Batboard

Good day...

I have a slew of radios, different manufacturers, Moto, Icom, Kenwood, Vertex, all have different sized batteries, capacities, the works.

Is there a universal charger/conditioner/analyzer out there that I can use to test these batteries? I have had horrible luck with Jedi batteries as an example, I seem to get brand new batteries and they just stop working after 8-10 months, probably from lack of use, I do store them properly and charged, but it never seems to help.

While I would just love to run out and get a intellicharger or IMPRES setup, it's simply not in the budget, and I was hoping there was some sort of universal solution that I could use and spent SOME $$, but I do not want to spend $500 per manufactuer battery or specific battery type.

I was looking at the MAHA 777, however it seems to have horrible reviews, currently I am looking at the iTech style, they require adapter cups for each radio - but at $40 per adapter, that might get expensive fast.

I've used both the Itechs that Motorola markets and Itech OEM stuff. If you get one with current firmware, it'll handle all three battery chemistries. If you can find a used Itech, the firmware can probably be upgraded from the original two chemistry to three chemistry so it will handle LiIon batts as well. If you buy the adapters new they can be costly if you need quite a few of them; if you're only dealing with NiCD right now, Itech sells a selectable voltage adapter with clip leads/bananna jacks that will handle any pack from 3.6 to 14.4V pretty reasonably if you want to fabricate your own battery "holders".

I have done a little more research...

iTech makes a product called the IqPAC which is nice... No reviews on it, but it does do full conditioning. Cost wise, about $250 with one radio cup... But I have yet to find a local supplier here in Canada. All in one design.




Cadex makes the king of all conditioners... $1200 -- WAY out of my league.




ACT makes a product called the i10, which also has a battery readout add-on which gives you capacity, full conditioning.. I got a quote for it with one cup and the readout.. $250 (CDN) for the charger and display, and $35 per radio cup. Full tri-chem. So this is choice 2, and I have a local supplier.






Anyone else have any other thoughts?

We use the Advanced Tec Industries AT2000IFD conditioning chargers.

The battery plates are interchangeable.

They are available from Motorola parts also.