It's a general question/problem (the radio actually is
a Vertex VX180). The radio is running on a 9VDC
alkaline pack but won't operate once the voltage goes
below 7.2VDC. I'm thinking it should run okay at least to a
point between 6 and 7 volts, but it doesn't.
I'm also thinking of a firmware setting that was perhaps
done incorrectly at the factory.
I'm open to all ideas, and we're in a time bind to get
the ten units involved up and working in time for
NFL pre-season games.
OT -- Portable quits at 7.2VDC
Moderator: Queue Moderator
-
Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
OT -- Portable quits at 7.2VDC
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
Re: OT -- Portable quits at 7.2VDC
Try running the stock ni cad batteries and see if the problem continues. I have a feeling that the radio is doing exactly what it is supposed to do.
73
73
-
Tom in D.C.
- Posts: 3859
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2001 4:00 pm
- What radios do you own?: Progreso soup can with CRT
Re: OT -- Portable quits at 7.2VDC
You're exactly, dead-on, 100 percent correct. Turns out after
some very basic research that all one can draw from an alkaline
AA cell is about one Amp, and these HTs want almost two Amps
at the high power setting. The company is going to either run
alkalines at low power or Lithium Ion packs on high power.
The radio is doing exactly what it's supposed do, because it
shuts down when the battery voltage gets to somewhere
between 6 and 6.2 volts.
It's also a good lesson regarding the question we hear every so often
about Motorola that goes, "Why don't they make an alkaline
pack for my HT." The monster/kluge alkaline pack for the XTS
radios is one exception, in that Motorola does make it, but it's
two parallel banks of six AA cells, with an automatic setting of
the XTS to low power only.
some very basic research that all one can draw from an alkaline
AA cell is about one Amp, and these HTs want almost two Amps
at the high power setting. The company is going to either run
alkalines at low power or Lithium Ion packs on high power.
The radio is doing exactly what it's supposed do, because it
shuts down when the battery voltage gets to somewhere
between 6 and 6.2 volts.
It's also a good lesson regarding the question we hear every so often
about Motorola that goes, "Why don't they make an alkaline
pack for my HT." The monster/kluge alkaline pack for the XTS
radios is one exception, in that Motorola does make it, but it's
two parallel banks of six AA cells, with an automatic setting of
the XTS to low power only.
Tom in D.C.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
In 1920, the U.S. Post Office Department ruled
that children may not be sent by parcel post.
Re: OT -- Portable quits at 7.2VDC
Tom-
Specs on the radio are 7.5VDC +- 20% (6-9VDC). You're correct on the current limitation... that's why things like camera strobes take so long to cycle. You might consider looking into the Energizer E2 Lithium AAs. You can pull much more power from them (designed for camera strobes) and they last far longer. We've got 42 TK2170s in a cache configuration and we keep 48 hours (4 sets) of the Lithium AAs available for each unit.
Specs on the radio are 7.5VDC +- 20% (6-9VDC). You're correct on the current limitation... that's why things like camera strobes take so long to cycle. You might consider looking into the Energizer E2 Lithium AAs. You can pull much more power from them (designed for camera strobes) and they last far longer. We've got 42 TK2170s in a cache configuration and we keep 48 hours (4 sets) of the Lithium AAs available for each unit.