do not measure the behavior that matters on real antennas. Our EMC method measures true CM suppression under load, matching what actually happens on a tuner-fed HF antenna system.

Mini-FAQ

  • Q: Can I use the 160–40 m choke above 30 m?
    — You can, but its impedance drops rapidly. Pair it with the 30–10 m choke in series for full HF suppression coverage.
  • Q: Are these waterproof for outdoor use?
    — Yes. Each enclosure is fully gasket-sealed, HV-coated, and equipped with a decompression valve.
  • Q: What connectors are available?
    — All variants are offered with PL-259, N-type, or 7/16 DIN connectors, each rated for QRO duty cycles.
  • Q: What does 9 kW ICAS mean?
    — It refers to Intermittent Commercial and Amateur Service: suitable for high-power contest and amplifier operation.
  • Q: How accurate are the impedance numbers?
    — They are deliberately conservative, based on loaded in-situ measurements with standard coax geometries.

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Written by Joeri Van Dooren, ON6URE — RF engineer, antenna designer, and founder of RF.Guru, specializing in high-performance HF/VHF antennas and RF components.
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