BK Radio EPH lo Bat issue.

[jmoylan69]

Not sure where to post this, but im curious if anyone else has had the issue of having the Radio display LoBat as soon as you turn on the radio. (Yes Even when you have a brand new set of batteries). So it is NOT the battery itself. if i detach the battery and then reconnect it (sometimes) 2 or 3 times, then it works just fine.

Anyone have this issue before? and or possibly know what it takes to resolve it besides saying "replace the battery" because thats been done.

 

[Onelick]

Did you try replacing the batteries??

There's one in every crowd.. sorry, I couldn't resist.

I'm assuming you are talking about a AA clamshell and not a rechargeable. I've only seen this with clamshells that are really dirty. Try cleaning all the battery contacts and the contacts for the radio. Is this a chicom knockoff clamshell, or an actual BK clamshell. The chicom knockoffs are junk, and cause all kinds of problems from not seating on the radio correctly and the outershell not completely closing all the way to the soldering inside from all the battery connections not done right causing voltage issues.

Onelick

 

[mancow]

Could be a dirty bottom center contact, dirty surfaces of the underside of the metal plate where the button tabs hook or a bad switch.

 

[jmoylan69]

Thanks for the Reply folks, yes I have an actual GOOD BK clam attached. doesnt matter. Just to be sure, attached is a pic of what im facing. im wondering if maybe there's an internal resister? or the actual on off switch or who knows, but this is the display. and again this with a voltmeter to 13.5 volts on a CLAM.

 

[jmoylan69]

Could be a dirty bottom center contact, dirty surfaces of the underside of the metal plate where the button tabs hook or a bad switch.

YUP, thought of that too. and im fairly familiar with radio ops, for what its worth im a Ham Tech. KI7DYB, its just i've never seen this particular issue before so im assuming its probably internal. either a bad connection, switch, who knows but wanted to see if anyone else might have this issue before i fire it off to a Shop to get repaired at a tune of $$$$

 

[mancow]

I would take the bottom plate off and clean it. Inisde the radio the center button is connected to a small fuse that looks like a resistor (3 amp) I believe. A wire then runs up the side to the volume on/off switch. They are very simple really, compared to more modern units. I would still bet on dirty contacts or a bad switch. You should be able to jumper the switch internally to see if it powers up without lobat and that would tell the story.

You might also take it apart and then put it back together which would cause the board interconnect header pins to re-seat just in the event they are dirty or corroded slightly.