HT1000 & batteries

[OfficerEven]

I am brand new here. Please move this thread if this is the incorrect area of the forum. I am an auxiliary Patrol Officer for my local police department and somewhat radio technically inclined. We use the Motorola HT 1000 radios for heavy daily use. A lot of the battery packs have lost a significant amount of their charge, which obviously makes them out of service. The chief asked if I could look into the batteries and see if they can be repaired. There serial numbers are NTN7143C and NTN7143CR. Does anyone know if it's possible to open up these packs, test, and replace bad cells? Thanks, folks.


Officer Even

 

[FFPM571]

Its not really worth it. To get the packs open is a pain without cracking them. For public safety use its better to just find a good replacement.You dont want them failing when its at a critical time. Even if not Motorola there are alot of good aftermarket brands that are reasonable cost wise. HT1000's are older radios and the price has come down latey in accessories.

 

[OfficerEven]

Its not really worth it. To get the packs open is a pain without cracking them. For public safety use its better to just find a good replacement.You dont want them failing when its at a critical time. Even if not Motorola there are alot of good aftermarket brands that are reasonable cost wise. HT1000's are older radios and the price has come down latey in accessories.

Thanks for the speedy reply. I really appreciate it.

I notice that the cover for the batteries seems to be glued shut. That does make it very annoying to open, but I guess these things were never meant to be serviceable.

On the topic of the HT 1000s do you know if there are any firmware/software updates for them that might enable them to have a longer life? We rely on them extensively and I am researching any sort of low-cost (or no-cost) method to eek every bit of life out of them. Lastly, where can I find the manual for it online? The MOT website says this product doesn't even exist.

Thanks,

Officer Even

 

[m-gerty]

I've used these people a couple of times and had good results. One was a battery out of a Makita drill, worked like new for several years until it jumped off a ladder.
Hand Held Radio Communications Batteries Names beginning M or N or O

If your radio isn't listed, check with them, they do more than what they advertise.

 

[mmckenna]

I've been using Honeywell brand batteries for my HT1000 and our MTS2000 at work. Specifically the 2700mAh NiMH ones. I got 4 years of 5 days a week usage out of my last one. Compared to the Motorola brand batteries, I couldn't really see a difference in the quality. Priced a bit cheaper. I think I was buying them for $36 each.

 

[OfficerEven]

I've been using Honeywell brand batteries for my HT1000 and our MTS2000 at work. Specifically the 2700mAh NiMH ones. I got 4 years of 5 days a week usage out of my last one. Compared to the Motorola brand batteries, I couldn't really see a difference in the quality. Priced a bit cheaper. I think I was buying them for $36 each.

Do you by chance have a model number for the Honeywell product?

 

[Rob_K]

On the topic of the HT 1000s do you know if there are any firmware/software updates for them that might enable them to have a longer life? We rely on them extensively and I am researching any sort of low-cost (or no-cost) method to eek every bit of life out of them. Lastly, where can I find the manual for it online? The MOT website says this product doesn't even exist.

Thanks,

Officer Even

I am not an expert but I own 3 ht1000s. If your model ends in "dn", you have a few years left on them. The dn does narrow banding and splinter freqs. My limited experience shows that these radios take abuse and keep on working.

 

[OfficerEven]

I am not an expert but I own 3 ht1000s. If your model ends in "dn", you have a few years left on them. The dn does narrow banding and splinter freqs. My limited experience shows that these radios take abuse and keep on working.

I just checked the one I took one, but didn't see "dn" anywhere on the radio. I took off the battery and looked at the part with all the serial numbers and such. No love.

Do you know if there is a PDF for the owner manual? I can't find one.

 

[Nasby]

The "DN" part will be on the back of the radio under the model number. It will be the last two letters. If its anything other than DN (CN, BN etc.) then sadly the radio will be have to be replaced to comply with the 2013 narrowband requirements.
I've not found any PDF files for the HT1000 on line. However, if you check Ebay they are often on there for like $5.00. Another good source for Motorola info is batlabs.com
Good Luck!!

 

[mmckenna]

Honeywell part number is H7144-M(27)
2700mAh, NiMH.
Pretty sure I was paying about $36 each, but that was back in 2007, last time I needed to buy any.

 

[OfficerEven]

Honeywell part number is H7144-M(27)
2700mAh, NiMH.
Pretty sure I was paying about $36 each, but that was back in 2007, last time I needed to buy any.

Thanks for this. BTW, I cracked open one the stock battery cases last night. It came off with some elbow grease and not too much cracking. Sure enough there are 6 cells in there of the "longer than" AA cells.

 

[OfficerEven]

Honeywell Batteries H7144-M(27)

Price: $35.49

in stock. Excellent.

 

[RodStrong]

I buy a lot of batteries from Imax. I have bought probably 300-ish from them in the past 3-4 years, and have not had one pulled out of service yet. Super low prices, lightning fast shipping from the USA, always fresh, and they fit the radios well. Kind of a hidden gem in the knockoff battery industry actually. 51 thousand transactions with a 99.9%+ feedback rating. They must be doing something right.

Good luck.

NTN7144 1.5A BATTERY for MOTOROLA GP900 HT1000 MTX8000 | eBay

kenwood KNB-15, Motorola saber items in icom batteries store on eBay!

 

[OfficerEven]

I buy a lot of batteries from Imax. I have bought probably 300-ish from them in the past 3-4 years, and have not had one pulled out of service yet. Super low prices, lightning fast shipping from the USA, always fresh, and they fit the radios well. Kind of a hidden gem in the knockoff battery industry actually. 51 thousand transactions with a 99.9%+ feedback rating. They must be doing something right.

Good luck.

NTN7144 1.5A BATTERY for MOTOROLA GP900 HT1000 MTX8000 | eBay

kenwood KNB-15, Motorola saber items in icom batteries store on eBay!

Both of these will fit into the HT 1000? Those prices are fantastic. I would have liked higher mAh but the price can't be beat!

 

[OfficerEven]

Another question- is it possible to purchase just a "shell" for the battery pack? I guess I would like to purchase rechargable batteries as necessary and swap out dead cells with ease.

 

[mmckenna]

A long time ago, maybe 10 years or so, I did see a battery shell for the Jedi radios. I haven't seen it since. It looked a bit clumsy, extend down and under the radio a bit. Wish I could remember the manufacturer....

 

[OfficerEven]

A long time ago, maybe 10 years or so, I did see a battery shell for the Jedi radios. I haven't seen it since. It looked a bit clumsy, extend down and under the radio a bit. Wish I could remember the manufacturer....

Oh, so no luck?

 

[lafd55]

NTN7143C
NTN7143CR

Our Fire Department uses Interstate Batteries for almost all batteries, from 9vs to our XTS portables.

 

[KG4INW]

A long time ago, maybe 10 years or so, I did see a battery shell for the Jedi radios. I haven't seen it since. It looked a bit clumsy, extend down and under the radio a bit. Wish I could remember the manufacturer....

I have no idea how well it works as I've never owned this but there is an aftermarket version (they appear to have two different types): CAM7144 Product Detail @ Batteryzone.com

 

[jhooten]

Have the department look into buying a Battery Maintenance System. Run the batteries through it, it may take a couple times for the really weak ones. You should be able to to restore many of them to service unless they have been badly abused. Then use it to test/recondition all the batteries at least quarterly to help keep them in service for as long as possible.

It doesn't take long for the machine to pay for itself.