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Is ANYBODY making Saber-R batteries these days?

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ElroyJetson

ElroyJetson

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I've come across a few Astro Saber Rs and they're good working radios. I can't stand the thought that they just need batteries to be usable.

I can't believe NOBODY is making Saber R batteries...not that I can find.

Even if I just had some shells, I could refit them with some Li-Ion cells and a regulator circuit. That's more work but it's possible to do.

I think there's room in the housing for three 16550 cells. Or it's close.

Does anybody know of a source for Saber R batteries, new or used, or shells?
 
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I know this doesn’t answer your question, but I too was in your boat. I simply removed the radio from the R shell, & popped it into a regular shell so I could use normal Saber batteries.
 
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I have a bunch of Saber R radios. There’s a seller on eBay who sells Saber R batteries freshly refurbished with new cells but he wants a fortune for them ( $185 if I remember right ).
Here’s just some of my Saber R collection -

D168447A-D397-4BF4-BB57-CA773518F4C4.jpeg
 
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mbnv992

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Oh and as far as a company making brand new R batteries - they don’t exist anymore. I’ve looked absolutely everywhere. Last company ( aftermarket ) that made them was Alexander Technologies and this was back in the early 2000’s ( maybe 2004 ? ) they they discontinued them.
That would be absolutely amazing if a battery company would start making these again but I VERU highly doubt it.
 
prcguy

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25 years ago I would have printed out this picture and held it up with one hand......

mbnv992 said:
I have a bunch of Saber R radios. There’s a seller on eBay who sells Saber R batteries freshly refurbished with new cells but he wants a fortune for them ( $185 if I remember right ).
Here’s just some of my Saber R collection -

View attachment 125734
Click to expand...
 
RFI-EMI-GUY

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I have repacked several standard Saber batteries with Lithium Ion. Also you can buy standard LiIon SABER batteries and wall wart charger on ebay from HK seller RadioShoppe (?). You can buy the charger alone. Two Lithium Ion cells with BMS (series 7.2-8.4V) will power the radio just fine. You will need a 2 cell wall wart charger from ebay. I recommend one with a coaxial DC connector and mating jack at the base of the battery to recharge. You will end up with a battery 6 oz lighter and 3 times as powerful.
 
ElroyJetson

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I'd be willing to reach out to a company that had the molds and tooling for R batteries and try to make a deal for that equipment, or get them to do a final run and sell me the parts and let me deal with loading the cells into them myself. If the cost of entry wasn't great, it might be modestly profitable or at least pay for itself.

I've done that sort of thing a couple times, with varying degrees of success. One of my side hustles is providing very high quality reproduction front and rear faceplates for vintage (60s and 70s) era Marshall guitar amplifiers. That's been a pretty solid little side hustle.

One thing I wish Motorola had done was make the Astro Saber R in a III version. But only I and II versions were ever made.
 
RFI-EMI-GUY

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ElroyJetson said:
I'd be willing to reach out to a company that had the molds and tooling for R batteries and try to make a deal for that equipment, or get them to do a final run and sell me the parts and let me deal with loading the cells into them myself. If the cost of entry wasn't great, it might be modestly profitable or at least pay for itself.

I've done that sort of thing a couple times, with varying degrees of success. One of my side hustles is providing very high quality reproduction front and rear faceplates for vintage (60s and 70s) era Marshall guitar amplifiers. That's been a pretty solid little side hustle.

One thing I wish Motorola had done was make the Astro Saber R in a III version. But only I and II versions were ever made.
Click to expand...

A DIY kit of fresh Saber and Saber R battery shells in short/medium/long might be an attractive product for sale on E Bay. The effort to cut apart old batteries is a PITA. Let the buyer install whatever cells they wish.

Also a 3D printed spacer for CR123A primary batteries in series and parallel arrangement might be attractive for disposable power. AA batteries won't supply enough power. I think it may take 6 CR123A batteries, though I have not tried it.

1660090356584.png

1660090462732.png
 
ElroyJetson

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I THINK that two 18550 li-ion cells is quite sufficient. They can be had as large as 3400 mAH or more and two at full charge will deliver 7.4 volts. With a decent buck-boost converter that's 7.5 volts until it's too dead to run anything.
I'll know once I crack a battery open (a regular Saber battery is sufficient of course) and test fit various cells to it.

If I can make a decent run at this, opening the existing battery will be handled by a local machine shop using a fixture and a miling machine that will precisely cut out the bottom lid. For reassembly I'd recommend silicone to put the lid back on, which would make the battery serviceable for future cell replacements if necessary.
 
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