[Yaesu] Opening Yaesu handheld battery packs for cell replacement

Thu Jul 17 23:46:37 EDT 2008

Last year  I purchased two NiMH packs for my beloved FT-51R, which are exact 
replacements for the original NiCd packs, but have outrageously higher 
storage capacities - 1450mAh as opposed to 600mAh. One pack allows me to 
walk around all day in the field, scanning on both VHF and UHF, have 
conversations (and I am NOT in the primary coverage area of any repeater, so 
relatively high power output is necessary), and usually not have to swap in 
the middle, unless I am particularly loquacious......

I have been charging them in two ways. Either I use the original desktop 
charger that came with the rig, or if I'm impatient, use a W&W Associates 
MasterCharger Ia. The latter doesn't take too long, but seems to switch to 
trickle before the pack gets a full charge (though you wouldn't know it from 
measuring the quiescent voltage after charging), which is probably for the 
better, because I think it tries to charge faster than what is good for the 
cells. With the standard desktop charger, I haven't measured the charging 
current, so I'm not really sure how long I should actually be leaving the 
pack in it to achieve a full charge without overdoing it ...... in terms of 
performance, 14 hours+ seems about right.

Anyway, I got them at batteriesamerica.com, and they weren't significantly 
different in price from the replacement NiCd packs also being offered.

My only problem with this setup is the way Yaesu planned the connection 
between the packs and the rig, which has given me fits ever since I bought 
the handi. Essentially, they have  tiny spring-loaded pins with minimal 
surface area at the contact point with the battery pack, and because they 
are arranged longitudinally, there is no "wiping" action when you install 
the pack. Even worse, inside the rig, these pins are mounted to "float" in a 
plastic holder, so that when you install a pack, they are pushed up against 
equally tiny contact points on a pc board, through which as much as an 
ampere of current is expected to flow - in other words, the power transfer 
through a given contact must pass not one, but two mechanical junctions, 
with no soldered connection. Of course these contact points have 
deteriorated with time, both on the tips of the pins and on the landing 
points on the pcboard, despite gold plating, and so you can have a rig 
suddenly turn off and on while on your belt, as you walk. Highly annoying.

I haven't come up with a good idea how to fix this. So far, frequent sprays 
with contact cleaner seem to temporarily help, and on some battery packs 
I've added small solder blobs to the contact points to create stronger 
pressure on the pins. I've tried wrapping a rubberband around the rig and 
pack to try to stabilize it, and despite its ugliness, even this isn't a 
good solution!

-avi 4X6UA

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Wilson A. Caselli" <wcaselli at webkorner.com>
To: "Fern Rivard" <crc at cyberlink.bc.ca>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>; 
<yaesu at contesting.com>; <k6qd at cox.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 13:57
Subject: Re: [Yaesu] Opening Yaesu handheld battery packs for cell 
replacement

Fern:

Have you seen replacement battery packs which have NiMH cells in them in
place of NiCad Cells made as replacements for older radios,
like my Icom IC-02AT?  I think this is what K6QD is looking for... to change
battery technology in older radios, even if he needs to
purchase a new charger.  I have not seen such an 'animal', but I have not
been looking for it either.  Sounds like a good idea to me as it
will allow the battery/radio to sit on the shelf, unused, for many months,
then still take a charge.  I for one, never want to purchase
another NiCad battery.

HAM a good day,

Wilson Caselli, K1MIJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fern Rivard" <crc at cyberlink.bc.ca>
To: "K6QD" <K6QD at cox.net>; <yaesu at contesting.com>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:30 AM
Subject: Re: [Yaesu] Opening Yaesu handheld battery packs for cell
replacement

Mike:

    First of all, nickel metal hydride require a rapid charger to charge
them while nicad batteries can be charged with either a slow charger or
rapid charger. Also, the price of ready to go battery packs is so reasonable
in price now that why would you want to fool around with attempting a repack
if you've never done it before?
    Cheers from Fern

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "K6QD" <K6QD at cox.net>
To: <yaesu at contesting.com>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 2:21 PM
Subject: [Yaesu] Opening Yaesu handheld battery packs for cell replacement

Does anyone have any recommendations for opening subject NiCad packs
(specifically FNB-41's & 42's) for cell replacement?  Has anyone attempted
replacement with NiMH cells?  Thanks de Mike K6QD
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