Icom: Aftermarket batteries

[jazzboypro]

Hello all,

Do any of you uses aftermarket batteries in you handheld radios ? Are they worth it ?

More specifically i was looking at this Battery

I compared it to an original BP-307 battery that i use in my ID-52.

The specs are not quite the same.

1- BP-307 is 7.2 V and the other one is 7.4
2- BP-307 is 3150mAh ant the other is 3300mAh (i don't think this is a problem)
3- Mostly for the other battery they say its compatible with the E version of Icom radios i have the A version of the ID-52

What do you think ?

Many thanks
73
De VA2FCS

 

[mmckenna]

Hello all,

Do any of you uses aftermarket batteries in you handheld radios ? Are they worth it ?

More specifically i was looking at this Battery

I compared it to an original BP-307 battery that i use in my ID-52.

Aftermarket batteries can be really a gamble. Trick is figuring out who makes the cells. Most of the aftermarket battery companies are just sourcing cells from somewhere else and sticking them in a plastic case with their name on it. Often you'll see something like "Cell origin:", but you have to take that with a grain of salt.

I often use after market batteries at work since there is often a HUGE price difference between the manufacturer branded batteries and the after market stuff. In many cases, even the manufacturer batteries are produced by someone else.

Like you are doing, you need to research if it's a good brand or not. No idea about this specific brand, but hopefully someone here does.

The specs are not quite the same.

1- BP-307 is 7.2 V and the other one is 7.4

Either typo, battery chemistry difference (unlikely) or just being different. Your radio won't have an issue with an additional 200mv.

2- BP-307 is 3150mAh ant the other is 3300mAh (i don't think this is a problem)

Not a problem. Think of the milliamp/hour rating as the size of the gas tank your car. Same gas inside, just more of it. Good to have if you forgot to fill up.

 

[jazzboypro]

Aftermarket batteries can be really a gamble. Trick is figuring out who makes the cells. Most of the aftermarket battery companies are just sourcing cells from somewhere else and sticking them in a plastic case with their name on it. Often you'll see something like "Cell origin:", but you have to take that with a grain of salt.

I often use after market batteries at work since there is often a HUGE price difference between the manufacturer branded batteries and the after market stuff. In many cases, even the manufacturer batteries are produced by someone else.

Like you are doing, you need to research if it's a good brand or not. No idea about this specific brand, but hopefully someone here does.



Either typo, battery chemistry difference (unlikely) or just being different. Your radio won't have an issue with an additional 200mv.



Not a problem. Think of the milliamp/hour rating as the size of the gas tank your car. Same gas inside, just more of it. Good to have if you forgot to fill up.

The Cameron Sino company is in business since 2000 and are based in Hong Kong. I've checked out some reviews but as with most things, some like them and some don't. Their website is well made and looks professional to me.

I am mostly wandering if there is a chance of damaging the radio with theses batteries ? if not i would be willing to try them out.

 

[mmckenna]

I am mostly wandering if there is a chance of damaging the radio with theses batteries ? if not i would be willing to try them out.

If the specs match the factory battery that close, you are OK. the 0.2volt difference isn't going to matter. The battery voltage will be different depending on the state of charge.

If the pins line up and the battery fits, go for it.

 

[jazzboypro]

The other question that comes to mind is will my Icom rapid charger work with these batteries ?

 

[mmckenna]

If the battery chemistry is the same, it should work just fine.

 

[AK9R]

Mostly for the other battery they say its compatible with the E version of Icom radios i have the A version of the ID-52

I don't think this is an issue. The A version was sold to the North American market. The E version was sold to the European market. Other than transmit frequency ranges and repeater offsets, they are the same radio.

 

[N4DJC]

I’ve never been a fan of aftermarket batteries, unless there is no option for a new OEM. The 52 is too expensive to take a chance with…IMO.

 

[AE4NG]

I’ve had pretty good luck with the stuff from Batteries America. They do a lot of two way after market batteries and chargers, including a lot of ham radio OEM replacements. I first found them at the Orlando Hamcation.

