Becker AR-3201 radio owners: check your batteries

Hi group,

Just a note to remind owners of older Becker AR3201 radios to check your internal nicad button cell batteries. These tend to leak after a few years, and if left too long will destroy your PC board ending the useful life of a pretty good radio!

I found this green-crystal crud beginning on mine this spring, and caught it in time. The service note reccommends cleaning the board with methyl alchohol and a brush, which works well. The replacement batteries are available from Becker dealers ( www.beckerusa.com ).

Paul Remde has a few replacement batteries as well ( www.soarmn.com/cumulus ).

The new battery is 2.4v, and replaces the two internal 1.2v batteries. You will need to solder a jumper across the +/- solder pads for the unused battery position, as the two batteries were just in series for the original design.

The hardest part is removing the old batteries - but even fumble fingers here managed without damaging the PC board.

Regards,
Sarah Anderson

Can anyone provide a link for the service note?

Thanks,
Michael


I found this green-crystal crud beginning on mine this spring, and
caught it in time. The service note reccommends cleaning the board with
methyl alchohol and a brush, which works well. The replacement
batteries are available from Becker dealers ( www.beckerusa.com ).

Michael Huber wrote:
Can anyone provide a link for the service note?

Thanks,
Michael


I found this green-crystal crud beginning on mine this spring, and
caught it in time. The service note reccommends cleaning the board with
methyl alchohol and a brush, which works well. The replacement
batteries are available from Becker dealers ( www.beckerusa.com ).



Google for an Oct 19, 2001 posting by Olivier Dancer in this newsgroup
for the text.

Thank you Todd!
Michael