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1-6-3 Battery considerations
The optional BP8600 battery is not factory charged. When the BP8600 has been fitted, charge the
battery for 48 hours. After this time the NiCads should never be left in a flat condition or internal
filaments will form (inside the NiCads) shorting its terminals rendering it useless. If you are not going
to use the NiCads for a few months, charge them before placing them into storage. NiCads have a
memory effect, for longevity, once a month flatten them completely then fully charge them again.
Avoid excessive ‘topping up’, when possible, it is best to charge NiCads when they are totally flat.
If you have not used the cells for a long time, it may be difficult the battery to accept a charge, to help
‘bring them back to life’, first ensure they are COMPLETELY discharged then charge for a longer period
of time, perhaps 72 hours. It is common practice to force complete exhaustion by leaving the squelch
open and volume set to half until the AR8600 stops working, carry this out once a month to ensure best
battery longevity.
Do not continuously charge (forever) without some use of the radio, this may shorten the life span of the
NiCads. Although the charge current is of a very low level, where batteries are concerned, permanent
charging leads to a small chance of explosion due to the build up of heat. If you intend permanently
using the AR8600 from an external power supply, remove the BP8600 battery. Do not short NiCads as
they can provide high current levels. The BP8600 will typically provide around 300 charge / discharge
cycles.
1-6-4 Cigar lighter lead
It is possible to power the AR8600 from a vehicle using the
optional DC8600 cigar lead, this will power the AR8600 in
exactly the same manner as the a.c. power supply (except
that it is connected to a vehicle 12V d.c. supply). Ensure
that the vehicle has a 12V d.c. battery, do not connect to a
truck / H.G.V. 24V battery.
The tip on the cigar plug must be positive (+), the vehicle must be negative ground. A 1A fuse should be
fitted inside the cigar lead, should this fuse blow for some reason, ensure it is replaced with the correct
type. Avoid short circuits.
Switch off the AR8600, connect the cigar lead to the AR8600 12V d.c. input socket THEN connect the
cigar plug to the vehicle and switch the AR8600 on. It is advisable to switch the AR8600 off when
starting the vehicle as the starter motor often causes power surges. Some vehicles require their ignition
to be ON for the cigar socket to operate.
Section 1-6-3, 1-6-4
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