Understanding Two-Way Radio Lithium Batteries

The battery is an important factor affecting the service life of the two-way radio. How much do you know about the use of batteries? This blog briefly introduces some knowledge about batteries.

1. Do you need to fully charge a new two-way radio lithium battery before using it?

New two-way radio batteries don’t have memory effects, so you can use or charge them at any capacity. They come with built-in protection against overcharging and overdischarging, so no need to worry. Usually, they are shipped with around 50% charge, and even after six months, they’ll have about 30% charge left. You can use them right away, and after a few cycles, they’ll perform at their best.

2. How does the charging process for two-way radio lithium batteries work, and how long does it take to fully charge?

Two-way radio lithium batteries use a standard charging process: constant current followed by constant voltage. When the voltage reaches the limit, they’re about 90%-95% charged. Charging current gradually reduces until fully charged.

3. What are the key performance indicators for two-way radio lithium batteries?

National standards assess these batteries based on capacity, temperature performance, safety features (overcharge, over-discharge, short-circuit protection), environmental durability (impact, drops), self-discharge rate, and charge-discharge cycle count. Reputable manufacturers usually have batteries within ±5% of their rated capacity.

4. Two-way radio batteries have four external terminals, but there are only two poles. Why?

Among the four terminals, two are for positive and negative poles. One is used to monitor battery temperature during charging, and the other identifies the battery type.

5. What protections are inside two-way radio lithium batteries?

These batteries have built-in safeguards against overcharging, over-discharging, and short circuits, ensuring their safety during charging, discharging, and regular use.

6. Does a larger capacity mean a more durable two-way radio lithium battery?

Battery capacity is tested at specific discharge rates and voltages. However, a battery’s usable capacity varies depending on the device’s cutoff voltage. Many two-way radios stop functioning effectively when the battery voltage drops to around 3.5V. So, the capacity in the range of 3.5V to 2.75V is essentially unusable. Different batteries have different voltage platforms, affecting their effective capacity and usage time.

Retevis provides additional battery backup to extend the service life of your walkie-talkies and bring you a better consumer experience.