Handheld VHF batteries

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dmh

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I have an ICOM M31 with NI-CAD batteries. Generally the unit is good but the memory problem with NI-CAD is a nuisance as you have to discharge it fully before recharge and recharge takes 10 hours. There is also a cartridge which takes 6 AA batteries. I was thinking of using NI-MH AA's which do not have a memeory problem so can be charges as and when required, my camera has AA's and the 12V charger charges 4 AA's in 2 hours, top up take about 30 mins. The 6AA's are all in Series, The NI-CAD battery is 7.2 Volts with a capacity of 750 mah. My AA NI-MH have a capactity of 2700 mah each. Do this mean that the AA's would last 3 times as long as the NI-CAD or have I missed something. There are lots of knowledgeable electrical guys on this forum, what do you think.
 
Yes, your higher-capacity NiMh batteries will certainly last longer, maybe not 3 times longer (I've always thought their capacity ratings were a bit optimistic). As they run out, rather than gradually losing voltage, they tend to go quite quickly, so you'd be well advised to have a freshly-charged spare set handy. The "freshly-charged" bit is important, because NiMh tend to self-discharge in storage a bit quicker than NiCd.

You know that the M31 continues to draw current even when switched off, and it's best to remove the battery pack when you don't need the radio for a few days
 
Yes nominally more than 3 times the life. However bare in mind that a full charge will take more than 3 times as long if you are charging in the same charger as the old 750MaH batteries. olewill
 
My M31 handheld came with a BP-241 1150mAh Li-Ion battery pack which has no memory effect and lasts for ages. They are about £45 so rather more than a set of NiMh batteries but worth considering. You would need to check that your charger was compatible.
 
I have a Standard Horizon VHF with NiMh batteries. I left it on the boat last October, and it still worked (though there probably wasn't a lot left in the batteries) when I went back in April, so NiMh batteries can survive a fair time without recharging.
 
The rechargeable batteries in my ICOM were useless. Ran out of oomph after a very short period of use without warning, took for ever to charge up and after 18 months of very limited usage wouldn't hold a charge for more than a day. I rang ICOM and was told that if they had lasted 18 months then that was about right!!!!!!

Needless to say I didn't buy a new set, I now use Duracell AAs, and a set will last me all season and then often well into the next. They are very cheap now if you look out for the special offer packs.

Sparkie
 
REBUILD your old battery packs

If you have a much loved bit of kit with goosed batteries & would like the battery pack replaced - but they are no longer available; Try these guys, they are very good & reasonably priced. They will dismantle & rebuild your old pack with new cells.
Strikalite /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

No connection, I'm just a very happy customer who wants to share my good experience with them. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
 
Re: REBUILD your old battery packs

i did it myself with an old shakespeare radio, carefully split the battery pack, souced some new cells on the net with solder tags on, they are a std size, soldered them up and glued the old casing back tgether, works fine again.
stu
 
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