Impress batteries & the XTS5000

[wavetar]

Does anybody here have much experience with using Impress batteries on the XTS5000? According to the manual, the on-screen battery meter should always be visible when a 'smart' battery is being used, with the number of segments going down as the charge level drops.

Currently, the radio is acting as if it's a regular 'dumb' battery, only flashing the battery meter when the battery goes low.

The radio does see a difference between the Impress & regular batteries, as I can press the 'BATT' option in the menu & it will show 'Smart Batt Data Not Available' for a regular battery, while showing the 'initial charge date' and 'number of cycles' for the Impress battery. However, it just shows "--" instead of remaining capacity.

I've played with a couple of different radio/battery combinations, but it still doesn't seem to work properly. Any ideas?

The HOST/DSP version is 4.00.00 for the radios.

Todd

[wavetar]

Well, after a call to the dealer support line, I think I have the answer (in a timely fashion too!!).

SRN-1393 details exactly why the battery meter & capacity readings do not function if the battery goes longer than 7 days without being charged in an Impress charger. I have a copy if anyone needs it.

Todd

[CTAMontrose]

todd, could you send this my way as well, i was wondering the same thing with my 5k and an impress...

[RocketNJ]

Also the first time the Impress battery is charged in a non-Impress charger the battery loses it's Impress abilities and will need to go to Rockford for repair.

George

[Josh]

Also the first time the Impress battery is charged in a non-Impress charger the battery loses it's Impress abilities and will need to go to Rockford for repair.

George

wow, that sure sucks

I accidentally got an IMPRES battery to use with my XTS3K, while I never cared about IMPRES, perhaps if the XTS3K could work IMPRES stuff, then I may be "IMPRESsed" and go buy a charger, but nooo- the battery is messed up now!??

That's weak.

-Josh

[ExKa|iBuR]

So what if I charge an IMPRES battery in a standard quick-charger made for "dumb" batteries? Would it futz it up?

-Mike

[RocketNJ]

When that battery is connected to an XTS5000 it would no longer display the battery percentage remaining. Also when you charge it in an Impress charger after that it will not recondition the battery if needed.

George

[wavetar]

Also the first time the Impress battery is charged in a non-Impress charger the battery loses it's Impress abilities and will need to go to Rockford for repair.

George

Not quite. That only applies if the Impress battery was INITIALLY charged in a non-Impress charger. Otherwise, you can charge them in regular chargers no problem. Just be aware once you go beyond 7 days, the battery meter & capacity readings disappear & the battery needs to be charged in an Impress charger again before the information will be displayed again. Here's the SRN in it's entirety, check out the bottom paragraph regarding the initial charge of the battery:

SERVICE AND REPAIR NOTES
Bulletin
TECHNICAL INFORMATION /COMMERCIAL, GOVERNMENT & INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS SECTOR
If applicable, enter this information or note this bulletin number and subject material in the appropriate equipment instruction manuals and
make necessary schematic diagram changes. Enter this bulletin in the correct MASTER and CLASSIFIED INDICES for future reference.
Labor and/or parts warranty reference is limited to products sold and in use in the United States. For products
sold and in use Internationally, this bulletin is for informational purposes only. Radios that are Agency
Approved must follow designated agency guidelines.
SRN-ISO
SRN - 1393
APC - 721
January 2003
Memo To: SRN Mailing List Informational Only
From: Energy Systems Group / Subscriber Product Group
Subject: XTS 5000 radio using Impress (Smart) Battery - loss of fuel gage display
This bulletin affects the following Radio/Battery/Charger combinations:
1. XTS 5000 Radio with Impres Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal-Hydride or Lithium Ion batteries and Impres Single-Unit and
Multi-Unit Chargers with Charger Firmware versions 1.3 and higher. Firmware versions 1.3 and higher are indicated on
the charger bottom label.
Symptoms:
Impres battery fuel gage display on XTS 5000 disappears after 7 days in radios fitted with Impres (Smart) batteries.
Cause:
XTS 5000 Smart battery fuel gauge display is designed to disappear after 7 days if the battery has not been charged with an
Impres charger. This design is intended to eliminate inaccuracies in the display introduced by the use of non-Smart chargers.
Corrective Action:
Insert the Impres battery into the pocket of an Impres charger. Once the charger has indicated FLASHING GREEN or
STEADY GREEN, the radio will display the fuel gauge.
2. XTS 5000 Radio with Impres Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal-Hydride or Lithium Ion batteries and Impres Single-Unit
and Multi-Unit Chargers with Charger Firmware versions 1.2 or previous. Firmware versions 1.2 and earlier are not
indicated on any of the charger labels.
Symptoms:
Impres battery fuel gage display disappears after 7 days on XTS 5000 radios fitted with Impres batteries. (This condition
could also appear if the radio/battery were left in the charger for more than 7 days.)
Cause:
The XTS 5000 Smart battery fuel gauge display is designed to disappear after 7 days if the battery has not been charged with
an Impres charger during that time. This design is intended to eliminate inaccuracies in the display introduced by the use of
non-Smart chargers. On the older Impres charger firmware versions, the battery needs to be discharged below 70% of full
capacity before re-charging in order to properly re-initialize the battery and allow the fuel gauge to be displayed. If the battery
is removed from the Impres charger before charging is complete, the fuel gauge will not be visible, since an internal timer in
the battery is not updated until the charge cycle ends.
Corrective Action:
Within the first 2 minutes of Rapid Charging (STEADY RED Indication), force the battery to recondition by removing the
battery from the pocket and reinserting it into the pocket within 5 seconds. This will cause the battery to be reconditioned/recalibrated,
thereby resetting the battery timer and allowing the radio to display the fuel gauge. The Amber LED indicator
indicates reconditioning.
Note: The Impres battery needs to be discharged to at least 70% of full capacity before the internal timer will be updated upon
charge, allowing the radio to display the fuel gauge.
3. XTS 5000 Radio with Impres Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal-Hydride or Lithium Ion batteries charged with non-
Impres (conventional) Single-Unit and Multi-Unit Chargers.
Symptoms:
Impres battery fuel gage display disappears after 7 days on XTS 5000 radios fitted with Impres batteries. (This condition
could also occur if the radio/battery were left in the charger for greater than 7 days).
Cause:
XTS 5000 Smart battery fuel gauge display is designed to disappear after 7 days if the battery has not been charged with an
Impres charger. This design is intended to eliminate inaccuracies in the display introduced by the use of non-Smart chargers.
Corrective Action:
In an Impres charger, within the first 2 minutes of Rapid Charging (RED LED Indication), force the battery to recondition by
removing the battery from the pocket and reinserting it into the pocket within 5 seconds. This should cause the battery to be
reconditioned/re-calibrated, thereby allowing the radio to display the fuel gage.
PLEASE NOTE: If new Impres batteries are initially charged in a conventional (non-Impres) charger, the XTS5000 fuel
gauge display will never appear. Impres batteries AND chargers must be used to enable the fuel gauge display.
Informational only. No labor or part warranty implied.

[RocketNJ]

Thanks for the clarification.

George