 

[AK9R]

I first found them at the Orlando Hamcation.

They go to many of the larger hamfests. Batteries America - The Worldwide Battery Superstore

 

[ladn]

It's been awhile since I've needed batteries, but I have had good results with batteries from W&W: http://www.ww-manufacturing.com/default.asp

 

[bharvey2]

Aftermarket batteries are a crap shoot. Many of my toys are older Kenwood models. I've had some aftermarket batteries that are on par with the OEM ones and others that peter out in less than 25% of the time that a OEM battery will last. It's just a matter of finding a particular brand that works well and sticking with them.

 

[DeeEx]

It's been awhile since I've needed batteries, but I have had good results with batteries from W&W: http://www.ww-manufacturing.com/default.asp

I second that. All of my Yaesu stuff is powered by W&W at this point.

 

[jaspence]

Lithium batteries often have a slightly different number after the decimal. Google the supplier name and read other opinions. W&W and Batteries America have been around for many years and I have had reliable products from each place.
I

 

[ems55]

Aftermarket batteries can be really a gamble. Trick is figuring out who makes the cells. Most of the aftermarket battery companies are just sourcing cells from somewhere else and sticking them in a plastic case with their name on it. Often you'll see something like "Cell origin:", but you have to take that with a grain of salt.

I often use after market batteries at work since there is often a HUGE price difference between the manufacturer branded batteries and the after market stuff. In many cases, even the manufacturer batteries are produced by someone else.

Like you are doing, you need to research if it's a good brand or not. No idea about this specific brand, but hopefully someone here does.



Either typo, battery chemistry difference (unlikely) or just being different. Your radio won't have an issue with an additional 200mv.



Not a problem. Think of the milliamp/hour rating as the size of the gas tank your car. Same gas inside, just more of it. Good to have if you forgot to fill up.

Well said, explained !! Thanks

 

[top13]

I have no choice but to use aftermarket batteries. Some of my radios are so old that is the only way.
Example, My Icom U-16 and V-16 aftermarket batteries work ok. But, when I put them in the drop-in charger the charge light never goes off. I am afraid to leave the batteries charging more than 8 hours.

 

[mmckenna]

Well said, explained !! Thanks

Happy to help.

Unless you are buying your batteries off Wish.com, or some low buck amazon/ebay seller, it's usually not a problem.

As I said, most of the batteries sold by the radio manufacturers are not produced by them. They contract it out.
Spending more on the brand name battery just to have the brand name is fine, but it can be a waste of money. I've got about 500 radios here at work, and we order radios with the factory battery, but use other brands when we replace them. PowerProducts makes good stuff, and I've had our PD using them and some other brands for about 10 years. They've performed just fine and I'm not seeing any failures.
Unfortunately, they cater to the public safety/commercial industries, so not sure they even sell stuff that would work with the ham radios.

 

[vagrant]

Whatever you get, use a multimeter to check polarity and voltage.

 

[FKimble]

The 7.2 and 7.4 usually indicate different chemistry. Either fully charged will be in the mid 8.x voltage range. The radio won't know the difference. But, the chargers usually have different charging algorithiums. Best way to kill a battery is charging incorrectly. 2 lithiums @ 3.7 volts = 7.4. 6 NiMH @ 1.2 = 7.2. Do a little more digging on their website. Could just a a typo. But be sure your battery type and charger match.

Frank

 

[jazzboypro]

The 7.2 and 7.4 usually indicate different chemistry. Either fully charged will be in the mid 8.x voltage range. The radio won't know the difference. But, the chargers usually have different charging algorithiums. Best way to kill a battery is charging incorrectly. 2 lithiums @ 3.7 volts = 7.4. 6 NiMH @ 1.2 = 7.2. Do a little more digging on their website. Could just a a typo. But be sure your battery type and charger match.

Frank

All the aftermarket batteries that i have seen for the ID-52 are marked as 7.4 volts and not 7.2. They are all sold as being LI-Ion batteries and this is also what it says on the label at the back of the batteries. The prices seems to be about 50% lower than OEM.