Yaesu: Yaesu ft-60r charging

[mrjayd]

Is it ok to leave the HT on the changing base all the time when not using it or just when monitoring? I thought I read somewhere that you should wait until the low battery warning comes on before putting in the charging base.

 

[Ct_Pirate]

Good Question, I typically leave it out of the charging stand. But I'd be curious to hear everyone's input.

 

[KB4MSZ]

With LiPo batteries there isn't a need to bring down the battery before re-charging such as NiCad batteries required. When LiPo batteries are not going to be used for a period of time, it is best to store them at approximately half their full charge, or about 3.8 volts per cell. For a 2 cell battery this would be 7.6 volts. The battery management circuit in the radio should shut off the radio when the batteries reach this point of discharge. Once LiPo batteries are discharged to 3 volts or less per cell they can degrade very quickly. Again, the battery management in the radio (or laptop, cell phone, etc.) should halt the discharge at around 3.8 to 3.85 volts.

I have noticed with my VX-8DR HT that the drop-in charger will charge the battery while the radio is in operation, and with both receivers on it can take quite awhile as the charge circuit is only about 500ma. I also found that the battery management circuit in the drop-in charger will shut-off and no longer charge after the batteries reach their peak value of 4.2 volts per cell. What I didn't realize was that if the radio is left on it will begin to discharge again and the drop-in charger will not "reset" at some point and resume charging the battery. The HT has to be removed and then placed back in the charger to trigger the circuit to start charging again. The result is ending up with a discharged HT unexpectedly.

This issue can be avoided if my HT is connected to the external charger through it's power plug jack. This both powers the HT and charges the battery, allowing continuous use without discharging the battery. If the external supply is large enough (provides enough current) it can provide the full 5 watts output that the VX-8DR is capable of.

When left in the charging stand the battery will reach it's full charge and the charging cycle will turn off. In the case of my HT, it won't resume when the batteries are again being discharged. Leaving the radio in the charging stand is fine.

 

[k6cpo]

With LiPo batteries there isn't a need to bring down the battery before re-charging such as NiCad batteries required. When LiPo batteries are not going to be used for a period of time, it is best to store them at approximately half their full charge, or about 3.8 volts per cell. For a 2 cell battery this would be 7.6 volts. The battery management circuit in the radio should shut off the radio when the batteries reach this point of discharge. Once LiPo batteries are discharged to 3 volts or less per cell they can degrade very quickly. Again, the battery management in the radio (or laptop, cell phone, etc.) should halt the discharge at around 3.8 to 3.85 volts.

I have noticed with my VX-8DR HT that the drop-in charger will charge the battery while the radio is in operation, and with both receivers on it can take quite awhile as the charge circuit is only about 500ma. I also found that the battery management circuit in the drop-in charger will shut-off and no longer charge after the batteries reach their peak value of 4.2 volts per cell. What I didn't realize was that if the radio is left on it will begin to discharge again and the drop-in charger will not "reset" at some point and resume charging the battery. The HT has to be removed and then placed back in the charger to trigger the circuit to start charging again. The result is ending up with a discharged HT unexpectedly.

This issue can be avoided if my HT is connected to the external charger through it's power plug jack. This both powers the HT and charges the battery, allowing continuous use without discharging the battery. If the external supply is large enough (provides enough current) it can provide the full 5 watts output that the VX-8DR is capable of.

When left in the charging stand the battery will reach it's full charge and the charging cycle will turn off. In the case of my HT, it won't resume when the batteries are again being discharged. Leaving the radio in the charging stand is fine.

You're talking about LiFePo batteries in your post, but the OP specifically asked about the Yaesu FT-60R. To the best of my knowledge, there are no LiFePO batteries available for HTs yet. The batteries I have for my FT-60R are NiMh which are a entirely different matter. I don't leave the radio or the batteries in the charger once they have reached full charge. I do use the drop-in charger as a radio stand, but it's unplugged when I do.

 

[KB4MSZ]

I didn't realize the battery packs where NiMh in 2004 when that HT hit the market, sorry about that. The batteries for my VX-8DR are Lithium-Ion Polymer, not LiFePO type. I haven't seen any LiFePO batteries in radio gear either, as monitoring their true state of charge is more complex with their chemistry. LiFePO has a nasty habit of suddenly dropping out of charge without much of a warning, as their output voltage remains so stable until it is exhausted.

