Battery Maintenance, Looking After the Battery

English

Battery Maintenance

•As part of an Annual Battery Maintenance Program or as required (when the battery contacts are dirty or show signs of wear) it is recommended that the Battery‘s Radio-side and Charger-side contacts are cleaned with DeoxIT®GOLD cleaner/ lubricant. DeoxIT®GOLD (Supplier CAIG Labs, P/N G100P) cleaner/lubricant pen has been found to be very effective at cleaning and extending the life of the battery‘s contacts. DeoxIT®GOLD cleaner/lubricant is available at numerous electronics suppliers (Radio Shack, McMaster Carr, Fry’s, etc.) and directly from manufacturer, CAIG Labs, at http:// www.caig.com. This pen based package is recommended as it provides better access to the recessed contacts of the battery. The pen’s tip may need to be modified (trimmed on the sides) to improve penetration into the battery contact slots. Per the manufacturer’s instructions, shake the pen until the fluid begins to flow and wipe the battery's contact surface with the felt tip. After cleaning, inspect the contact surfaces for signs of advanced wear. Advanced contact wear is defined as wear through either the contact platings (gold and nickel) to the base metal (copper). Copper exposure is characterized by a distinctive orange-brown metal appearance surrounded by the silvery nickel underplate and gold top coat. In some cases, a magnified (10x minimum) inspection may be required to verify wear through to the base material. Polishing of the gold or nickel surface is common and is not considered a need for replacement. In instances where advanced wear is evident, the battery should be replaced.

•After cleaning the contact areas of any foreign material, let the lubricant/cleaner dry for 2 minutes. Replace the battery on the radio and test for intermittency by moving the battery relative to the radio as might occur in regular use. Regular maintenance (at least annually) of this area is recommended to ensure contamination free interface and to prolong the life of the battery contacts.

Looking After the Battery

To clean the battery, use a moistened or antistatic cloth.

DO NOT use a dry or electrostatically charged cloth.

DO NOT rub or clean the battery with solvents to avoid any risk of ignition due to the build up of electrostatic charges.