cheap as chips

[billywilliams]

My swiftech m298 H/H VHF (now silva or star) recently req'd a new battery. At 35 quid it was only slightly the better option than a new set at £89! The 240v charger has a simple jack plug and the only indicator is a red 'on' light. How do I best treat the battery? I am quite happy to completely discharge & recharge it after each use - but for how long? Can I overcook it? Can it live on the charger as some other sets?Will the times for the 240 and 12v chargers differ? - thanks - billy

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[Talbot]

Does the battery have any data on it to enable you to know what type of battery it is?

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[steve_cronin]

Discharge it by leaving it on without squelch for as long as it takes to go silent.

As to new batteries, when faced with a cost of over £90 I opened the case of the battery on my Raytheon and installed new cells. These are available from Maplins with solder tags so that you can make up your own without destroying the cells by soldering directly to them. The Maplins replacements are available in both Nicad an NiMh types, both being of greater capacity than the originals (in my case anyway). Replacing NiCads with NiMh cells may give you charging problems if the charger is of a highish output. Also watch out for shelf life - as some of the sizes, not being popular, probably stay on Maplins shelves for years I decided to make an order for fresh stock for the ten I needed.

Steve Cronin

<hr width=100% size=1>The above is, like any other post here, only a personal opinion

 

[dickh]

The recommended time is 5 hours using the supplied charger. I plug mine into a cheap timer. During the winter I discharge and recharge it on a monthly basis, but I do have two batteries for it. For the 12v charger, don't know the exact time, probably the same time.

<hr width=100% size=1>dickh
I'd rather be sailing... /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

 

[Rabbie]

Who said chips were cheap? I paid £1.40 for a 'medium' bag last week!.

<hr width=100% size=1>The line between balls and lunacy is very thin.