Hmmm - you may have a point there
Might be an idea to check, though.
Craig - what do you scan for?
Might be an idea to check, though.
Craig - what do you scan for?
Charging issue
- Thread starter craig51
- Start date
Sponsored Links
Airband stuff, civil and military, all good stuff. I have an HF radio as well, so can listen to them over the atlantic tracks.
The battery pack looks like 4 AA baterys, wrapped in white plastic, with a red and black wire coming out with a connector. This connector plugs striaght into the radio inside.
I assume i am still good to go!??
The battery pack looks like 4 AA baterys, wrapped in white plastic, with a red and black wire coming out with a connector. This connector plugs striaght into the radio inside.
I assume i am still good to go!??
And illegal.
If not, and you do need a proper charger, then the consequences could range from the cells not charging properly to the unit catching fire.
Sponsored Links
Ni-Cad & Ni-Mh cells are usually charged from a "constant current" charger (as against a Lead Acid battery that uses constant voltage).
As your pack in 4.5V 1500mAH, you should push 150mA through it for about 14 hours (the "extra" 4 Hrs accounts for inefficiency) to recharge it.
You could put 100mA through it for longer, the exact current does not matter, but the ampere-hours you put in will need to be 1.4 times the capacity of the pack.
In your case, the 150mA is the "one tenth C rate".
This "one tenth C rate" is the rate that can usually be put in without the pack heating up, and can be continued indefinitly, although it is unwise to do this often.
If the book on your radio says something like "it takes 14 hours to recharge the battery" then you know the system is as above.
So, if you have a 12V source, then a series resistor to drop 7.5V at 150mA is needed, ie 50 ohms at 1.125 watts rating.
As your pack in 4.5V 1500mAH, you should push 150mA through it for about 14 hours (the "extra" 4 Hrs accounts for inefficiency) to recharge it.
You could put 100mA through it for longer, the exact current does not matter, but the ampere-hours you put in will need to be 1.4 times the capacity of the pack.
In your case, the 150mA is the "one tenth C rate".
This "one tenth C rate" is the rate that can usually be put in without the pack heating up, and can be continued indefinitly, although it is unwise to do this often.
If the book on your radio says something like "it takes 14 hours to recharge the battery" then you know the system is as above.
So, if you have a 12V source, then a series resistor to drop 7.5V at 150mA is needed, ie 50 ohms at 1.125 watts rating.
You do not want a modern 12V battery charger, (www.cpc.co.uk ref. BT00011 for example), as these are expecting a lead acid battery, and do an initial fast charge, reducing to a trickle later, with a terminal voltage of 13.8. It might work, but might overcharge.
You do want an ordinary 12 volt "wall wart" plug in mains adaptor, preferably stabilised. Your radio was probably designed to work with an unstabilised one, but as you are having to buy one, I suggest you might as well go for a stabilised one.
You do want an ordinary 12 volt "wall wart" plug in mains adaptor, preferably stabilised. Your radio was probably designed to work with an unstabilised one, but as you are having to buy one, I suggest you might as well go for a stabilised one.
This describes the fast charging method as needed for power tools etc, not quite what the OP needs.
Try it and see.
DIYnot Local
Staff member
If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.
Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.
Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local
Sponsored Links
