generic batteries

[Mikado]

Hi,

I just got a used TK-3180 off ebay. It seems like the battery is worn out, and won't hold a charge very long. So I'll need to replace the battery.

The Kenwood battery # is KNB 33L. But after a Google search, I see there are batteries made to fit this radio from companies other than Kenwood. Does anyone have any experience with these "generic" batteries? Are there any brands I should look for (or avoid)? Or should I just get a battery from Kenwood?

 

[K9WG]

Yes, I got a pack for my VX-170 from Two-Way Radio Battery Supplier and it is very good quality.

 

[KB8KOJ]

Just a heads up. Make sure your battery charger is compatible for whatever battery chemistry you decide to buy. I learned the hard and expensive way that a KSC-14 charger is for Ni-Cad only. Burnt up some expensive 'name brand' aftermarket Ni-MH packs quickly.

Then I got some cheap Ni-Cads from China via Ebay and they seem to work fairly well. Only used them for a month but at $15 shipped I plan to buy more.

Either Kenwood or the aftermarket suppliers seem to mix battery Ni-Cad and NI-MH under the same part numbers. So you really have to look.

#edit I would love to find a way to open these packs up and replace the cells.

 

[RodStrong]

Best deal on Ebay. I have bought dozens of batteries from these guys in the past few years. Not this particular model though. Can't beat their feedback rating, and they ship fast.

NEW KNB-31A KNB-32N Battery for KENWOOD TK-2180 TK-3180 | eBay

They also sell lithium ion. Like the previous poster said though, make sure your charger does the chemistry of whatever you buy. Good luck.

 

[K9WG]

... snip ...

They also sell lithium ion. Like the previous poster said though, make sure your charger does the chemistry of whatever you buy. Good luck.

Especially lithium ion! They are very touchy and if you charge them with an incorrect charger will catch fire. I even go as far as not charging lithium ions when I am away from home.

 

[Mikado]

Thank you all for the advice. I have worked with Li-Ion batteries before. When I charge them, I put the charger in front of my fireplace. The hearth is a concrete slab about 5' by 2'. So if anything bad would happen, it's highly unlikely the concrete would catch fire. Of course I don't leave home with the charger plugged in either.

Well, it turns out my battery isn't as dead as I thought it was. When I received it, I popped it into the charger, and the green light came on. So I thought it was fully charged. But it only lasted for about two hours (radio on, but not transmitting). I think it just needed to fully drain and re-charge. Next time it lasted for nearly a full day.

 

[Raptor05121]

Well, it turns out my battery isn't as dead as I thought it was. When I received it, I popped it into the charger, and the green light came on. So I thought it was fully charged. But it only lasted for about two hours (radio on, but not transmitting). I think it just needed to fully drain and re-charge. Next time it lasted for nearly a full day.

Do you have a Li-ion battery now? (you should if it is the OEM battery). In which case Li-Ion does not suffer from the memory charging effect.