Original Motorola RIB - battery current consumption

g8tzl2004 · Post by **g8tzl2004** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:25 pm

Does anybody know the current consumption of an original Motorola RIB using the 9v battery?

Is it safe to switch off the RIB after you have Read a radio - especially when you might be spending a couple of hours loading new freqs etc?

Thanks

RadioSouth · Post by **RadioSouth** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 3:44 pm

Never ran one to the end but I know I've done a few dozen on one 9v.
No problem shutting the RIB down in-between, just be sure the download or upload is complete before powering down.

RKG · Post by **RKG** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:22 pm

I routinely monitor the 9V battery in my RIB via a DVM and swap them out when they get to exactly 9VDC. I average a couple of dozen radios a week, and the battery usually lasts for at least six months.

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Mon Feb 20, 2006 6:31 pm

How long the battery lasts also depends on the radios your programming, for example, when i program my X9000's i don't even need a battery in the RIB since it's powered by the radio.

g8tzl2004 · Post by **g8tzl2004** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 5:45 am

Thanks all.

When I originally acquired the Motorola RIB there was already a 9v battery installed. The red LED lite up OK but the measured voltage of the battery was only around 5-6v ie the battery was flat.

I did not try using the "flat" battery , but do you need , say , at least 9v for the RIB to work ? - or if the LED lights up (ie only 6v) , is it OK?

Would it be OK to use a rechargeable nicad - which will be 8.4v rather than 9v?

Thanks

phrawg · Post by **phrawg** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 7:11 am

as far as voltage the 8.4 would probably be ok, BUT !!!!
when a ni-cad starts to go the curve from good to bad
falls off like a cliff. I have had ni-cads go from
operational to no-go in a time frame of 30 seconds or so
Alkilines on the other hand have a "soft" ramp to death.
Since for instance a saber with a 1+ minute programming
cycle time excedes that "fall off the cliff" 30 seconds, I
would not do it. Phrawg

kb0nly · Post by **kb0nly** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 9:14 am

I don't know about the original Moto RIB but the Sandy Ganz one that i use has a 5v regulator onboard, so it's not that the rib actually uses 9v and it has to be that. Your losing some to the regulator anyway.

However, the consideration is if the battery can supply enough current once it gets to 5-6v.

The last time i had a 9v battery in my RIB it lasted months and months of daily programming.