[TheList] Wouxun cheap transceivers chargers.

Sun Jul 15 14:15:11 AEST 2012

Hi Guys,

I've just had a friend who had imported a cheap Wouxun transceiver bring 
to me what's left of the radio/charger. It kind of turned little Lucifer 
on him.

The charger itself has a shorted pass transistor and it seems the 
increased voltage and subsequently the current has caused the lithium 
based transceivers battery to potentially almost catch fire (It got hot 
enough to seriously distort the plastic etc). In this case it's owner 
smelt it and shut of the power, relocating it outside. Potentially a 
lucky escape.

Of concern the PCB of the charger indicates the fitted device should be 
a 2SB546 and should be fitted with a heatsink. What's fitted is a 2SB772 
(reversed) without a heatsink.

If anyone else has one of these Wouxun (1A31KG-2 or KG-HN-2?) Li-Ion 
chargers that take 12V in and charge at 8.4V 400mA, please check it! I'd 
suggest at very least you fit a heatsink to the pass transistor if one 
isn't already fitted to it.

I'd appreciate anyone who has one passing feedback to me, as I in all 
honesty do not know if this is an isolated case or common problem. If 
it's likely to happen again we need to warn people.

Thanks,

Neill ZL1TAJ.