Thanks Carlos. Kerby On Wed, 13 Jun 2018 04:39:03 -0700 "Carlos Crespo" <crespo.cd@...> wrote: It is fairly easy to convert the FT-60 to lithium using 18650 cells.
I personally went with the 3400mah Panasonic 18650b but this type of cell can be found inside laptop batteries that no longer work, for free. Now my radio needs to be charged only once a week.
The radio's cut-off (5V/2) is way too low for Li-on cells, plus the radio will continue to come up and die until the cells are almost dead, not good for Li-on.?On the next pack I build, I will use protected 18650 cells for the added safety as well as for the low voltage cut-off at 3V.?
And instead of spending money on a dedicated charger for the radio, you can get a hobby charger that will charge just about any type of battery out there.
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That's not going to be a problem in this application.
I understand that if you look at the battery voltage vs. time for
a given discharge rate, the NiMH cells are no worse (perhaps even
better) than alkaline batteries.? The battery voltage remains at a
useful level longer with the NiMH cells.
73, Nick, AA3T
Sent from our laptop
On 6/14/2018 12:56 AM, JARDY DAWSON via
Groups.Io wrote:
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If you are using the battery tray, remember, alkaline batteries
put out 1.5 volts, rechargeable only put out 1.2 volts.?
Jardy Dawson WA7JRD
Message sent through sub space hailing frequencies?using the Universal Translator.?
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED.
I ordered a couple of new FNB-83 batteries.
On another matter -- I have two types of NiMH batteries --
Amazon basics and Eveready.? The Amazon batteries are 2400
mAh; the Eveready batteries are not marked as to capacity.
When I put either of these batteries in the Yaesu AA battery
tray, they are too big to allow the tray to be attached to the
FT-60 -- the batteries are too "fat," the tray will not press
down in place.
Are lower capacity NiMH batteries smaller diameter so they
will allow the tray to be installed?
Thanks.
Joe
W4HH
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2000 mAh Eneloops fit just fine
73, Nick AA3T
Sent from our laptop
On 6/14/2018 12:40 AM, Anon Anon wrote:
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THANKS TO EVERYONE
WHO RESPONDED.
I ordered a couple of new FNB-83 batteries.
On another matter -- I have two types of NiMH batteries -- Amazon
basics and Eveready.? The Amazon batteries are 2400 mAh; the
Eveready batteries are not marked as to capacity.
When I put either of these batteries in the Yaesu AA battery tray,
they are too big to allow the tray to be attached to the FT-60 --
the batteries are too "fat," the tray will not press down in
place.
Are lower capacity NiMH batteries smaller diameter so they will
allow the tray to be installed?
Thanks.
Joe
W4HH
|
If you are using the battery tray, remember, alkaline batteries put out 1.5 volts, rechargeable only put out 1.2 volts.? Jardy Dawson WA7JRD Message sent through sub space hailing frequencies?using the Universal Translator.?
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On Jun 13, 2018, at 21:40, Anon Anon < lecontejoe@...> wrote: THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED.
I ordered a couple of new FNB-83 batteries.
On another matter -- I have two types of NiMH batteries -- Amazon basics and Eveready.? The Amazon batteries are 2400 mAh; the Eveready batteries are not marked as to capacity.
When I put either of these batteries in the Yaesu AA battery tray, they are too big to allow the tray to be attached to the FT-60 -- the batteries are too "fat," the tray will not press down in place.
Are lower capacity NiMH batteries smaller diameter so they will allow the tray to be installed?
Thanks.
Joe
W4HH
|
THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO RESPONDED.
I ordered a couple of new FNB-83 batteries.
On another matter -- I have two types of NiMH batteries -- Amazon basics and Eveready.? The Amazon batteries are 2400 mAh; the Eveready batteries are not marked as to capacity.
When I put either of these batteries in the Yaesu AA battery tray, they are too big to allow the tray to be attached to the FT-60 -- the batteries are too "fat," the tray will not press down in place.
Are lower capacity NiMH batteries smaller diameter so they will allow the tray to be installed?
Thanks.
Joe
W4HH
|
The beauty of a charger like the Maha units is that they properly examine and charge each individual?
AA cell ... and come with power supply and no additional cabling necessary.
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
|
It is fairly easy to convert the FT-60 to lithium using 18650 cells.
