Yaesu FT-817 Battery Upgrade: Windcamp Power Solution

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Thanks for sharing. I need to get one of those batteries since my Ni-Mh has completely died.

[@LeopardAppaloosa755]

Thank you!

[@michaelrogers3078]

Nicely done. Only just found your channel. I'm going to watch more. Thanks! 73 N4MJR

[@aa3konthego]

Thank you for watching. I get asked repeatedly, "How do you use your radios in the field or for POTA." I do these videos to answer that question. I wish Yaesu had a replacement for the 817. SDR based and in the same form factor. Maybe not as feature rich as the Ic-705 and priced accordingly. They'd have another winner.

[@LeopardAppaloosa755]

Very informative. Do you have any idea which battery and charger will work with the FT-897D? For some crazy reason, Yaesu no longer supports that radio. No idea why, as it is a fantastic radio for field work. Yes, it's heavy, but it's also all bands, all modes at up to 100 watts depending on the frequency. Anyway, you have a great channel. Keep it up!

[@aa3konthego]

Thank you for the kind words. A quick web search turned up this at Amazon, looks like new old stock. amazon.com/dp/B00F8G0N3U Another cheaper option twowayradioworld.com/products/yaesu-vertex-fnb-78-battery-for-ft-897-ft-897d Here is a mod to use gel cells www.eham.net/article/4114 Hopes this helps.

[@starnavigator6665]

Whoa!!! I have a 817 and need to replace the battery like a long time ago….. is there any danger of that battery catching fire? I’d hate to lose my 817!!!

[@aa3konthego]

I'd get it out of the radio especially if swollen and properly dispose of it. I'm assuming you have a lithium polymer battery. The Ni-Cd and Ni-metal-hydrides are much safer.

[@rjy8960]

I've had one of these in my FT-817 for probably getting on for 10 years. No problems whatsoever.

[@aa3konthego]

@@rjy8960 I had a security system control with a built-in Li-Po backup battery. After a couple of years started getting error messages about the battery. Called the company and their first question was to check if the back of the unit was bulged. It was, and they sent a new controller. Yet, all the cell phone batteries for more years than i care to count have been fine.

[@rjy8960]

@@aa3konthego My concern here would be that in the security system, the battery is constantly (possibly!) being charged. With the 817 battery I’ll charge it once in a blue moon when I need it.

[@aa3konthego]

@@rjy8960 you are probably correct about the security system. How smart was it's charger? I saw some notes on the 817's Groups.io page that people ha e had the Windcamp puff up on them. They said they just ordered a new battery from eBay.