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GM7HUD > FT817 11.12.06 02:43l 52 Lines 2241 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : DF4182GM7HUD
Read: GUEST VE7HFY
Subj: Re: Using the empty battery case?
Path: DB0FHN<DB0THA<DB0ERF<DB0FBB<DB0IUZ<DB0GOS<ON0AR<ZL2BAU<GB7ESX
Sent: 061210/2356z @:GB7ESX.#31.GBR.EU #:44343 $:DF4182GM7HUD [Witham, Esx]NNA
G0FTD wrote:-
>
> I have an FT817ND here which gets used quite a lot.
>
ND hey? The posh one. Some of us only have standard ones ;-)
> The measley 1300mA cells supplied don't last very long.
>
It does appear to be the thirstiest radio I've ever owned.
> Has anyone done the green wire mod to enable the empty case to be charged,
> and can the internal charging circuitry supply enough current without
> going bang ?
>
Yes. Seems to work. I've got 1800ma NiMHs in mine. The 10hr charge isn't
enough to fully charge them. So you need to do some maths to figure out how
much longer to charge them to get a full charge.
> I have read some tosh about using the empty cell case is dangerous "because
> it might short circuit to the case". To me that's a load of cobblers.
> There's enough insulation over the battery conpartment.
>
Well if you repeat a rumour enough times it becomes true! The set will
charge the normal battery pack and there is some risk in that. Charging
higher capacity batteries with the same charge current has no greater
inherent risk than charging the original pack. The only risk is that as 1x
10hr charge is not enough, you'll hit the charge button again and may
charge the cells for another 10hr when they may be full after only 8hr.
There is therefore a risk of overcharging if you dont keep your act
together.
>
> So, anyone using the empty battery case with some high capacity NiMh cells ?
Even with 1800mAhr cells the life is drastically short. There again, you do
need the volume turned up loud when on top of a mountain to hear jack above
the roar of the wind! Coupled with the receiver thirst and tx thirst, mine
does eat through the charge in a very short time. I've had the cells fully
charged cut short SOTA expeditions on two occasions. Of course the lower
temperature on the tops of mountains wont help. I'm currently using a
2.8Ahr SLA battery. That weighs 1.18kg but after carrying it up a mountain
along with the FT817, a microphone, pencils, paper, antenna, feeder etc.
plus all the life support stuff you need (survival bag, water & food,
waterproofs, compass, maps etc.) it feels more like 18kg!
A nice 13.8V 4Ahr LiIon pack is what I'm looking for now. Any ideas?
73 de Andy GM7HUD
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