What does a quality battery look like? 

       Visual Checks

It's always a good idea to trust the experience of colleges. CHECK WARRANTIES

CAREFULLY. Do not be fooled by “workmanship” coverage that sounds good but offers nothing.

 Batteries do not have  moving parts! You want the longest warranty period that guarantees that the

battery will hold a minimum of 80% of its original rated capacity.  

Inquire when and where the battery was made. Is it made in the US or where? Today batteries are made everywhere and under every condition. The rule of thumb here is to go with a company with at least 10 years of manufacturing experience. 

Be sure you clearly understand the warranty as it is offered.

Are you buying from a distributor or a manufacturer? Normally, this is not an

issue however; it can be when warranties are involved.

 Shell

     Examine the shell for cosmetic errors. Blemishes in the shell alone may

 not make a  difference in the batteries performance, but it can be an indication

 of how much care was taken with the parts you cannot see. Test the

belt clips, if present, for fit and strength. Press on the contacts and check if

 they are solid and don't "cave in” when pushed. A sold contact does not guarantee

 a good connection but a loose one is never a good sign.

     Pull at the joints! Try and pry the battery apart. Pay close attention to the seams; look for gaps or overruns in the plastic. Overrun is a piling up of plastic in the seams. This is usually an indication of excessive weld time, too much melt surface or excessive weld pressure, all of which can cause a poor seal. Examine the contacts for uneven surfaces or discoloration in the plaiting. The contacts are usually nickel or gold over nickel over brass.

•  Give the battery a good shake. If it sounds like a baby rattle something was missed and the battery should not be used.

  Finally, fit the battery to the radio. It should fit snug with very little play.

  A loose battery can lead to intermittent operation as all  batteries spread with use  Battery cases are molder out of Polycarbonate, ABS plastic, or a blend of both.

  ABS is the cheapest  and easiest to shoot. However, it's soft and usually spreads the most with use. Polycarbonate is the best choice for longevity. It's more difficult to mold but is strong and keeps it's shape. Flame  retardation additives can be added to any of the plastics mentioned and  do provide an extra margin of safety.

 Internal Connections

• The cells are welded together in a variety of configurations to meet the physical

  and electrical requirements of the battery.

• The cells are joined by nickel straps that can have different concentrations of nickel.

  Lower nickel content means lower price and higher temperature welds. More nickel means

  a slightly higher cost but requires less energy and produces a better weld. Generally,

   two welds per connection is a good rule. If you inspect the battery internally,

  look for four weld points on the straps.

• Batteries have discreet components that fix voltage thresholds, temperature

  points and protect against reverse polarity. These components are most effective

  when mounted on a flex circuit. Lower cost units are hand wired. Flex circuits

  are more reliable then the hand wired circuits because critical components,

   such as a temperature sensing thermistor, are consistently mounted in the

  best position relative to the cells.  Consistent assembly reduces battery

   failures and expensive warranty returns. DuPont Pyralux is still the material of

  choice for high quality flex assemblies.  

• Some manufactures actually solder the connection directly to the cell.

  This practice should be banned in every corner of the world. Nothing,

  short of a thermal nuclear blast, is more detrimental to a cell. Hand

  wired batteries are cheaper and are common in low end economy batteries.

   Flex circuits alone do not make a reliable battery, but your stand a  better

  chance of getting a consistent product.

• Try this little test...Next time you call up to order batteries, ask the

  person selling them a few of the questions we have covered . You might

   find out that your not the only one confused!

    Cells

• Who made the cells is very important. We have tested hundreds of cells and have found the following cells to be the most consistent. 

• Sanyo

• Panasonic

• Saft

• Varta

• Remember, top quality cells alone do not guarantee good value, but they are a major factor when considering a batteries overall performance!.

• A quality battery can last 18 -20 months and cost twenty present

  more then a poor quality battery that lasts 8-10 months, you do the math!

     Remember!

     Do not trade price for "real value." . 

     Good Hunting  

       C.G. Durda  

       Chief Eng.   Lancaster Consulting