Icom M31 not charging

[Shearwater]

My Icom M31 sits indoors on its charger but the LED on the holder started to flash (not sure of colour as I am colour blind and red n green LEDs are paritcularly confusing) . Now the battery is totally flat, the light will not come on when radio is inserted. Transformer ouput is 20.5v, the terminals in the basket is outputting 8.25v. Have cleaned all terminii with bicarb and lemon juice but nothing has changed. Is the end nigh for it?

 

[mil1194]

My Icom M31 sits indoors on its charger but the LED on the holder started to flash (not sure of colour as I am colour blind and red n green LEDs are paritcularly confusing) . Now the battery is totally flat, the light will not come on when radio is inserted. Transformer ouput is 20.5v, the terminals in the basket is outputting 8.25v. Have cleaned all terminii with bicarb and lemon juice but nothing has changed. Is the end nigh for it?

Ask them. Their service is excellent. One issue is that won’t charge below a certain temperature - my M94 won’t anyway. I’ve dealt with Chris (?) a few times and they’re 2nd to none.

Chrisl@icomuk.co.uk

 

[Refueler]

My Icom M31 sits indoors on its charger

If thats long term and you don;t use the item ... then basically the battery will die ... even with BMS cutting off charge when full etc - if you don't exercise the battery .... its internal resistance will increase and eventually it fails.
Battery packs as items like this have - the chargers usually default OFF if the voltage detected is below a minimum level.

The M31 does have a replaceable battery pack ....

 

[Shearwater]

Many thanks. Amazon replacement under 30 squids!

 

[mil1194]

Many thanks. Amazon replacement under 30 squids!

I’ve bought various spares directly from Icom and I don’t remember them being silly priced. And you know at least they’re genuine parts,

 

[Refueler]

I’ve bought various spares directly from Icom and I don’t remember them being silly priced. And you know at least they’re genuine parts,

And you are sure that ICOM don't have supply from 3rd party similar producers ?

I agree that peace of mind can be had by buying the ICOM label ... but it does not mean 3rd party are no good.

I have an old ICOM ... the battery packs long ago said farewell .... so I modified the pack to isolate the cells - connected a lead to the BMS in the pack and I can now run that same radio from a LiPo velcro'd to the back .. AND it has longer use time !

 

[mil1194]

And you are sure that ICOM don't have supply from 3rd party similar producers ?

I agree that peace of mind can be had by buying the ICOM label ... but it does not mean 3rd party are no good.

I have an old ICOM ... the battery packs long ago said farewell .... so I modified the pack to isolate the cells - connected a lead to the BMS in the pack and I can now run that same radio from a LiPo velcro'd to the back .. AND it has longer use time !

You are completely correct but virtually anyone can sell anything though Amazon/ebay etc and whether they have the correct label on is an educated guess in lots of cases.

 

[Refueler]

You are completely correct but virtually anyone can sell anything though Amazon/ebay etc and whether they have the correct label on is an educated guess in lots of cases.

I do not disagree .... but at least Amazon do have a reasonable Returns policy ... eBay can hit and miss on it ... but use a Credit card and have protection that way. Sadly the days of Paypal looking after you are not as they were ...

 

[ashtead]

My recollection is icom have a self discharginging tendency if the battery is left in and hence battery replacement is a common issue . It might be model specific but I never trusted the brand much once I learnt this lesson even if they do take AA batteries as alternate source.

 

[mil1194]

Many thanks. Amazon replacement under 30 squids!

Did you email them for an idea or a price?

 

[Plum]

My recollection is icom have a self discharginging tendency if the battery is left in and hence battery replacement is a common issue . It might be model specific but I never trusted the brand much once I learnt this lesson even if they do take AA batteries as alternate source.

Yes, it's model specific. The ICOM M31 is an old design, at least 20 years old (mine is 18) with a lithium battery but based on an earlier model that used NiMh batteries for which there was a built in self discharge which they unfortunately retained for the lithium batteries. I have always removed the battery pack if storing for more than a month. My experience of 3 newer models of ICOM handhelds over the last 15 years is that they do not have inbuilt self discharge and are great radios.

 

[Refueler]

Yes, it's model specific. The ICOM M31 is an old design, at least 20 years old (mine is 18) with a lithium battery but based on an earlier model that used NiMh batteries for which there was a built in self discharge which they unfortunately retained for the lithium batteries. I have always removed the battery pack if storing for more than a month. My experience of 3 newer models of ICOM handhelds over the last 15 years is that they do not have inbuilt self discharge and are great radios.

If I remember correctly - it was not designed Self Discharge ... it was result of having the battery maintain the radios memory ....

There was never any advantage to self discharge with NiXX based batterys - but there is with Lithium !

Removal of battery packs from most items is good practice - but note that ALL batterys regardless of 'chemistry' self discharge ... just some do it much slower !