
Radio Battery Maintenance: Best Practices
A battery is a crucial part of your two-way radio.
Your radio only works as long as the battery lasts – and so does your team.
If your battery isn’t working, neither are you.
Batteries that are properly charged and cared for will last longer and extend their service life.
So, how can you get the most out of your two-way radio battery?
Tip 1. Initialize Your Radio Battery
When charging a battery for the first time, make sure to leave it in the charger for up to 12 hours.
This is known as initializing and will allow you to get the longest life from your battery.

It is important to keep the contacts on any two-way radio battery clean and dry.
Tip 2: Keep the Radio Battery Clean and Dry
Make sure your contact points are always kept clean and dry.
If your radio is exposed to water, quickly remove the battery and dry everything thoroughly.
Tip 3: Power the Battery Off Before Charging
Before placing a two-way radio on the charger, check to see that it is switched off.
You can also remove the battery and charge it separately without the radio attached.
Tip 4: Avoid Extreme Temperatures
Always protect your battery from heat, like from fire or direct sunlight.
Batteries should be kept and charged in a cool, dry environment.
Similarly, try to keep your batteries away from extreme cold temperatures like inside of a car in the winter.
Exposure to the cold will prevent the battery from running at full capacity.
Download Our Free Guide: How Tough is Your Two-Way Radio Battery?

Don’t use the charging station as a way to store the battery as it will shorten its lifespan.
Tip 5: Don’t Overcharge the Battery
Charge only when necessary to maximize the life of your batteries.
A charge is recommended once the battery is down to 10% or 20% of its capacity.
When the radio begins to beep, this is often an alert that the battery is in need of charging.
Once completed, remove your batteries from the charger.
Using the charging station as a battery stand will ultimately shorten the life cycle of your batteries.
For the most dependable and cost-effective solution, it is recommended you carry spare batteries that have already been charged.
Conclusion
Following these tips should help you get the most out of each charge and ensure long battery life.
If you have any questions, leave a comment or contact one of our two-way radio experts for your two-way radio needs.
If you want to get long-lasting batteries for your two-way radios, download our free brochure to find out about Motorola Solutions IMPRES Smart Energy batteries with some lasting up to 29 hours on a single charge!
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