Icom IC-M31 handheld VHF

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Manxman

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Has anyone experienced any battery problems with Icom IC-M31?
I recently purchased one and followed the initial battery charging instructions, using it for only the third time this evening the battery level indicator showed full. Within in a minute of transmitting the battery failed.
In the users manual it states ”If your battery pack seem to have no capacity even after being charged, completely discharge them by leaving the power ON overnight. Then fully charge the battery pack again. If the batteries still do not retain a charge ( or very little ), new battery pack must be purchased “

It seems to me that I may have had a faulty battery supplied with the unit. Has anyone else had a similar problem with the BP 224 battery pack.


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Yep, the same thing happened to me,thought I could'nt have left it on charge or something.Charged it a couple of times now and all OK.
Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.
 
Manxman

All Ni-cad battery need to be cycled a few time to bring the to max capacity.

If after a few cycles you still have the problem contact me via phone or mail.
I will arrange to have the unit collected and fully checked for you.

I hope that is a help to you.

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741
 
Nice to know you're there Jon, used Icom when I was flying,so decided to use it boating, not been dissapointed yet.Along with Garmin I find yourselves unusual in the marine industry as you actually look after the customers!
Regards Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.
 
Al

Thanks for the comments.
We feel it very important to provide this kind of service to our customer.
Icom prides itself on customer service.
Myself and my asst. Phil keep are registared on a number of marine forums.

I look after the Avionics dealers to.

Regards


<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741
 
Used a handheld as a backup in the twins I used to fly and as a primary radio in homebuilts,so if it worked there I'm sure they will do fine on the water.Strange how you see the same names rising to the top in different pastimes!
Al.

<hr width=100% size=1>No dear,the water goes in the other one.
 
I have just bought one of these also. It is primarily a back-up and so it ends-up being charged and left for ages with very little use, then topped-up again when someone thinks about it. We could institute a system whereby it is run until it is dead say once a week and then recharged. Does this sound like a better way to treat the batteries ??

Thanks


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Benbow

To be honest if it only a backup and it was me, I would ignore the Ni-cad and just have a set of AA batteries and the cell case.

No worries about it being charges fully all the time.

The M31 stay's fully wanterproof when the AA are fitted unlike some in this class!

But if you decide to use the Ni-cad then it will holds full charge for a about 3 months be fore dropping off.
You should then discharge and fully recharge.
Topping up Ni-cad's is a bad way to treat the battery.

Hope that all helps

Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741
 
Thanks for this. Its largely a backup but also used for short periods such as for talking to port control from the cockpit, so I will stick with the recharchgables and make sure they are run flat occasionally.

It may be useful for you if I add that the fact that batteries were NiCd rather than NiMH gave me real pause to consider alternatives. But then I considered that its two predecessors had both died as a result of being dropped into the sea so I went with the cheapest !

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Jon,

I too have an M31, when fully charged the Ni-cad lasts just about 20 days before its flat with the set switched off. I have checked it each day and the battery indicator shows full until the last day when it suddenly goes flat. This is nowhere near 3 months, can ICOM check it out for me. Otherwise I think the M31 is great.

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Dave

We would be happy to check it out for you.
Its no problem at all.


Regards

<hr width=100% size=1>Jon Brooks
Marine Dealer Manager
Icom UK Ltd.
01227 741741
 
Thanks for all the replies, it's nice to see Jon's especially.
I'm going through the procedure of charging and discharging to see how I get on.
Hopefully things should be alright, thanks again.

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