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What to do when the battery pack does not charge

You put your two way radio or its battery pack in the charger at the end of the day, expecting it to be fully charged and ready to use again the next morning. But when you take it out of the charger and turn the radio on, either it doesn't power up at all or the battery dies out as soon as you press the PTT button to transmit. What do you do?

First, don't panic. There are a number of possible reasons why the battery isn't charged, and believe it or not, a few of them are quite common causes that are surprisingly simple to resolve. The other possibilities, well, they may require a different resolution. Either way, before you start bashing batteries, cursing chargers or talking to tech support, try these simple troubleshooting steps to find out what is really going on. It may save you a lot of time, expense and frustration.

Step 1. Check the connections.
It may seem improbable, but the stability of any power connection is limited by its weakest link. Check the contacts and terminals for dirt, oils, corrosion, excessive wear or anything that can hamper a good, stable connection. This includes the battery contacts on the radio, in the charger, and on the battery itself.

Step 2. Reseat the battery in the radio.
It seems unlikely, but it happens. Some radios require a tight fit with the battery and may seem attached when they are not fully locked in place. Make sure the battery is seated properly and the battery pack locks firmly in place when attaching it to the radio.

Step 3. Verify you are using the correct battery charger.
Yes, this happens too, particularly when using a mix of different radios from the same manufacturer, and it happens a lot more often than you might think. Using the wrong charger can not only prevent your radio and/or battery from charging properly, it could damage your equipment. It can also be potentially dangerous.

  • If the charger you are using does not match your specific model radio and battery, find the charger that does and skip to Step 8.
  • If you are using the correct charger, proceed to Step 4.

Step 4. Check to be sure the charger is plugged in and turned on.
Sound silly, doesn't it? Well, it isn't really, because it does happen. It's one of the easiest mistakes to make when charging a fleet of batteries and one of the simplest to resolve.

  • If the charger is connected to an approved, working power source, proceed to Step 5.
  • If the charger is plugged in and turned on, but there is no power, try it in another verified, working power source or outlet in another location and on a different circuit.
  • If the charger still doesn't power on when connected to the other source, skip to Step 6.

Step 5. Reseat the radio or battery in the charger.
Sometimes a radio or battery seems like it's connected to the charger when it's not making contact at all. If it is a drop-in or desktop charger with a pocket or tray, the radio and/or battery may be able to sit in the tray without actually touching the contacts. If it is a plug-in type of charger, the plug may not be fully inserted. Be sure the radio/battery is properly seated or fully connected and the charging indicator light is on.

  • If the radio/battery is in full contact with the charger and seems to be charging, skip to Step 8.
  • if the radio/battery is in full contact with the charger and is not charging, go to Step 6.

Step 6. Charge another radio/battery of the same make and model in the charger.
Determine if the issue is really with the radio or battery pack.

  • If another battery of the same type and model charges, the charger is working. Skip to Step 8.
  • If another battery of the same type and model does not charge, go to Step 7.

Step 7. Swap out the charger.
Sometimes a dead battery is the result of a dead charger.

  • Plug another charger into the same power source. If another charger powers on when connected to the power source, the charger you are troubleshooting may need to be replaced.
  • If you don't have another charger, it will most likely need to be replaced. If it is still under warranty, contact the manufacturer. If not, contact us to find the correct replacement charger for your two way radio.

Step 8. Charge the radio/battery again.
Just to be sure, give it another chance.

  • If the battery charges, the issue is resolved.
  • If the battery charges, but charge is weak or the battery does not hold the charge, the battery has likely reached its EOL, or End of Life.
  • If the battery does not charge, battery may be defective or has reached its End of Life.

Every battery has a limited life span determined by a number of different factors, including but not limited to how and where it is used, how much it is used and under what conditions. There is no set time table before a battery "kicks the bucket". As a general rule, the average lifespan can range from one to three years or more. If your battery has reached its End of Life, it's time to purchase a new one.

Better yet, to avoid the sudden surprise or next day discovery that your two way radio battery has reached the end of the road, and at the moment you need it the most, have a couple of spare battery packs charged and at the ready for a quick and easy swap. A spare charger may also be good to have on hand, just in case.

45 thoughts on “What to do when the battery pack does not charge”

  • Shane Cormier
    Shane Cormier March 2, 2023 at 7:28 am

    I recently purchased a baofeng uv-5r, and when I got home I charged the battery fully, and then used the scanner until I went dead the next morning. I put the scanner on charge for about 5 hours and the light was still red. The scanner will not turn on now telling me that the battery isn't charging. When I take the scanner off of the charging dock, the charge indicator on the dock shines a solid green. Every other one I've seen blinks red/green when nothing is docked. I've tried charging it in a different charging dock and it still just stays a sold red. Would this be a battery issue?

    Reply
    • Rick

      If the LED on the desktop charger is sold green when there is no radio in it, there is either something going on with the charger or the power supply connected to it. To troubleshoot, plug the charger into a different outlet on another circuit. If the light is still solid greem when the dock is empty, you may have a problem with the dock itself. Incidentally, the Baofeng UV-5R is not a scanner, it's a two way radio.It's scanning feature is intended for scanning the limited number of chanels and frequencies programmed into it not the entire frequency band, which is why it scans so slowly. A real scanner is going to perform scans much faster.

      Reply
  • david vienneau
    david vienneau July 5, 2022 at 4:58 am

    you replaced my aetertek receiver about 6 months ago ,with at-216d ser #tlta0342590 because it would not charge.now i have the same problem.WHAT NOW

    Reply
  • Danna

    Hi. I have a P7200-ip handheld radio. What does it mean if the radio is fully charged, but I keep get something called cc scan. How do I make that go away?

    Reply
    • Rick

      Hi Danna, we did not carry the Harris P7200 and have no information on it. You may need to contact the manufacturer for support.

      Reply
  • Slick Flair

    Baofeng BF-F8HP battery charger has stopped working completely.
    Does not charge batteries despite one being fully empty.
    Wall adapter shows red LED to denote power to it, but the charger base doesn't show any light be it red or green. It's just dead.

    I'm down to the one spare battery and when it goes, I'm out of luck.

    Is there anything I can do to remedy this, or do I need a new charger base?

    Please help.

    Reply
    • Rick

      If the wall adapter has power and the charger base does not, the chances are high that the charger base needs to be replaced. However, that is not always the case. There is also the possibility the wall adapter LED has power, but it isn't sending power to the charger base. Also, the cable to the charger base or the plug that goes into it could be bad.

      Reply
  • Waynefrisbie

    I have2 ea motorola handicam 10 2 way radios problem i just got new batteries charged for16 hrs Still dont work the adaoters only light up when they are un on position i took batteris out theyre in correctly but my adapters red light on only when units on How do i know if they are charging?Any help greatly appreciated Thankyou

    Reply
    • Rick

      Wayne, Motorola does not make a two way radio called as "handicam 10". The name Handicam is a Sony trademark and refers to their line of video camcorders. We need the actual make and model of your two way radios.

      Reply
  • Richard Evenden
    Richard Evenden January 2, 2022 at 9:40 am

    I have 2 sepura srh radios 1 is stuck in engineering mode the other keeps asking for a reset password the first 1 is a 3500 the second is a 3800 can you tell me how to get them working again please thank you Richard also I have the programming softwear ,but I need the programming cable can anybody help

    Reply
  • Craig

    Will the T460 charger charge 3 AA Rayovac rechargeable batteries?

    I put 3 in the T460, but when i plug the charger into the radio, it doesn't show that it is charging.

    Reply
    • Rick

      The charger is only intended for use with the supplied NIMH rechargeable battery pack. You will need to use the charger specifically intended for the AA rechargeable batteries. Any attempt to charge AA rechargeable batteries through the T460 may cause damage and is not recommended.

      Reply
  • Yusuf Saheed

    Please i need a solution to this. The battery is charging but it doesn't store charges.

    Reply
    • Rick

      As stated in the article, "If the battery does not charge, battery may be defective or has reached its End of Life.". This means the battery will likely need to be replaced.

      Reply
  • Ali Gar

    Just a set of Xtra Talk around Christmas. Using the rechargeable batteries and trying to charge them the first time. The charger is not working in any outlet. The red lights aren't coming on when seating the walkies on the base. It is the first time I have got it from the box. I ordered it new thru Amazon and wondering how to have the base replaced and who to contact.

    Thanks
    A.G.

    Reply
    • Rick

      Have you contacted Midland? If you received them new, you should have a manual with warranty information and instructions for contacting them regarding warranty related issues.

      Reply
  • RICK

    JUST BOUGHT THE RADIO, WHEN I PUT IN THE CHARGER THE RED LIGHT COMES ON, BUT GOES RIGHT OUT. i AM GETTING POWER THRU THE CHARGER CHECKED THAT

    Reply
  • Cynthia Borgard
    Cynthia Borgard March 23, 2020 at 6:21 pm

    My gxt500 are doing the same thing! Will not charge past one bar, bought new batteries the same red light stays lit. I leave charging for days one bar! What gives!

    Reply
  • Robert Hanna

    We bought several dozen radio sand batteries 4 years ago. We bought extra batteries. The extras have been sitting in the box for all this time. We have pulled some of these recently and found that they will not charge. The red light just blinks continuously. The battery is a 7.4 volt lithium ion Motorola. Model# PMNN4424AR.
    Is there anything to save or do we need to buy new ones?

    Reply
  • David McKinley

    I have Uniden GMR 635 SCK with NIMH battery pack 4.8v 700mAh. Can I swap these out for lithium?

    Reply
    • Rick

      I would strongly advise against it. The charger was designed for charging the supplied NiMH batteries only. Charging Li-ion batteries in the radios using the Uniden dual drop-in charging cradle would be potentially hazardous.

      Reply
  • Riyas

    I am so glad that I came across this blog.

    I was about to get a new battery thinking my battery is faulty. The root cause was the step 5 "Reseat the radio or battery in the charger".

    Many thanks for Rick.

    Reply
  • Billy

    I put my Motorola Talkabout radios on the charger and the red light comes on (solid) and stays solid for many many hours, even overnight, it doesn’t turn to green...

    Reply
    • Rick

      Did you follow all the steps in the article? If you checked to verify the charger is working and you reached step 8, the rechargeable batteries may need to be replaced.

      Reply
  • Rick

    As stated in the article, if you performed all the steps correctly and the battery still doesn't charge, the battery may need to be replaced.

    Reply
  • anonommous

    I have the right things but it still doesn't charge. I did all the tips that you said but it still doesn't work. I even checked the batteries! What do it do???

    Reply
    • Sergio

      Buy a new one. These things are damn expensive but break so easy. Its Motorola way of ensuring they keep making money of us.

      Reply
  • Rick

    It depends on the issue. The MRHH325VP is not intended to be user serviceable. However, if it is a charging issue, the fix may be relatively simple. What is the specific issue?

    Reply
  • mikekazsmer@yahoo.com

    I had my cobra marine mrhh325vp new in 2013 never did work time has gone on ,looking to repair it.is it worth it being 5 years new?

    Reply
  • Ted

    I've had a similar issue...
    I put my Midland T-31's on USB charge for 2 days.
    They never stop charging...
    I get almost a day out of them, but not quite.
    Each day, they seem to charge a little less.
    Very odd.
    Perhaps better quality rechargable batteries will help. not sure.
    T.

    Reply

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