Really like my Yaesu FT-65R but I’ve always been frustrated that the only way to charge it is with the bulky desktop cradle.
I spent quite a while searching online to see whether anyone had come up with a more portable solution. There was plenty of discussion about it, but I couldn’t find anything that really matched what I wanted, so I decided to build my own.
With a bit of help from ChatGPT, TinkerCAD, and my new 3D printer, I designed this compact USB-C magnetic charger for the FT-65 battery.
The charger uses:
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a TP5100 2S lithium charging board
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a USB-C PD trigger board
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two pogo pins to contact the battery terminals
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two small magnets for alignment and retention
The magnets attach to thin self-adhesive steel plates fitted to the rear of the battery, which keeps the charger securely aligned while charging.
It’s a much smaller and more portable solution than the original cradle and works nicely from my existing USB-C chargers and power banks.
Hopefully other FT-65 owners might find the idea useful.
Regards,
Ian M0JIA/P