Two Way Radio Batteries & Chargers
Almost all chargers have a lighting system which indicates its status when charging a battery. Manufacturers obviously differ in thus,
A solid red light might indicate that the battery is sited properly and is charging.
Green would mean the charge is complete,
But a flashing light may indicate a problem with either the battery or the charger. If you are certain the battery is placed correctly in the charger, but the light is blinking, contact your NRC Radios for advice.
With the proper upkeep, you should be able to get the full scope of your two way radio battery’s life. Dependent on the heaviness of use, a battery that is rechargeable could last for up to 2-3 years, but if you find your battery needs replacing more often, then these tips might be useful in getting a longer life cycle.
- Always follow the instructions
Radios are all somewhat different, so familiarise yourself with the particular instructions for recharging the set from the manufacturer.
- Turn off when recharging
Almost every manufacturer advises that you to turn off your radio when it is on charge, to stop the radio is drawing both current and charging simultaneously, thus shortening battery life.
- Do not get in the habit of using the charger as a stand
Only put the radio in the stand when it needs charging. Tidy-minds are not what we are looking for here as some offices use the charging unit as a stand to keep the radio in. However, if your set is already charged, doing this could shorten the life of the battery.
- Initialising batteries
Any new battery will need an overnight charge before you first use. This is called “initialising” and it will help give the maximum battery capacity. Charge NiMH batteries for 14-16 hours, and Li-Ion batteries for an additional 1-2 hours after the charger indicator turns green.
- Battery memory
If you recharge regularly a NiMH battery before it’s fully discharged, you may be affecting its long-term life. This is known as the “memory effect”, which means that charging batteries that still have a charge in them will cause the battery to only charge partially.
For expert advice about contact NRC Radios here
