Two way radios use several types of battery technologies. Some two-way radios take standard AA batteries that allow you to use rechargeable batteries, but in event of a long power outage, you can use off the shelf AA batteries when your rechargeable batteries die. Other radios use a custom size battery. For these you can purchase spare batteries that you can have charged and ready to go in the event your primary battery charge runs out. Two-way radios come with a charger unit to keep the primary batteries charged, and in the case of custom batteries, they usually include a slot for the backup battery too.
There are three types of batteries that are typically used for rechargeable two-way radios: nickel cadmium (NiCAD), nickel metal hydride (NiMH), and lithium ion (LiION). You cant typically choose the type of battery you use for most two-way radios. The manufacturer does that for you. Following are some of the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Advantages | Disadvantages | |
NiCAD | Good at low temperatures, resistant to overcharging, long life expectancy, low cost. | Larger and heavier, memory effect reduces effectiveness if not fully discharged, |
NiMH | No memory effect, lighter than NiCAD | Shorter life expectancy, special charger required to limit overcharging. |
LiION | Fast charging, no memory effect, slow loss of charge when not in use, lighter than other batteries. | Higher cost, after a number of maximum number of charges they no longer accept a charge (typically 500 to 1000). |
