Baofeng BF-888s Review

Licence free two-way radio services that now includes both FM and digital channels. Discuss models, modifications and other similar worldwide standards such as FRS and GMRS.
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friendly1uk
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Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

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My earlier radios came with 1500mah batteries, the later one's 2800mah. I dropped both on the scales to find the earlier one's weighed more. My early radios did 17 hours standby, and the later one's less. I just cycled them again with the LED torch on. 17h, 17h35m on the old ones. 8h30m and one I missed go off within an hour before.

This makes the 2800mah batteries look really quite bad. 8 hours listening with the squelch closed. I don't recall the time when new, but around 14h.

I just watch both types discharged on you tube. Two 1500mah ones were about 930mah. Two 2800 were about 930 and 830mah.

I feel quite sure the 1500 is the better battery. However, faced with buying new ones, I wonder if anyone has rebuilt their own?


examples
A single 2ah https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-200 ... _analytics
Pair of 1.2ah https://hobbyking.com/en_us/turnigy-120 ... _analytics
850mA £2 option https://hobbyking.com/en_us/zippy-850ma ... _analytics

'IF' the original was 1C then that's 3.7w maximum continuous output. I wouldn't be surprised if it was 0.5C and as such the limiting factor in output power. The first link can provide near 8w and as such the 2w we expect isn't pulling the voltage down much at all. It seems wise to build not buy. A tenner is the cost of the radio, but a 2400mah pack, that actually is 2400mah, would be a lot better than 930mah. It might actually last a day, including some TX time.
Which seems simply functional to me.
Edit: I have decided the 2ah £3.85 cell is the sweet spot. I will fix the new radio's and from past experiences postage is reasonable. Unless there are other options?
Mototrbo2020
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Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by Mototrbo2020 »

All my Bf888s said they were LiOn rather than Lipo, are the new ones Lipos now?
friendly1uk
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Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

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It is a different chemistry. The ploy type trade size for safety. Same charging regime. Same thing for what it's worth. Technically speaking, the safer poly doesn't quite provide the discharge rating of the simple li-ion. We don't need 100 amps or a smaller package though. The added safety should be welcome.

Not all other lithium cells will do. It's these two are very similar. 4.2V full and about 3.2v flat gives us our 3.7v average. The desktop charger provided is 500mA and the 2Ah battery will charge at <2A happily.

You know about the BMS? Battery Management System. Here It ensures the cell is disconnected at the voltage extremes of 4.25v and 3.15v
The fact this is part of the battery, must be copied. If we gave such a cell 5v. it would try and reach 5v without management. I believe the BMS is visible in the pics. E-cig guys would call this a protected cell.


My only real concern is the noise of a new bms being introduced. I may have to get a bare cell and use the original. At that point, I could think about switching to 18650 cells, as the 18mm round cell is only a few mm bigger than the provided pack. Just some camel humps. I bet I can find a holder that conforms. Though we are modelling now..


I'm watching for the 2Ah one's coming in.
friendly1uk
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Re: Baofeng BF-888s Review

Post by friendly1uk »

Okay..
The 2Ah battery has no BMS, just a 2A discharge limit.

Quick eBay found a £1.88 solution
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393632109586 ... Sw5ulhn-LT

That board offers over charge/discharge protection, while being just nice for the 2A limit and housing space.

HK seem to not sell any BMS units. It's an odd marketplace RC. Instead competitions insist they charge outside in fireproof containers, and regularly flatten batteries which should then not be charged again. They have a lot of fires. Especially when they move to bigger items like ebikes. Where RC guys are a menace with their ill ways. I won't be building anything rubbish here.

Edit: 10 pack for 44p a piece, with a bit more info that might help a novice.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/402247855780 ... %3A2047675
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