UV-5G Plus Charging Analysis

[TNWEB]

I picked up the twin pack of the UV-5G Plus last week at Radioddity. The primary factor in choosing this model (my first GMRS radio) was that the batteries are chargeable via the included USB-C cable and AC adapter.

Since these batteries supply a nominal 7.4VDC to the radio, I was curious as to what the charging voltage and current was for this setup. As per the attached photo, I found the voltage and current were consistent at 5.2V and 0.7A across the entire 4-5 hour charge cycle. Since the batteries normal operating range is from 7.0v to 8.4v we can conclude that the batteries have an internal step-up circuit to boost the charge voltage to an appropriate level.

The USB charging capability will be useful in the field as I can use either the USB ports on my PowerWerx box, cell phone chargers, or truck USB ports.

 

 

 

[WSAM454]

i have wondered about this also.  Since charging by USB is becoming more popular and if a USB phone charger is a standard 5 Volts, wouldn't either the battery itself and/or the desktop charger unit must have circuitry to raise the charging voltage up somewhat?

[WRYS709]

Aren't the individual cells less than 5 volts?

[Lscott]

6 minutes ago, WSAM454 said:

i have wondered about this also.  Since charging by USB is becoming more popular and if a USB phone charger is a standard 5 Volts, wouldn't either the battery itself and/or the desktop charger unit must have circuitry to raise the charging voltage up somewhat?

Good guess! Boost converters can be designed and built in a very small volume these days if only a few watts are required. And as you assumed it's built into the battery pack.

[Lscott]

2 minutes ago, WRYS709 said:

Aren't the individual cells less than 5 volts?

The expected voltage depends on the cell chemistry. Some Lithium cells have a terminal voltage around 4+ volts at full charge.

[Knilc]

I don't have a solution, but I do have a question.

Does anyone make a desktop charger for these batteries? USB C is cool, but it seems Baofeng would be "leaving money on the table" by not at least offering one.

[WRYS709]

39 minutes ago, Knilc said:

I don't have a solution, but I do have a question.

Does anyone make a desktop charger for these batteries? USB C is cool, but it seems Baofeng would be "leaving money on the table" by not at least offering one.

Doesn't the UV-5G+ use the same battery mold as the classic UV-5R? And if so, wouldn't the desktop cup chargers for the UV-5R will work?

[WRXB215]

37 minutes ago, WRYS709 said:

Doesn't the UV-5G+ use the same battery mold as the classic UV-5R? And if so, wouldn't the desktop cup chargers for the UV-5R will work?

That's a good point. I would ask Baofeng though just to make sure.

[SpeedSpeak2Me]

1 hour ago, WRYS709 said:

Doesn't the UV-5G+ use the same battery mold as the classic UV-5R? And if so, wouldn't the desktop cup chargers for the UV-5R will work?

No.  The batteries are different sizes (width and thickness), and the contact plates are in different locations:

Battery on left is for the UV-5G Plus, on the right is the standard capacity battery for the UV-5R.

[WRYS709]

Interesting: it always amazes me that CCRs often continue confusingly similar naming schemes. 

I recently purchased the Radioddity DB25-D DMR mini-mobile and note that it is a completely different radio than their DB25-G GMRS mobile radio!

[WRXB215]

@Knilc It appears that the UV-5RM is the ham version of the UV-5G Plus. This charger should work.

[Knilc]

2 hours ago, WRYS709 said:

Doesn't the UV-5G+ use the same battery mold as the classic UV-5R? And if so, wouldn't the desktop cup chargers for the UV-5R will work?

 

One would imagine, but the UV-5R charger cup is too small. 

 

50 minutes ago, WRXB215 said:

@Knilc It appears that the UV-5RM is the ham version of the UV-5G Plus. This charger should work.

 

It definitely looks that way. Thanks for the link.

 

Thanks for answering my unrelated question, guys.

[moabb2]

On 3/26/2024 at 7:11 AM, SpeedSpeak2Me said:

No.  The batteries are different sizes (width and thickness), and the contact plates are in different locations:

Battery on left is for the UV-5G Plus, on the right is the standard capacity battery for the UV-5R.

The 5G battery looks identical to the UV-5RM 10 watt ham radio. I am sure that charger would work.

[WSLB742]

I have a new Baofeng uv-5G Plus.  The battery seems to charge OK ending at 8.25 volts and the radio works OK but he the charge level indicator always shows the battery is exhausted.  Is this a common problem for this radio?  I can "train it" to show battery voltage on start up so it isn't a huge problem and I can still exchange it for a new model but I am wondering if the new ones will have the same problem.  Both radios have the same issue.  Image shows the display with a fully charged battery.

[SteveShannon]

3 minutes ago, WSLB742 said:

I have a new Baofeng uv-5G Plus.  The battery seems to charge OK ending at 8.25 volts and the radio works OK but he the charge level indicator always shows the battery is exhausted.  Is this a common problem for this radio?  I can "train it" to show battery voltage on start up so it isn't a huge problem and I can still exchange it for a new model but I am wondering if the new ones will have the same problem.  Both radios have the same issue.  Image shows the display with a fully charged battery.

That battery indicator looks to me like it is indicating full, not empty. Run the radio until it gets to 7.2 or 7.3 and what does it look like?

[WSHT233]

I have the charging cradles and batteries that came with a set of UV-5RM radios, and can confirm they also work for the UV-5G Plus.

It's worth noting that you can also slot and charge the batteries when they are completely disconnected from the radios.

A handy trick if you have at least one extra battery always on the charger and just rotate them as needed.

[TNWEB]

20 hours ago, SteveShannon said:

That battery indicator looks to me like it is indicating full, not empty. Run the radio until it gets to 7.2 or 7.3 and what does it look like?

Here is a picture of the UV-5G Plus with a charge of 7.4 volts.

[SteveShannon]

54 minutes ago, TNWEB said:

Here is a picture of the UV-5G Plus with a charge of 7.4 volts.

Perfect.  So as the battery is depleted the interior of the battery symbol becomes the darker background color, from right to left.  When it’s nearly completely depleted the symbol will appear as just the outline of the battery. Hopefully this should reassure the OP.

[WRYS709]

1 hour ago, TNWEB said:

Here is a picture of the UV-5G Plus with a charge of 7.4 volts.

Thanks to a tip from a member of this Forum, back in September I purchased a 2-pack of GM5RH's from Amazon for $18.54.  My understanding is that this model is very similar to the UV-5G Plus and uses the same battery.

I just switched the Power On Menu Item #40 from Logo to Voltage and here is my Startup:

[WRYS709]

Here is startup with another battery: