23Battery Information (cont.)
For additional information on batteries and battery charging,
refer to the battery charger information in the maintenance
manual.
Short Circuit
Care should be taken to avoid external short-circuiting of the battery.
A sustained high rate discharge (e.g., a paper clip
placed accidentally across the battery contacts) may
permanently damage the battery, void the battery
warranty, and create a burn or fire hazard.
Memory Effect (Reduced Charge Capacity)
May be caused by continuous overcharging for long periods of
time or by repetitive shallow cycling.
If the battery is lightly or infrequently used and is allowed to
charge over a long period (30-60 days), it may develop memory
effect. That is, the voltage may be sufficiently lower on the first
discharging cycle to reduce the effectiveness of radio
transmission.
A more common type of memory effect is induced by uniform
shallow cycling. For example, if the battery is operated so that it
repeatedly delivers 50% of its full capacity, it can temporarily
become inactive, and when current demand is increased, it may
show a sharp decrease in its ability to deliver proper terminal
voltage.
Any nickel-cadmium battery that shows early signs of reduced
capacity should be checked for memory effect before it is
returned under warranty or discarded. If the battery is exhibiting
memory effect, memory can be easily eliminated by completely
discharging the battery (deep discharge), and recharging again.
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