IC-R30 Battery, Charging & Power

Summary: How to charge and look after the IC-R30’s battery pack, and how to use the optional battery case.

Battery Pack (BP-287)

The supplied Li-ion pack is 3.6 V, at least 3,120 mAh. Charge it fully before first use. Battery life depends on use: Icom’s figure is about 8.3 hours with Dualwatch on (A band receiving, B band on standby), Power Save on Auto (Short), the internal speaker volume at 20, GPS on and Bluetooth off.

The battery icon shows sufficient capacity, a little exhausted, nearing exhaustion and almost flat. Others, Battery Status in the menu shows the level as a percentage, the battery health (Normal, Caution or Warning; a warning at start-up means the pack has deteriorated and should be replaced) and the charge cycle count.

Charging

Turn the receiver off before charging, otherwise the pack won’t charge completely or will take much longer. The pack becomes hot while charging.

• Rapid charger (BC-223): about 4 hours. Put the receiver with its pack in the charger; the indicator is orange while charging and green when complete. The guide suggests securing the charger with M4 x 35 self-tapping screws (not supplied).
• USB cable: about 5 hours from a 1 A USB port at 25 C using the supplied A to Micro-B cable. Third-party cables, hubs and low-output ports may not charge it. When the pack is full charging stops, and if the receiver stays connected it restarts when the pack is nearly empty.
• Keep the receiver away from the power adapter, since switching noise can affect reception.
• You can change what the receiver does when connected to a PC with Function, USB Connect (see IC-R30 microSD Card: Backup, CSV Import/Export & SD Card Mode).

Battery Case (BP-293, Optional)

Holds three AA (LR6) alkaline batteries only, for about 4 hours of the same Dualwatch use. When almost flat, LOW BATTERY shows and the receiver turns off; replace all three. The battery icon always shows full with the case fitted. Remove the batteries when the case isn’t in use. Don’t connect a USB cable while the case is fitted (operation isn’t guaranteed). The case meets IPX4 only when attached to the receiver. Never mix old and new batteries or different types.

Fitting and Removing

Turn the receiver off, then attach or detach the pack or case (unhook the latch to remove). Even when off a small current flows, so remove the pack for long storage.

Battery Safety

See IC-R30 Safety, Battery Cautions & Compliance. Replace the pack about five years after manufacture; expect 300 to 500 charge cycles.