XTS2500 battery issue or radio issue?

[cferguson4809]

I have been tasked with checking out our old XTS radios, the 3 radios and 3 batteries I have tried all do the same thing. The impres charger states the batteries are fully charged, the radio states the batteries are fully charged. When I key up the radio then gives the battery chirp tone like it was dead. Is this a battery issue or radio issue. Most of our mainline units have been replaced with apx radios but we still have some xts and want to extend the life on them if possible.

 

[Outerdog]

Batteries.

 

[ryolsen8]

That would be a battery issue. I have seen bad radios where the radio was saying that the battery was dead and it was chirping when you'd key up, but it's usually a battery problem.

 

[K2NEC]

Definitely a battery issue. What's the date code on them?

 

[chief21]

Certain rechargeable batteries will charge up to (or close to) their rated voltage, but no longer have adequate current reserve to operate the radio properly. This is often true of older batteries. While the charger and the radio both indicate that the battery is fully charged, there just isn't enough "oompf" (amperage) to power the transmitter.

 

[R8000]

I can't recall 100%, but I know there was a battery contact issue years ago that addressed a problem where poor contacts would cause a similar deal. It might be worth it to check battery contacts, and perhaps try those batteries on other radios that were working fine. I have a XTS3000 that does this with a new battery. If you wiggle the battery then it works fine for awhile. I can't recall what model of XTS had a battery service bulletin about it since it's been many years ago it was mentioned.
If those batteries are over 2-3 years old, then they are in the time frame where they could very well be going bad. Motorola batteries have a date code on them. You can Google the date code decoder and figure how just how old they really are. Time flies and that battery you "just bought" is now 4 years old lol.

 

[a417]

I have been tasked with checking out our old XTS radios, the 3 radios and 3 batteries

As many have said prior, it's the batteries. When you prepend "old" to a battery, it's almost always the weakest link in your situation. IMPRES is better than the dumb chargers, but batteries are batteries and do not last for ever.

If those batteries are over 2-3 years old, then they are in the time frame where they could very well be going bad. Motorola batteries have a date code on them. You can Google the date code decoder and figure how just how old they really are. Time flies and that battery you "just bought" is now 4 years old lol.

 

[MTS2000des]

Yup, lots of decade plus "New Old Stock" junk batteries on Scambay, How a battery is stored makes a huge difference in it's life span. Even a 2 year old just out of warranty IMPRES Lithium battery can be toast if it's stored completely discharged in a non-temperature/humidity controlled storage. Ask me how I know.

 

[Stretchman]

You might try to run a conditioning cycle. Within 5 seconds of inserting the battery, remove it and then reinsert it quickly. The light should turn from red to yellow, and it will condition the battery if it can.

 

[Anderegg]

I have so many issues with old Impres batteries and their smart capacity functions. I have one XTS5000 battery that reads as 100% charge and then if you let it sit a week it is completely toast...if you test it an hour before toast, it still shows 100%. I have a whole fleet of old NiMH and NiCAD XTS2500 style batteries that are not Impress and those things are like 15 years old and great daily drivers.

Paul

 

[merlin]

Same issue with my XTS, it is the battery. Good enough to receive a while but TX boops with battery low.
I bought a cheap non impress battery, and works very well.
It will only trickle charge in the impress charger.

 

[AESFTW]

Remember to check the date codes on "new" batteries that you purchase. As stated above, they may be new in box but have been sitting in a warehouse for years.