Windcamp Battery | Yaesu FT-817 & 818 | Unboxing & Install 

Thanks Tim :) 73 mate.

I’ve sold on the Yaesu quite recently but from what I can recall, no you can’t use the radio while the windcamp battery is charging.

No, it still uses the Yaesu’s on board battery meter and will show when its running low. I can’t quite remember much else as I’ve now sold that radio on. Many thanks for watching, best 73’

I suspect there is no circuitry inside the battery to protect against running too low so the normal rules apply. My guess is LiPo batteries should never be discharged below 3.0V/cell, or it may permanently damage them. Ideally you never want to go below 3.2v per cell to maintain a healthy battery. So in the case of the Windcamp you have 3 x 3.2 Volts = 9.6 Volts. This is absolute minimum. To be safe don’t go below 10V. Note: 2.9v per cell and lower will cause permanent damage. I think this is correct and any comments welcome if not so.

Hi Andy, thank you. Appreciate it. I've used the windcamp battery now for a while and it's been one of the best investments in the 817 I've made. When I've gone out portable before having this, I used to lug around a small sealed battery or an external power pack. But with this is much lighter in my backpack and lasts a really good while. Also it only takes 2-3 hours to charge it's simply fantastic. The other investment I made was the wonderwand widebander antenna system, it gives you three options for a portable antenna, a telescopic antenna (supplied), a banana plug then gives the option to use a long wire or magloop type antenna. You won't be disappointed with the windcamp battery at all. 73'

That's great to hear Mike I think it could be next on my purchase list, I also bought the wonderwand widebander MKii so it's great to know you're getting good use out of it, I'm new to amateur radio and am hopefully gonna be starting my foundation soon there is a club locally to me so that's a bonus, I've heard good things about these radios and it will be a great accompaniment to me on my travels in the outdoors. All the best mate 73's👍

As long as the windcamp battery is switched off, yes you can use an external power source with it.

I can't quite remember. This is an old video and I've no longer got the radio or the battery pack anymore.

The supplied charger has a red l.e.d. for charging and green for fully charged

With the windcamp battery you'll have an AC power lead and plug, plug that into the wall as normal and switch the battery pack to off and charge as normal. You can also run the radio from a power supply or in a car with the supplied power lead that came with the 817 from new. Just make sure the battery pack is switch to off in both circumstances.

@@OntheMicwithMike thank you for your time Mike and coming back to me ! will need to get one of these :) www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WINDCAMP-WLB-817S-3000mAh-LIPO-Battery-for-Yaesu-FT-817-FT-818-Charger-Hatch/313025581401?hash=item48e1c75159:g:a2kAAOSwa29eabrK

@@OntheMicwithMike is this were you got it from Mike just worried if i buy it t won't be for the uk market ! sorry being a pain ! but thanks for your help !

@@superflynye no bother at all. Yes I got mine from China. As long as you pay via PayPal you're covered so no worries :)

@@OntheMicwithMikeThanks Mike appreciate your time ill get one and let you know how i get on will definitely watch your vid to fit it ! again thanks for posting great help !

I’d very much doubt it. It takes 4 hrs to charge with AC as it is.

@On The Mic with Mike ok Thanks I would like to get one that I could recharge by solar if I needed to

3000mAh 👍🏻

Ordered mine from eBay user: jewedding (99.3% positive feedback). Full tracking from China to UK throughout. Hope that helps, 73'

Very handy actually they are :)