[Yaesu] Opening Yaesu handheld battery packs for cell replacement

Fri Jul 18 05:58:31 EDT 2008

May I introduce the group to an outstanding set of products from
Caig Laboratories at http://store.caig.com/s.nl/sc.2/category.292/.f
or entry at http://www.Caig.com.
Caig produces contact cleaners and lubricants which enhance conductivity
between metal surfaces.  I believe Caig's DeoxIT Gold 100% solution
Part Number G100L-2C at $5.95 would be the appropriate solution to use on
your battery contacts which have "just been cleaned" with your current
cleaning solution, or isopropyl alcohol.
On dirty contacts, I would use the standard DeoxIT product which has
more cleaners.  A small tube, Part Number D100L-2C will set you back $4.95.

Before retiring last summer I worked for an industry which built electronic
control modules which were designed to operate for 30 years mounted upon
telephone poles.  These controls controlled tap changers which corrected
the output voltage of power transformers mounted on the poles in all kinds
of weather.  Originally we used a product from AMP, Inc. which was a
cleaner/lubricant containing mineral oil, but AMP discontinued the product.
After much searching we ran across Caig laboratories.  Caig's standard
DeoxIT has been used since then (10 yrs.) on all of the tin-plated connector
contacts through the product with zero contact failure.  Personally, I 
cannot
speak highly enough of their products.

Sorry for the commercial, but I think it was needed here.

Wilson Caselli, K1MIJ

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Avi - Modi'im Orchards" <tiavi at netvision.net.il>
To: "Wilson A. Caselli" <wcaselli at webkorner.com>; "Fern Rivard" 
<crc at cyberlink.bc.ca>; <yaesu at mailman.qth.net>; <yaesu at contesting.com>; 
<k6qd at cox.net>
Sent: Thursday, July 17, 2008 11:46 PM
Subject: Re: [Yaesu] Opening Yaesu handheld battery packs for cell 
replacement

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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