ICOM radio fix... advice??

[goeasy123]

I have an old ICOM M71 handheld VHF. The battery is dead. A new ICOM battery is £65. I can buy a raw Li-ion pack of ebay for £7. With a bit of mechanical engineering i can make it fit the radio. Will it work? What do I need to consider to make it work?

The ICOM battery is 7.4v 2000mAh with 2 connections. The ebay battery is 7.4V 3800mAh with 2 connections.

Also will the ICOM desk top charger charge the ebay battery? It's a BC 166.

Thanks.....

[skipmac]

I would say with 95% certainty this should work. There are different types of lithium ion batteries but the majority of the consumer batteries are the same and compatible.

[skipmac]

By the way, I found an aftermarket company that made new rechargable battery packs for my ancient (almost 40 year old) Standard Horizon hand held for a lot less than the factory part.

[Pete7]

You have nothing to loose taking the battery apart and seeing what size the cells inside are.

However, the Marine Superstore are selling new SH 300s for £99.

https://www.marinesuperstore.com/mar...horizon-hx300e

Pete

[AA3JY]

I’d be leary of non OEM LiPo batteries being charged by the original charger..not knowing the equalization requirements of these batteries they may exceed its cell thermal limits..

[Nicholson58]

You can probably use the batteries to operate the radio OK

The charger is probably very wrong for the Li batteries. The most likely scenario is that it cooks the Li. Li does not like overcharging or float. Get a charger specific to these Li batteries.

A new floating hand held with DSC can be had at off season sale prices now at various marine stores or on Amazon.

[Apollo366]

I have long experience with Li batteries used in model airplanes,
BE VERY VERY SURE your replacements have the same chemistry as the original.
They are most likely Li-Ion in SS cases

I've used China batts in my ICOM radios getting them to fit is the hardest part. also they seem to be much lower quality than original.

But a new Rx would be a better way to go at L99 ($120?)

I bought a new hand held that floats for $99 at West Marine last year, very handy.

[goeasy123]

Originally Posted by skipmac

By the way, I found an aftermarket company that made new rechargable battery packs for my ancient (almost 40 year old) Standard Horizon hand held for a lot less than the factory part.

Who dat? Contact details please. Could be an option.

[S D Sailor]

I have been looking for a charger for my standard Verizon VHF 100… Would you mind sharing the resource you discovered, please?