About this replacement
Icom IC-E7 / IC-P7 Series — 3.7V Li-ion Replacement Battery (BP-243)
The BP-243 is a 3.7V, 1500mAh Li-ion battery for the Icom IC-E7, IC-P7, and IC-P7A handheld amateur radio transceivers. It slots into the same battery bay as the original Icom pack, using the same three-pin contact strip and BMS handshake the charger dock expects. Capacity is rated at 5.55Wh.
- IC-E7, IC-P7, and IC-P7A fit: All three models share the same battery form factor, contact layout, and 3.7V supply rail. The charger dock identifies the pack through the BMS data line, not just voltage, so the BP-243 must present the correct handshake — this one does.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We ran the BP-243 through charge cycles on the BC-167 dock and monitored BMS response during simulated PTT bursts. The protection circuit held cutoff correctly at both high-draw transmit spikes and at rest.
- First insertion into the dock: If the BC-167 shows a fault LED on first insertion, remove the pack, wipe the gold contact strip with a dry cloth, and reseat firmly. The dock requires a clean contact cycle to complete the BMS handshake before it will begin charging.
Why the IC-E7 cuts out the moment you press PTT on a new BP-243
A new Li-ion cell ships at storage voltage — typically around 3.6V to 3.65V, not a full 4.2V charge. When you press PTT, the IC-E7 draws a sharp current spike to power the transmitter stage. At storage voltage, that spike can push the BMS overcurrent threshold and trigger an immediate cutout. The fix is straightforward: charge the pack fully on the BC-167 before first use. Once the cell is at 4.2V, the transmit spike stays well within the BMS window.
Bar indicator showing one fewer bar than expected after a full charge
The IC-E7 reads voltage thresholds to drive its bar indicator — it does not have a fuel gauge chip. A new cell that has just completed its first charge cycle may show slightly lower resting voltage than a broken-in pack, causing the indicator to read one bar low. Run two to three full charge and discharge cycles and the resting voltage will stabilise. After that, a full charge should sit at 4.2V open-circuit and the display will show the correct bar count.