The last time I used the AA-200 I remember the batteries ran out so I charged it. It appears that after 6 years of use the rechargeable battery pack won't hold a charge.
 |
| AA-200 antenna analyzer and open battery pack |
I ordered the battery pack, but this morning there were two emails in my inbox saying "We are sorry to tell you that we are not allowed to dispatch batteries recently for the customs are very strict on exporting batteries." Is this something new? It's the first I have heard of it. I've certainly bought battery packs (including batteries for handheld transceivers)from China on Ebay before.
The seller has refunded my money (or at least he has said he will.) In the meantime I found a UK seller of Chinese batteries, Vapextech UK, which, while not as cheap as the Hong Kong seller, is still a third of the price of Strikalite. Having said that, Strikalite is still a good firm to go to if you want to refurbish a ham radio battery pack and like me you are useless at taking battery packs apart.
Good morning Julian, 6 years is great for rechargeable batteries. It's to bad that Rig Expert made the removal of the old cells such a chore. Great to hear you were able to find a replacement.
ReplyDeleteMike
I have seen references on some amateur lists to more stringent UK regulations on shipping hazardous materials, including LiIon batteries. Perhaps this is the issue.
ReplyDeleteHello Julian
ReplyDeleteThe rules regarding the air transport/freight of batteries changed last year and they are a lot more stringent than they used to be. They are pretty involved but one can look them up on the Post office web site if one likes legalese.
I looked them up when a prospective buyer in Brazil wanted me to post a hand held I was selling on Ebay, in effect it is simply not worth the bother for small quantities if not banned all together for certain types like Li Ion.
So unfortunately your supplier was correct, but at least you could find an alternative without too much trouble.
Regards
Kevin G6UCY
Thanks, Kevin. Does this imply what I think it implies to the business of buying transceivers (such as Baofengs with their LiIon batteries) from overseas?
ReplyDeleteJulian, G4ILO
Hi Julian, I'e noticed recently on our local post office posters stating what you can and can't sent in the post Internationally and batteries are one of the items they say you can no longer pop in the post overseas.
ReplyDeleteHello Julian
ReplyDeleteI am no legal expert but from what I understand from reading the information on the links below
http://www.parcelforce.com/help-information/sending-advice/prohibitions-and-restrictions
http://www.royalmail.com/sites/default/files/International-prohibitions-and-restrictions-leaflet-consumers_0.pdf
and reading the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) regulations it seems that the only way that such items can be imported is via surface mail, which appears to make any company that still supplies individual batteries from overseas a little dodgy.
However it appears that it is possible to import Lithium batteries contained in equipment as long as they comply with the ICAO regulations but not if packed separately, which is not much help when the manufacturer normally packs batteries separately.
All of the above is why I have now made it a standard rule to put UK only in bold on any Ebay sale listing to avoid the hassle I experienced when selling my old VX-1 last year.
Regards
Kevin G6UCY
I don't know if these people have what you want but I have found them very helpful in the past : http://www.strikalite.co.uk/index.asp
ReplyDeleteHi Jon.
ReplyDeleteYes I have used Strikalite in the past, especially for refurbishing old radio battery packs. But for ordinary batteries their prices don't compare with sellers on Ebay.
Julian, G4ILO
New ICAO regulations rules also about the maximum quantities of LiIon batteries that are allowed to air mail or air parcell. It's a real pain to ship these batteries or SLA. 73 de Adrian, YO3HJV
ReplyDelete