I personally went with the 3400mah Panasonic 18650b but this type of cell can be found inside laptop batteries that no longer work, for free. Now my radio needs to be charged only once a week.
The radio's cut-off (5V/2) is way too low for Li-on cells, plus the radio will continue to come up and die until the cells are almost dead, not good for Li-on.?On the next pack I build, I will use protected 18650 cells for the added safety as well as for the low voltage cut-off at 3V.?
And instead of spending money on a dedicated charger for the radio, you can get a hobby charger that will charge just about any type of battery out there.
|
I recommend the MiBOXER charger
Dennis
On 6/11/2018 9:45 PM, Mark Lassman
wrote:
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Great suggestion.
I recommend getting the battery tray that
holds six normal size AA cells. Then buy Eneloops NiMH
cells or equivalent and charger(s). The AA Eneloops are in
two capacity sizes, nominally 2000 maH and 2550 maH--I am
not sure if the larger one fits the tray (maybe someone
can answer that).
I bought mine at Costco--they had a nice package that was
a good deal and I have three sets. Each came with a
charger, some AA's (eight, as I recall); some AAA's (not
sure, maybe six of them); and adapters to fit D and C
applications. The reason I have three sets is because one
charger and 8 AA cells go with my camera, four cells in
the flash, four cells for a spare set, and one charger
that takes four cells at once. For the FT-60, I needed 12
cells, six for the loaded tray and six more for spares. It
takes two of the four-cell chargers to charge the six
cells simultaneously.
You get lots of battery energy at a good price. It's worth
checking out.
73.?
JERRY, N3AA
|
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Show quoted text
I recommend getting the battery tray that holds six normal size AA cells. Then buy Eneloops NiMH cells or equivalent and charger(s). The AA Eneloops are in two capacity sizes, nominally 2000 maH and 2550 maH--I am not sure if the larger one fits the tray (maybe someone can answer that).
I bought mine at Costco--they had a nice package that was a good deal and I have three sets. Each came with a charger, some AA's (eight, as I recall); some AAA's (not sure, maybe six of them); and adapters to fit D and C applications. The reason I have three sets is because one charger and 8 AA cells go with my camera, four cells in the flash, four cells for a spare set, and one charger that takes four cells at once. For the FT-60, I needed 12 cells, six for the loaded tray and six more for spares. It takes two of the four-cell chargers to charge the six cells simultaneously.
You get lots of battery energy at a good price. It's worth checking out.
73.?
JERRY, N3AA
|
I recommend getting the battery tray that holds six normal size AA cells. Then buy Eneloops NiMH cells or equivalent and charger(s). The AA Eneloops are in two capacity sizes, nominally 2000 maH and 2550 maH--I am not sure if the larger one fits the tray (maybe someone can answer that).
I bought mine at Costco--they had a nice package that was a good deal and I have three sets. Each came with a charger, some AA's (eight, as I recall); some AAA's (not sure, maybe six of them); and adapters to fit D and C applications. The reason I have three sets is because one charger and 8 AA cells go with my camera, four cells in the flash, four cells for a spare set, and one charger that takes four cells at once. For the FT-60, I needed 12 cells, six for the loaded tray and six more for spares. It takes two of the four-cell chargers to charge the six cells simultaneously.
You get lots of battery energy at a good price. It's worth checking out.
73.?
JERRY, N3AA
|
On Mon, Jun 11, 2018 at 10:57 am, Mark Lassman wrote:
Will my drop-in charger work with the Li-Ion battery?
NO - not the SBH that shipped with the FT-60R. Regulation circuitry is built into the Li-Ion pack - please use a charger or? charging method Batteries America recommends. (But WHY Li-Ion??? (grin)) ? -- Clint Bradford K6LCS http//www.work-sat.com
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IF the new pack is NiMH and has charger contacts on the back,
AND you have the intelligent drop-in SBH charger?
that has shipped with FT-60R radios for a few years now, all is well.
BUT - If all you have is the AC wall wart charger - and the new pack is?
NiMH - you should also invest in an intelligent NiMH charger. Pumping a?
standard-rate charge into NiMH is NOT the best way to charge that?
chemistry. YES, it works ... but that method and resulting heat will?
dramatically lessen the total discharge-charge cycles of the pack.
