Handheld ICOM VHF

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johnofdevon

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New to motor cruising couple seek advice. We recently acquired first motor cruiser and agreed the previous owner would take his ICOM M21 with him, but leave wired in desktop charger. Google search took me to posts in Apr 04 on this subject , but we would be glad of updated advice: should we get a discontinued M21 or the newer M31? If the latter is it better to get new model with Li-Ion battery or the older Ni-Cd type which will presumably use the existing charger.

Also the boat has several o-o-d Halon extiguishers. If we instal a new auto-system and want a Fire Certificate, can these be retained or would they legally have to be removed/disposed of?

Any help much appreciated.
 
The M31 has a 'soft' on/off button which permanently draws a small current which means the battery runs down (albeit slowly) even when the set is switched off. It means you have to disconnect the battery or have a charging regime even when the set is out of use such as winter/ periods away from the boat. The price of the Icom M1 Euro V has now come down and it has a Li-Ion battery. I would def get one of those if I didn't already have an M31! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
I have an M31 handheld. It is not really an answer to your question but I have been very pleased with it. The on/off button is a 'soft' key which means that if you leave the batteries in it will drain power even if the switch is off. I therefore take out the battery pack overnight or when leaving the boat and all is well.


With regard to halon. I have just been coded for charter purposes by the MCA. My Halon jobbies had to be replaced and so far as I am aware Halon is no longer legal. You will need new ones. Word of advice don't buy extinguishers from boat chandlers. They tend to rather on the pricey side. Plenty of choice online!
 
The M21 and the Ni-cad version of the M31 use the same charger, BC150.

The newer version of the M31 had a Lithium-Ion battery and needs a new charger, this is supplies with the new radio.

The new charger will charge both the Ni-cad and the Lithium-ion batteries.

Hope that helps

Regards
 
Hi Jon. Without meaning to hijack the thread, can my M31 (1 year old, Nicad) be fitted with the Li-ion battery and it's charger or has the whole radio been changed?
 
I have a seven year old M1 handheld but the NiCad battery and its several replacements lose their charge in no time at all, usually very inconveniently in the middle of a transmission. Is it possible to switch to Lithium, or has anyone cobbled up an alternative pack of AA's, or do I have to chuck it away and put my hand in my pocket?
 
Nice to see you back, wher've ya bin?

Did anyone say you were allowed a holiday or time off from the forum?

Are you still playing on the rescue boat at weekends?
 
He's back just in time to buy me that beer at the SIBS.

Martin /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Ships

Nice to know I have been missed!!
Have been here answering the odd question.

Mart

Is the Boat Show coming up?
Dam best I get my a**e into gear!!!

Beer? I have gone teetotal /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Yes have been working most weekends on the patrol boat.
Keeps the hours up and also is really enjoyable work.

Regards
 
John

Sorry to say no Lithium or AA option for that radio.
I might sughest you go for the bigger battery pack though.
BP186, nearly three times the capacity and guess what only a few £'s more expensive than the standard pack.

Regards
 
Thanks Jon. Nice to know that ICOM are (unofficially) monitoring their customers requirements. Wish it were more prevelant in the boating world.
 
John

It is official.
I convinced the directors here that is a good idea to be part of internet forums.
I am actively involved with a number of marine based forums.
This is one of the main ones.

We are here to offer advice, if I can, on all radio based issues, not just those that concern our kit.
Those that I don't know I will try to find the answer or point you in the direction of some who can help.

It is now a part of my daily routine when in the office to check the forums.

I am not aware of any other company that has taken this stance.

Also being a keen boater it helps me to find answers to my questions too.

Regards
 
Jon.
I bought a BP 186 as a replacement but after a few months it also failed to keep its charge. Might it have been because I only use the radio as a back-up very occasionally? Would it be better to remove it from the set, as someone suggested, during long periods of inactivity? Should it be left in a charged or discharged condition? How critical is the charging period of 15 hours with the AD58? I am reluctant to use my 12v boat supply for an overnight charge, which is inconvenient when cruising. Would the BC119 charger be better and why the huge difference in charging times? Someone told me that an old battery could be rejuvenated by completely discharging and recharging three times in quick succession. Is this correct?
Regards, John
 
Hi John

Always leave the pack fully charged if to be left for any length of time.
Never leave it discharged for storage.

The 15 hours is very critical.
The BC119 will give you better control as once charged it stops charging, after 1.5 hours from flat.

The AD58 is 12v as is the bc119, you should be safe to use both from 12v on the boat.
I have a bc119 strapped in my car.

With a proper battery conditioner you may be able to recover the battery.
The suggestion you have may well work, always worth a try.

All ni-cad batteries should be fully discharged and then recharge on a semi regular basis, every 2-3 months.

Hope that helps and has covered all you points.

Regards
 
[ QUOTE ]
New to motor cruising couple seek advice. We recently acquired first motor cruiser and agreed the previous owner would take his ICOM M21 with him, but leave wired in desktop charger. Google search took me to posts in Apr 04 on this subject , but we would be glad of updated advice: should we get a discontinued M21 or the newer M31? If the latter is it better to get new model with Li-Ion battery or the older Ni-Cd type which will presumably use the existing charger.

Also the boat has several o-o-d Halon extiguishers. If we instal a new auto-system and want a Fire Certificate, can these be retained or would they legally have to be removed/disposed of?

Any help much appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

sir,
with regards to your o-o-d halon extiguishers, i can inform you, that provided they are not full of rust or damaged, they will still operate efficaintly. it is an excellent fire fighting agent, which penertates inaccessable areas, (such as engine compartment).
halon, is a liquid, stored under pressure, which turns into a vapour (-4' or above) when relieced into the atmosphere. it does not leave a residue(like dry powder), and generally, only a small amount is required to extinguish a fire. it does not conduct electricity.
IT HAS AN INDEFINATE SHELF LIFE.
although of its excellance, it does have a few draw backs. it is affected by the wind, it becomes toxic when pyrolised (involved in fire), once the fire is extinguished, it could reignite, (it has no cooling properties), if the area if not rapidly cooled, to name but a few.
IF YOUR EXTINGUISHER IS OUT OF DATE, THIS ONLY MEANS THE STORAGE UNIT NEEDS CHECKING AND ITS NOT LOST ANY PRESSURE. take them to get serviced, and dont let them take them off you. keep them in your boat, in ADITION to any other fire fighting media which you might carry.***DO NOT DUMP THEM, YOU'LL BE SORRY!!***
during the 1980's it was discovered, that halon was damaging the ozone layer. the government said that what was left, could be used up, but it was not to be manufactured. these days, only aerodromes could use it on aircraft fires (they cannot even train with halon!!!).
now im not sure about you getting a safety certificate, with halon extinguishers on board, but if it were my boat, i'd have them on board, in date or not.
take it from me, i'm an aerodrome fire fighter, so, i know what i'm on about!!!!!
i hope my advice might be of help.
PEDRO.
 
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