Windcamp Battery?

Equipment
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So, if you fitted the Windcamp battery to your FT817/818 was it worth it? What sort of activation time were you getting before it gave up the ghost ? Is it good enough that you can leave the external Life/LiPo at home or is a backup still needed?
At €100 from WIMO I’d like to hear from users before clicking on Buy

Declan
EI6FR

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Have you seen this: Anyone using Windcamp LiPo accumulator for FT-817/818?

At that price I wouldn’t bother. I’d use an external 3S LiPo.

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Yes for me over 7 years no issues
John ve3ips

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A good thread, thanks

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Hi John,

and a typical activation for you would be ? CW or SSB and qrv time ?

Declan

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You don’t need to buy Windcamp, there is a far cheaper option if the 2.5 Ah 3S LIPO flat battery is still available from Hobby King, you can do it at a quarter of the price. There are links to the articles on how to do it on this reflector.

73 Ed DD5LP.
Here’s the Hobbyking battery - out of stock in all three warehouses at the moment unfortunately:

Here’s the “how to” article:

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I love the Windcamp battery/door, though I did not buy the charger (I plug a LiPo/LiFePo charger into the charge port, seems to work). I only do SSB, and generally can get several ~1h activations on a charge. The wonderful thing about the 817 is that it can run full power down to around 9v, and I think it can keep going at reduced power. I have not been left with a failed activation due to the Wincamp battery, whereas I often fail (today for example) to charge the LiFePo that I use with the G90, which shuts down at around 10.5v. I got the activation in, but there were still people I could have talked to.

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but make the built-in lipo switchable. Because the FT-817 consumes a few mA when switched off. In addition, you must under no circumstances operate the Lipo with the internal charger for NiMH.

Therefore, Winamp’s solution is perfect. The Lipo is switched off and can be conveniently charged from the outside.
73 Chris

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What do the credit card appliance operators do Ed? They won’t be able to use the Hobby King lipo approach. You could open the door and charge from there and not need a door with a switch for the DIY approach.

So good options are available or take 3 18650 cells and use that in a box with an Anderson pole on it as well.
John VE3IPS

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Correct - or simply unplug it (which you have to do, in any case, to take the battery out to charge it.
The Windcamp has a built-in BMS/Charger I believe, so the battery can be charged in place.
The Windcamp option gives you a good solution but it costs €100 - DIY costs (around) €25 (€50 if you don’t already have a LiPo charger).

Some prefer to build, some to buy - both are OK.

My use of VK3YY’s DIY solution lasted 5 years until I (regrettably) sold my FT817ND.

73 Ed.

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I bought the windcamp package prior to my trip to UK and DL in 2016. It is stil in the radio and still powers the rig whenever needed. I haven’t tried a long activation day with it for a few years but overall I think it is a great option. I noticed some new ads on eBay for the package, but described as the charging door, a bit odd. The package price on AU eBay seems to be around $75aud.

I generally take an extra 3S lipo as a backup power source. Never needed it. But it weighs 3/5 of 5/8th of nothing so it’s no hardship.

Mainly use the ft817 for a transverter driver but have done some hf/vhf activations with it occasionally. Using ssb/cw and avoiding fm is best way to increase longevity… fm gobbles the mAh from the battery.

I also have the compressor and that increases the “average PEP” very well. Makes the 5w sound like 15. Better than an amplifier and no increase in mass or volume.

Andrew VK1DA/VK2DA

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