I am not sure why so many hams are in to Lithium packs. Li-Ion works?
better in, say, Alaska - with cold climates. They ARE slightly lighter in?
weight (so, instead, don't supersize your next fast-food meal (grin). They
DO hold?their charge longer without use than NiMH. But I do not buy radios to?
charge and toss 'em in the glove compartment and NOT use them for a year.
But - economically - you will only achieve 1/3 to 1/2 the total number of?
discharge-charge cycles from Lithium than you achieve from properly charged?
NiMH packs.
My personal solution is intelligently charging 2700mAH Maha AA cells (might?
require purchasing two of their 4-at-a-time chargers) and plopping them into?
the FBA-25 alkaline packs. Twice the "standard" battery's capacity - and also?
using the battery-saving techniques of improving antenna and turning TX power
DOWN to 2W ... and also using an audio accessory to further save battery life.
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
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To properly charge BatteriesAmerica.com Li-Ion pack for the FT-60R, you need to?
also purchase the VAC-810B charger ...
?
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
|
Don’t forget satellite AO-85!
It, too, has a wonderfully strong 2m downlink.
Freq chart at ...
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
|
If in a “big room or noisy environment,” consider an earpiece or shoulder-worn speaker-mic.
That will save on battery pack longevity, too, since you’ll?
be turning the volume DOWN!
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
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BatteriesAmerica.com are great people.
I am still using 2700mAH NiMH AA cells in the FBA-25 shell, and charging with a now-discontinued MAHA charger that charges up to eight individual cells.
2700mAH ... turned down to 2W TX power ... us Ng an earpiece - that combo lasts a LONG time between charges!
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
|
And don't forget the easy way to more than DOUBLE battery longevity:
Turn DOWN your TX power to 2W, use one of those 17" antennas (or the?
wonderful Smiley 270A - which out-performs the Diamond SRH-320a, but?
is HALF the price!), and use a speaker-mic.
If you are not making it with 2W and a better antenna - "line of sight" -?
them you're probably not going to make it with 4W.
And what "eats up" batteries? Keying the mic, and turning up the?
receive audio. If you use a speaker mic on your shoulder instead of?
listening from a belt-mounted position, what's the first thing you?
will do? Turn the volume DOWN!
--
Clint Bradford K6LCS
http//www.work-sat.com
|
If you go on Ebay, you can get an aftermarket lithium battery
pack and a charger.? I use my FT-60 only lightly, so I have not
run the lithium battery hard, but it appears to work OK.
Nick, AA3T
Sent from our laptop
On 6/11/2018 7:09 AM, Stephen Walls
wrote:
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I just bought some FNB-V94 batteries from Batteries
America.
They
are 1800 mwh.? ?They are identical size wise to the original
1400s.
They
(I think) are for a commercial radio.??
Batteries
America has several options for the FT-60.? ?I liked the idea
of a factory battery with a bit more juice in it.
Steve
K4ELI
|
I’ve been using the same FNB-83 battery since I got my radio, about 8 years ago, or so. Maybe longer. Still shows 8.2v on startup, after a full charge.
However, I’m looking at some longer-life batteries and see the following on Batteries America site. Your opinion?
FNB-V94 7.2v 1800mAh FNB-83x 7.2v 2000mAh FNB-83xe 7.2v 2100mAh and one, Li-Ion type: FNB-V67Li, 7.4v 2200mAh
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On Jun 10, 2018, at 6:16 PM, JARDY DAWSON via Groups.Io < JARDY72@...> wrote:
New batteries usually show 8.4 volts fully charged. Older batteries will start to weaken after a while. Your batteries showing 7.2 volts will need to be replaced soon.?Jardy Dawson WA7JRD Message sent through sub space hailing frequencies?using the Universal Translator.?
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In addition to the FNB-V94 battery, there are three others that appear to be compatible with the FT-60. Will my drop-in charger work with the Li-Ion battery?
FNB-V94 7.2v 1800mAh FNB-83x 7.2v 2000mAh FNB-83xe 7.2v 2100mAh and one, Li-Ion type: FNB-V67Li, 7.4v 2200mAh
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On Jun 11, 2018, at 4:09 AM, Stephen Walls < swalls46@...> wrote:
I just bought some FNB-V94 batteries from Batteries America.
They are 1800 mwh.? ?They are identical size wise to the original 1400s.
They (I think) are for a commercial radio.??
Batteries America has several options for the FT-60.? ?I liked the idea of a factory battery with a bit more juice in it.
Steve K4ELI
|
Clint Bradford