Hi Alex,
Yes not only do we have the more complex customs issues and higher shipping costs since BREXIT, most courier services wont carry litium batteries anymore in fear of them exploding or something.
73 Ed.
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Bummer. At least you got a refund. DPD will ship Lithium batteries as long as the package does not need to travel by air or through a major tunnel.
I can’t remember who HobbyKing used to ship my LiFePo from Holland, it could have been UPS. I looked, UPS will ship Lithium batteries by air when packed and labelled according to IATA regulations.
It’s not really a VAT or Brexit issue here and LiFePos get lumped with LiIon cells even though they are much safer. But simply couriers avoiding dangerous goods. It looks more and more like UK hams will need to arrange a self help system involving bulk purchase, delivery to an address in Northern Europe and then someone from the UK driving over, collecting them and an arrangement to redistribute when back in Blighty. Current import limits are £390 for goods (not alcohol/tobacco) which is about 10x 4A Eremit packs. Those who want LiFePo cells need to coordinate themselves.
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collect from Eyemouth, at 4am, flash .-… … …-. .
In fact, LiFePO4 batteries are hard to find even in continental Europe, especially RC style ones, which I prefer.
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I’m using 26650 LiFePo4 batteries.
Four in series with a balancer.
I have two different packs one with 2300mAh and another with 3500 mAh.
There are also types with 5000 mAh.
Weight 93 g x cell.
Also charging works well with like max. 2-5C
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Well, I made the 3D printed battery pack for the ft818, from thingiverse. Works well except for the fact that yiu have to supply external power to the radio in order to start the BMS board…or I guess you can short the positive of the top battery to the positive line.
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Yes, you need a start button. Don’t forget to have some R in series with tact switches - inrush current kills them.
Battery Circuits
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Well done! Saw the same modification on a youtube video from Q26 channel.
But he is powering the radio via the backside input… Same as I do.
Bought for 2€ a case (uploaded pic) and made a cable for my FT817.
The advantage of 3x 18650 is the weight.
I also got a powerbank where 3x 18650 cells fit. So when I’m traveling I can take my batteries with me.
And the best I can charge them with USB-C
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I have glued a two pin header to the back of the pcb which I can short with the nib of a ball point pen. There isn’t quite enough room for a tact switch.
At some point I may swap for a micro slide switch but the header pins seem to work fine
This is perhaps a better solution. I quite like the internal battery option but since you have to remove the batteries to charge them, its and extra hassle just to save having an external power supply.
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Yes your’e right…
But after all this tesing and trying out (btw I like it haha), I came to the conclusion that the 3000 mAh battery from Windcamp for 90€ would be a good solution…
I have the Windcamp battery too, but its old and has only like 300mAh left…
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You must be able to get a battery protection board which includes a balance charger and USB C socket with PD/QC circuitry?
I had a look on Aliexpress and couldn’t find a combined one but it sounds like something that should be available.
I was looking for exactly the same thing, with the extra constrant of being suitable for LiFePo4 - but can’t find anything
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As the LiFePo voltages are different to the LiIon voltages you need a BMS configured for one or the other. Also you need a 4S BMS for LiFePo vs 3S for LiIon.
All the LiPo LiIon BMS I have found provide over voltage / under voltage protection and over current protect. The output terminals provide the voltage and can be used for charging but you need a charger to provide the CI/CV characteristic and charge complete detection. Yes you can use the BMS to go to over voltage protection but that’s a naff way of doing it. They do not have the charge algorithm features in the BMS.
I use these for 3S LiIon BMS. You don’t need a start button/voltage but the cells are not left connected. From eBay for pennies. They are bigger than my “dogging” recovered battery cases so the BMS is external to the cell holders. Works for me, YMMV.
The 4S BMS in my Eremit LiFePo pack handles balancing and charging as well the normal protections.
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Made a new version with a tiny sliding switch to allow jump starting the BMS by connecting B+ to the the positive terminal of the power out.
Also added a plastic flap to prevent shorting against the ft818 case.
Really very pleased with this as a solution…I’m using unprotected 18650 LiPo cells, so it is the opposite of my original intent of improving safety by finding a LiFePo4 external pack. Although I like to think that not much harm can be done if you take care to store correctly.
It has even prompted me to try some QRP from home.
.
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Can’t find anywhere shipping to UK with a 4200mAh rating (my preferred size) but [saw this on Amazon for a good price](link in OP)
I have a Lachy, same spec (currently unavailable). It’s brilliant, not too heavy (but I wouldn’t want to cart it up a fell) and lasts for ages with my K2, also used on QCX mini. I charge it with a normal car battery charger and it charges quickly.
When it is discharged, it seems to die but the fix is easy. It’s just the BMS doing its thing.
This info from Lachy and probably applies to other makes.
3. What should I do if the battery cannot be charged and cannot be used?
Our battery BMS has multi-protections to ensure safety: Short-circuit Protection, Over-current Protection, Overload Protection, Over-voltage Protection, Over-charge Protection and Over-discharge Protection. Once a protection triggered, the battery will be unusable temporarily.
Three Circumstances to Reactivate the Battery:
- Normally, the BMS will automatically restart the battery after the abnormality is eliminated (about 30 minutes).
- If the battery still can’t operate after 30 minutes, please try to recharge it at 14.6V to reactivate it.
- If the normal charger can’t reactivate the battery, please check the battery voltage, the battery won’t be recognized by normal charger if its voltage is under 8V, now please use a 14.6V lifepo4 charger which support 0V charging mode then it will work.
Hello
I use in my kx3 8 Lion rechargeble units available on Amazon . I’ m very satisfied : 11.9 v in RX and 10.5v in tx for hours.
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Hey guys,
I’m using now 3x 18650 batteries with this Aliexpress case.
Works great and is 200g lighter then my 26650 LiFePo4.
For more days or more then 5 peaks I’m taking 3 extra 18650.
They also fit perfectly in my LedLenser.
73,
Julian
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Hello Julian - could you post a link for the battery case please?
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Hello Matthew,
of course. There u go.
73
Julian
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