Saber gang charger blew up!

[losangelescop]

Okay so i just inserted radios into my Saber gang charger. it thought about it for maybe two minutes quietly as all was normal, then decided it needed the cooling fan on as there were 6 in the unit. after the fan being on for maybe three seconds, i casually look over to discover smoke pouring out of the 6th bay!!

i ripped the radio out and then all fell silent. after maybe a minute of calming down i ripped the plug out of the back of it and cut all power - anyone had this before?! wtf happened?!

to be noted that all the batteries are pretty much dead (was going to buy new batteries very soon) and of course the radios and the charger are old, as to be expected. no problems with anything up until this date.

anyone??

[Tom in D.C.]

Nothing is forever, obviously, but be encouraged by the fact that these chargers, which once commanded a pretty high price, have gotten really, really cheap in the past few years, so a replacement unit isn't going to cost you very much.

Regards,

[RadioSouth]

It's those Astec power supplies, they used them in many of the MUC's and multi port analyzers. Had the same problem, I no longer use them un- monitored and definetely not overnight. Mine had a '92 manuf date and believe it was last year when it let go.

[Will]

It's those Astec power supplies.

And we have not been able to get any service information for them. They all went into the trash. Replaced by DuraComm's.