As you evaluate the type of two way radio battery you need, consider how your business works. How often will your walkie talkie batteries need to be recharged? Will you need a two way radio battery that provides the longest cycle life possible? Will your two way radio battery be exposed to extreme temperature conditions? Answers to these questions will help steer you in the right direction towards the type of walkie talkie battery you need.
Common walkie talkie battery chemistries:
- NiCd (nickel cadmium) batteries are the most cost effective option because they provide a longer cycle life. Ideal for two way radio users in extreme conditions of cold and heat. The downside to NiCd batteries are that they experience "memory effect" and may not return to full capacity if they're recharged before being fully discharged.
- NiMH (nickel metal hydride) provides a higher capacity (40%-50%) and less memory effect, as compared to NiCd batteries. NiMH batteries are more environmentally friendly and contain fewer toxic chemicals. They do not operate as efficiently in extreme temperatures.
- Li-ion (lithium-ion) provides the highest capacity in the most lightweight package. No memory effect and fewer charging cycles.
- You can purchase all three two way radio batteries with IMPRES™ functionality. IMPRES™ is a Motorola smart energy system that stores usage information by the charging and reconditioning system to automatically maintain the battery at peak performance levels. You don't have to manually track and record your Motorola two way radio batteries usage. With automatic reconditioning, you eliminate the guess work. Automatic Motorola two way radio battery reconditioning and all other IMPRES™ features are realized only when using Motorola IMPRES™ batteries and chargers.
Other walkie talkie terms to familiarize yourself with are operation time and cycle life. Operation time is the amount of time (hours, shifts or days) a two way radio battery can be used from the time it is charged until fully discharged. Cycle life is the number of cycles a two way radio battery can be charged and discharged before its energy decreases.
Motorola two way radio batteries are "Proven Tough" and designed to last. All Motorola batteries have to pass an Accelerated Life Testing (ALT) process that simulates five years of product use.
Two way radio batteries are the livelihood of your walkie talkie. Motorola designs, engineers and manufactures its two way radio batteries to withstand the toughest work environments. That is why CommUSA recommends Motorola two way radio batteries for our Motorola two way radios. If you have any questions on two way radio batteries, call us at (800) 338-1949.