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#1
08-24-2008, 05:29 PM
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rechargeable batteries
Comments are invited on rechargeable batteries. I have two older model Motorola hand-held radios plus a newer low-end set (less than $50/pair) and one higher-end set (approx $70/pair). All three sets have given me problems with the batteries. For the older radios, a replacement battery set at Batteries Plus cost over $30. Haven't bought batteries for the newer radios yet.
Just recently, 3 of my 4 newer radios had the batteries go out in my first day of use (very light use) after charging them for over 12 hours. I've begun carrying spare AA batteries due to the problem. I'm having a similar problem with my Motorola cell phone battery -- and the cell phone is just a few months old. Any thoughts? Seems to me that I'm getting pretty sad performance out of these batteries/radios. 270man 
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#2
08-24-2008, 08:09 PM
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I used to be a motorola man myself, but had an almost identical issue. A call to motorola tech suport four sets of batteries in said it was a known issue with the charging base and for only $8 they would send me ONE new base (I had 8 radios sheesh one base) anyway get the one new base in (to test it before I lay out more cash). . . . same exact rev as the old bases. I sold the whole kit and cabodle on ebay. Still looking for a good replacement but looks like cheap is not going to be a word I get to associate with it if I want decent battery life and operation.
Let me know if you do find a good replacement set. GoodOlBoy
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(Moderator - Gear & Gadgets, Cowboy Action, SouthWest Regional, Small Game) GoodOlBoy@huntchat.com For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 KJV Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 8:15 KJV "The gun has been called the great equalizer, meaning that a small person with a gun is equal to a large person, but it is a great equalizer in another way, too. It insures that the people are the equal of their government whenever that government forgets that it is servant and not master of the governed." - 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan 1911-2004
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#3
08-24-2008, 11:05 PM
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Its not just the smaller batteries either.
I have a little used Black & Decker drill that has 2 bad batteries. Bought a new charger just before they crapped out. I noticed my son was throwing out a fairly expensive hand held spot light. One of those million candlepower jobs. He said he never really used it much. I thought I would try to salvage it and found that after charging in my trucks cigarette lighter for 10 hours it only charged to 6 volts. Bad Batteries  the best 2ya just
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#5
08-25-2008, 01:03 AM
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I use Energizer AA rechargeables in my Motorola handhelds and they seem to work fine. I can hunt with them all day and they still have power at the end of the day. The caveat is that I am not sending and receiving all day on them. Pretty much just a couple of check ins with my dad while I am on stand and a couple of calls to come and pick me up for lunch and at the end of the day. I've also used the handhelds for several hours while riding bikes with my sisters just in case they should get lost. I use 2500 Mah rechargeable batteries in them and a lot of other electronic devices of mine.
Over time, rechargeable batteries will go bad. So, I bought a $5 tester and I test them when they come out of the charger. If they fall anywhere below the mid level reading on the tester, they get tossed.
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The pond, waterfowl, and yellow labs...it don't get any better.
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#6
08-25-2008, 01:56 AM
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Well I will give you that. We use both energizer and duracell rechargables in our tv remotes, mps players etc and don't have nearly the problem we have had with rechargeable "packs" like on some radios and handhelds. My motorola radios wouldn't take double a's, they had a pack (kinda like a cell phone battery) on the back of them. I have had 4 of the silver black and decker batteris for my cordless drill go out over seven years of moderate use, which isn't bad. One thing I have noticed is that if I leave them in the charger all the time not just put them on when they are drained or low then I lose alot of rechargables no matter what kind they are.
GoodOlBoy
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(Moderator - Gear & Gadgets, Cowboy Action, SouthWest Regional, Small Game) GoodOlBoy@huntchat.com For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. - John 3:16 KJV Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry: for that shall abide with him of his labour the days of his life, which God giveth him under the sun. - Ecclesiastes 8:15 KJV "The gun has been called the great equalizer, meaning that a small person with a gun is equal to a large person, but it is a great equalizer in another way, too. It insures that the people are the equal of their government whenever that government forgets that it is servant and not master of the governed." - 40th President of the United States Ronald Reagan 1911-2004
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#7
08-25-2008, 02:14 PM
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Remember most rechargable batteries will get a memory if you dont' discharge them completly before charging them back up.
Lithium batteries are about the only ones that don't, but they will even wear over time (I usually get 3 years out of my cell phone batteries, which are Lithium) When I had phones with MH batteries I was lucky to get a year before I needed a new one.
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It doesn't matter what you hunt, as long as you hunt <hr> Member - AOPA - Lloydminster & Area Archery Assoc. - Life Member NAHC - IBEP Instructor
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#8
08-25-2008, 04:44 PM
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I use ranger old radios with a UHF 151.5 frequency or as we say around here The Contractor Frequency. Pretty heavy duty radio's. Get about 4 or 5 miles on a level ground. Radio are a little heavy. The batteries are about the size of a pack of butts. So far I have no complaints with them. If I charge them fully I can get a couple of days out of them. That not using them constantly but mostly just checking in. I have to change batteries about every 4 or 5 years at about 40 bucks a pop although expensive it ain't bad.
I will atleast 2 or 3 times a years charge these up, turn them on and drain them to nothing. Charge them again and drain them. Then charge them a final time and put them away. Kinda like excercising them. Seems to work. I stay away from the radios that take AA and so. Just don't seem to cut it.
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#10
08-26-2008, 12:28 AM
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NiMH are the only rechargeable batteries that I use now. The Nickel Cad batteries have all gone in the trash.
Lithium batteries are awesome, but I don't think they make lithium rechargeable AA's, C's or D's yet. Can't wait until that happens.
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The pond, waterfowl, and yellow labs...it don't get any better.
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