Portable VHF question

[PeggyLee]

 I own 2 hand held Polaris Units Work with one while the other is on charger..Always try to keep them fully charged but why do they deplete of charge while in storage(December) for 20-30 days.Now there being charged again.
Whats up          Thanks.

[Jeffish]

I'm not sure what exactly you are talking about, but:

Are/is the battery exposed?

If so, does the battery have any contact with any metal aside from the device itself?



P.S.

Does VHF stand for Vicarious Hotrod Finder? 

[PeggyLee]

No Jeff, the Portable hand held units are self contained. Bought them in West Marine 5 to 7 yrs ago.I use one as a back up.
Why do they loss there charge so quickly???

[Stray Cat]

How old are the units, maybe the batteries are starting to go bad and can't hold the charge anymore, if so it might be better to buy a new handheld instead of new batteries. I would recommend an icom if you looking to buy another radio. I have had my icom radio for 7-8 years and still works perfect no issues with the battery or radio itself.

[Stray Cat]

Oh yeah if you  decide to buy another radio make sure it has a lithium ion battery. I think they last alot longer.

[L.T.]

Are they Ni Cad batteries? If so, you might want to discharge them all the way down then do a re-charge.  That helps sometimes.  I used to have that problem With my R/C airplanes until I switched to NiMh batteries. I think it means Nickel metal Hydride. They hold twice the charge or more as the Ni Cad's do.  You can use the same charger with both types of batteries.  Not so with The Lithium batteries.  Do NOT use your old charger With Lithium batteries 

[PeggyLee]

Stray Cat  and   Laker Taker  thanks for the reply. 
Yes they are aprox. 7/8 years old now. I checked the battery they are NI CAD.
So is it advisable to DIS charge all the way before charging again?  Thanks again.

[Stray Cat]

Are they Ni Cad batteries? If so, you might want to discharge them all the way down then do a re-charge.  That helps sometimes.  I used to have that problem With my R/C airplanes until I switched to NiMh batteries. I think it means Nickel metal Hydride. They hold twice the charge or more as the Ni Cad's do.  You can use the same charger with both types of batteries.  Not so with The Lithium batteries.  Do NOT use your old charger With Lithium batteries 

Nice looking planes Laker Taker

PeggyLee if your going to buy new radio try  Matt here at Task Marine he'll give you a good price.

[Still Running]

AJ,

Check your PM

[L.T.]

Thanks Stray Cat, That's a gel- coated  P-51 Mustang. Some guys even go so far as to install rivets using a Hypo needle and resign. That one took me about 8 months to Build. Winter projects _:"

Yep Peggy Lee, drain it down then do a slow charge.   the Ni- Cads  for some reason or another get a memory pattern and discharging to zero gets rid of that problem.  If that fails go with the Ni-MH batteries you won't be disappointed.

[PeggyLee]

Thanks Laker. Will discharge them this weekend and then recharge fully.If not "Davey Jones"  locker might see them.   

[Maritime Matt]

As mentioned. Ni-Cads do die down over time. I've got several different handhelds I use in my business and the boatyard from Icom and Standard and are the only brands I use. My LithiumIon battery equipped radios due outlast my Nicads, although I have a Standard that lasts a long time with Nicads.
We deal with all brands and models from cheap basic units to floating units with integral gps's. My favorite one is my Icom M72. It puts out the best of my units.
If I can help you out, let me know.

[ped579]

The reason for the batteries running down is that batteries have what is called internal resistance.  Even the newest battery will eventually run down because of this.  The thing with the older batteries is that after a while they will hold a memory of where the charge will be optimum, and after a while the charge will be not take at all. 

There is a way of reconditioning the batteries but you have to have the specialized equipment in order to do this.  And it will only work for a while so the best thing is to either get new batteries or a net radio.

If you ope to get new batteries you will have no problem as long as they are the exact replacements.  If you decide to go with Li batteries you will have to get a new charger and take the batteries out to charge them every time.

Your best option in my mind is to get new radios.  Today's prices are not to bad and you will have the latest technology out there.

I hope this helps AJ

Happy Catching

Paul

[L.T.]

If you can't sustain a charge in your Ni- Cads, New battery packs for your units should be somewhat reasonable.  One of the companies I use is Battery America Phone 800 308 4805 They will be able to match up you units.  Most likely they will suggest the NI-MH.  Which should be compatable with your existing charger. 

[PeggyLee]

Hey,  Mar.Matt,Paul,and Laker and ALl You Gents,You have been very helpful !! I thank you, and will take the good advise on these VHF radios. Stay Well, AJ