 

[W5GX]

Some past-time reading for Ni-Mh batteries.

How To Get the Most Out of NiMH Rechargeable Batteries - Tested.com

I wish they would provide a LiPo update.

 

[jaspence]

The FT-60R and VX8 are very different capability wise. There are directions to make a lithium battery pack, but be careful handling lithium batteries. DYI Lithium Battery for Handheld Radio Yaesu FT-60 has more info.

 

[graywoulf]

This is what the FT-60R manual says about the Ni-Mh stock batteries. Ni-Mh batteries will develop a memory if only partially charged. I let mine run down until the radio starts flashing on and off which is normal. I place the battery in the charger at that point.

 

[mrjayd]

I just want to know if it’s ok to leave it on the charger on my desk while monitoring. Even if it fully charged.

 

[eorange]

The batteries for my VX-8DR are Lithium-Ion Polymer, not LiFePO type

Interesting...the FNB-101LI in my VX-8R is lithium ion only. So is the 102, just higher capacity. What's the model number of your battery?

 

[KB4MSZ]

Interesting...the FNB-101LI in my VX-8R is lithium ion only. So is the 102, just higher capacity. What's the model number of your battery?

Lithium-Ion Polymer is the formal name for Lithium-Ion. The stock battery is FNB-101LI, and has 1100mah capacity. I currently have an aftermarket battery that has 2200mah capacity.

 

[k6cpo]

I just want to know if it’s ok to leave it on the charger on my desk while monitoring. Even if it fully charged.

I can't answer your question because I don't know if it will harm the batteries or not. The only time the radio/battery might be on the charger after fully charging is when I put it on overnight and I usually take it off first thing in the morning.

 

[W5GX]

Reading this:

Do NiCd batteries really have a memory effect?
Answering this question is a sure way to start a flame war on the internet. The simple answer is: Technically speaking NiCd batteries do not have a memory effect. However, they do suffer from a voltage depletion or voltage depression phenomenon that most people call the memory effect. So practically speaking, NiCd batteries do suffer from a memory effect, even if it is not technically correct to call it that. There is a lot of disagreement in the battery industry over what actually causes voltage depression. The phenomenon itself is very real. If a NiCd battery is repeatedly charged after it has only been partially discharged it will develop a lower voltage and a lower capacity. Fortunately, this effect is reversible by conditioning NiCds. Conditioning is simply fully discharging the battery (down to about 1.0 V per cell) after charging it. If a full discharge followed by a charge cycle is done several times, a battery suffering from voltage depletion (voltage depression, memory effect, or whatever you would like to call it) should be restored back to its normal voltage and capacity.
If you use NiCd batteries you should be aware that most of the problems experienced by NiCd battery users are not due to a "memory effect" but are due to overcharging or improper storage. Overcharging is usually caused by poorly designed first generation battery chargers. These chargers continue to deliver current to the batteries even after the batteries are full charged. "5- hour" and "8-hour" timer type chargers can damage NiCd or NiMH batteries if they are frequently used to charge batteries that are only partially discharged.

The other common cause of damage to NiCd and NiMH batteries is leaving them in a device like a flashlight left "ON" after the battery has run down. Electronic devices normally switch themselves off once the battery is discharged. But other devices like flashlights, cassette players, and many toys, will continue to put a small load (drain) on a battery even after the battery is run down. Eventually (after a few weeks) this drain on a discharged battery will cause the polarity of the battery to reverse (the plus end actually becomes minus and vice versa). Once this happens the battery will not take a charge again. Battery makers recommend that rechargeable batteries be removed from any devices that will not be used for several weeks or longer.
The big difference between voltage depletion, the so called "memory effect" and damage caused by overcharging or improper storage, is that reduced capacity due to overcharging is not reversible.

I would say it's better to cycle, rather than keep them topped off on a charger. But you probably won't start any fires - just notice an eventual decrease in cycle time. And I wouldn't call Yaesu's battery chargers 'first generation'.

Source: NiMH Battery FAQ