[MRCG] BB 2590 Li Ion Batteries

[N5WV]

Thanks for the tip. After letting my URC 200 receive the weather broadcast for 15 hrs I pulled both batteries and noticed that the top bar segments were clear on both batteries . So like you stated , the segments are dark colored when denoting a charged segment. And with both batteries still having three bar segments showing after 15 hrs of rx is not bad. These are my first BB 2590s with charge level indicators. I had read where the segments glow green and it had me worried seeing all dark segments. I got these new old stock batteries for 1/4th the price of a new BB 2590 so even if they will only charge to within 90 to 99 % of a new battery the price was worth it to me being new ones are around $400.00 each and my URC 200 uses two. If anyone is interested I got the batteries off ebay from a El Paso Tx seller. His lowest make offer price was $95.00 for new old stock BB 2590s in their sealed boxes with a Oct 2010 date code on the box. The seller has several more. And the seller will refund your money if not satisfied. Also another seller has new old stock Ultralife CH 003 chargers for around $400.00. This charger is currently manufactured new and is $2900.00 from the manufacturer. It is a fantastic 6 battery charger ina tough Pelican type of case and will charge / discharge BB 390 , BB 590 and BB 2590 types. Again , I appreciate your help. Randy Ballard N5WV 

----- Original Message -----

From: "W2HX" <w2hx at w2hx.com> 
To: "West Coast Military Radio Collectors Group" <mrcg at mailman.qth.net> 
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2015 6:42:20 AM 
Subject: Re: [MRCG] BB 2590 Li Ion Batteries 

Your battery sounds fine. My ch003 charger also says 90% and then never goes beyond that. Battery itself should not have any leds in them. only an LCD bargraph. They bars get dark when that segment is full. I think there are 5 segments. I think you're ok 

-----Original Message----- 
From: MRCG [mailto:mrcg-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of N5WV 
Sent: Sunday, April 12, 2015 12:44 AM 
To: West Coast Military Radio Collectors Group 
Subject: [MRCG] BB 2590 Li Ion Batteries 

Group , I purchased some new old stock BB 2590 Li Ion batteries. I charged them with a new Ultralife CH 003 charger. The charger has charge indication lights on it. One reads Over 90 Percent Charged. This is as far as the charger will take them. I charged two BB 590 nicad batteries and after charging the 90 % Charged indicator lights are off showing fully charged. Also the BB 2590 has battery power level indicator segments atop it. When fully charged all four should be green. I believe each segment is 25 %. After my charger gets the BB 2590 to the over 90 % charged level I do not see any segments showing green. They are dark looking. But I have never seen a fully charged BB 2590 and may not be looking at the indicators correct. They may be dark green ? Does anyone here have any experience charging a BB 2590 battery ? Are the status indicators atop the batteries supposed to glow bright green or are they dark ? Also is it common for BB 2590 batteries to only charge up to the mi 
d 90 % range ? These are new old stock batteries with a 2011 date on them. They were in factory sealed boxes. It may be that Lion batteries must be fully charged within months of manufacture or they go bad.. I am going to see how long these batteries will last with my radio receiving the Nation Weather Service transmission in my area. I am also looking for a vhf dummy load so I can transmit to test the batteries on tx. If anyone has any experience with new old stock BB 2590 batteries please let me know. Thanks , Randy Ballard N5WV ______________________________________________________________ 
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