Truck mounted chargers-- Question-- Need help

[firefighter2000]

My volunteer department recently recieved six CP200 radios with li-ion batteries for use in our apparatus. Some people want to mount chargers in the trucks and be constantly charging. Our call volume is 3-4 calls per week. The radios would not be used a great deal...

My question: What is the best way to charge these radios? Should we just keep the radios on the truck, & swap out batteries weekly or every other week, OR would it be safe to keep the radios in the chargers all the time. Im just trying to make sure we have charged batteries on our radios & will work when needed.

Any/All suggestions or comments are welcome & appreciated.

Thanks
Craig

[Will]

" would it be safe to keep the radios in the chargers all the time."


NO, batteries do not like to be charged all the time.

Most all chargers never shut down, and will kill a battery left in the charger.

With the Li batteries you need special chargers.

[firefighter2000]

Which charger in particular would be suited for the cp200 with the li-ion battery?
Thanks
Craig

[Rayjk110]

Usually the one it comes with will charge most regular batteries, if not, look at the charger manual in the box it came it.

Only leave the battery in the charger about 2 hours or so after the steady green light comes on, and that's it. Otherwise you'll fry 'em pretty quickly as previously stated.

[RFNebraska]

I set up a rig like that to use timers that would charge for 8 hours every three days unless you hit the override switch in which case they would charge untill the switch was opened.

[Bruce1807]

http://www.motorola.com/governmentanden ... wpln4161ar

Use the Power Supply for something else.
As for leaving them in the chargers thats a no no. Whilst the LioN batteries can endure it they are not intrinsiclly safe and I would not recommend them for a fire service.
Maybe impress batteries will come out for these radios. that would solve your problem.

[Will]

The above chargers are the same stuff that comes with each radio thrown together in a steel cover.

The individule charger can be powered from the truck battery with just a cable. The 3080384M21 cable can be used.

Trouble is the radios will fall out of the charger without a "seatbelt".

[wkr518]

My suggestion would be to return the CP200 radios and get HT750 radios with Impres battery and chargers.Or the PR860 which Impres is standard on.Not sure how much you paid for the CP200 but with the money you will be spending replacing CP200 batteries with this haphazard charging scenerio it might be well worth it to upgrade to a higher end radio.
Did you look at or quote out the HT750 or PR860?
There are also more accessory choices for the HT/PR radios than the CP200 radios.
CP200 is great for Fire Police or other use.
No word yet on IMPRES for CP200,but Motorola is slowly making IMPRES standard on HT series and PR series portables.
Good luck with your vehicle charging solutions.
Wayne

[Rayjk110]

Well, my experience with the CP200 and the HT750 is that the CP200 has basically the same "feel" of the body, but I do think the HT750 could take a better hit.