Icom R5 - NimH batteries ok?

[hackinstack]

I have been looking for an answer on whether or not NimH batteries are ok to use in my R5 with the built-in recharging circuitry. The Icom manual only mentions NiCd, but some websites seem to indicate that the battery chemistry of the NimH's are ok in NiCd chargers and the NimH are the only ones I can find off the shelf in the stores...

 

[Air490]

I would avoid charging any batteries in the R5, or any other scanner/receiver for that matter, regardless of whether they were Ni-Cad or NiMH. The scanner only has a timer based charging circuit so it can potentially overcharge the batteries, make them hot and damage the scanner.

 

[rescue54]

I am using NiMh batteries in mine but I am using a smart charger instead and replacing the batteries as needed. Occasionally NiMh batteries can lose polarity in a total discharge and potentially harm your scanner. Mine die all the time but when the radio starts beeping I usually have some time before they totally discharge. so far so good. But as in the post before mine, I rarely use the charger.

 

[hackinstack]

Thanks for the info guys, I will stick to recharging in an external charger...