Lithium-ion batteries are about as good as they get — they last for a long time on a single charge, they have a long life span, and they’re quick to recharge, making them perfect for two-way radios and other communication equipment.
While lithium-ion batteries are great, they’re not invincible and they do degrade over time, making it harder to keep a charge and will eventually stop working. However, there are things you can do to keep your lithium-ion batteries in good shape for as long as possible.
Below, we’ll go over 7 tips for maximizing the life of a lithium-ion battery on your PEAKPTT two-way radios.
1) Charge batteries as soon as you receive them.
Batteries are never shipped fully charged, due to federal regulations. They’re safer to ship that way. But if you’re getting spare batteries, you may stow them away for a rainy day when your other batteries need to be replaced.
However, these unused, partially charged batteries will drop in voltage. If they’re stored long enough without getting a full charge, the voltage can drop so low that when it’s time to charge them, your charger won’t recognize there’s even a battery in the charger, resulting in wasted batteries.
Therefore, charge your batteries when you get them, even if they’re spares.
2) Use the right charger
While it may be tempting to use a different charger that’s lying around from a previous product or a cheap one you find online, you should use the battery charger the manufacturer recommends, otherwise, you could risk damaging your batteries.
3) Use quality batteries
While lithium-ion batteries are generally considered to be high-quality, not all are made the same. Make sure you’re investing in high-quality lithium-ion batteries.
4) Charge the battery fully.
Charing the battery partially is never a good idea. Over time it can result in a shorter charge and shorter life span for the battery. Therefore, charge the battery completely every time.
5) Don’t overcharge.
Similarly, you don’t want to overcharge the battery either. Don’t leave batteries in the charger and pick them up in the morning, hours after they’ve been fully charged. Doing so can damage the battery over time and shorten its lifespan.
6) Save power.
Batteries that are used all of the time will degrade faster than batteries that are used lightly. To reduce the burden on your batteries use a power-saving mode if it’s available. For two-way radios, keep the volume on low to save energy and power them off when they’re not in use or charging.
7) Use a multi-charger.
Multi-chargers, like the PTT 584G Multi-Charger, are a great way to organize your radios and charge several at once to avoid any of your radios dying when they’re needed.
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