Battery packs are the lifeblood of any two-way radio system. When they start to fail, your team loses reliable communication - and that can impact safety, productivity, and operations. The good news? Most battery related problems are completely avoidable with a little attention and prompt action.
Here are five clear signs that it's time to replace your batteries.
1. Noticeably Shorter Talk Time
The most obvious sign is reduced battery life. If your radios are dying faster than they used to, your batteries are losing capacity. Battery packs naturally degrade over time—it's not a defect, it's chemistry. Lithium-ion batteries typically lose 30% of their capacity over 1 to 3 years and NiMH batteries typically lose 15-20% of their capacity per year under normal use.
If you're getting half the talk time you did a year ago, replacement is overdue.
2. Slow or Incomplete Charging
Batteries that take longer to charge or won't fully charge are showing their age. If your charger indicates a full charge but the radio dies within minutes, the battery cells are degraded. This is especially noticeable in winter when cold temperatures make weak batteries even worse.
Don't wait for complete failure - replace them now.
3. Radio Powers Off Unexpectedly
A battery that cuts power without warning is a safety risk. This happens when internal resistance increases and the battery can't deliver the voltage needed under load (like during transmission). Your team could lose contact mid-operation.
This is a red flag that demands immediate replacement.
4. Physical Signs of Wear
Look at your batteries themselves. Swelling, cracks, corrosion around the terminals, or visible damage all indicate the battery is failing. Even if the radio still works, a damaged battery is unreliable and potentially unsafe.
Replace any battery showing physical damage immediately.
5. Cold Weather Performance Drop
Winter reveals weak batteries fast. Cold temperatures reduce battery efficiency dramatically - a battery that works fine in summer might fail completely in winter. If you've noticed your radios struggling in colder weather, your batteries are already compromised.
Need to buy replacement battery packs?
Contact us today for a quote - just tell us the make and model of your radio and we'll do the rest.
Have Questions?
If you have questions about replacement battery packs or want to discuss your specific situation, please get in touch. We're happy to explain the science in more detail and address any questions you might have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long should a battery pack last? A: This is a difficult question, since there are so many variables. However, we would expect a new battery to typically deliver 2 years of operating life.
Q: Can you test my batery? A: Yes. We have a sophisticated Battery Analyser that can precisely measure the capacity of a battery pack, but it does take time to fully test. There is a small charge for testing, but this is waived if you purchase a replacement battery from us.