56 Maintaining battery life and performanceCharging and caring for batteriesMaintaining battery life andperformanceWith proper care and maintenance you will maintainthe performance and life of the battery. It isrecommended that you:Q Use only Tait chargers.Q Avoid exposing batteries to high temperatures(above 122°F (50°C)) or extremely coldtemperatures for long periods of time (-4°F(-20°C) for NiMH, and -22°F (-30°C) for NiCd).Q Charge batteries at room temperature (between50°F (10°C) and 77°F (25°C)).Q Allow your nickel-based battery to fully dischargeevery so often—NiCd batteries once a month andNiMH batteries once every 3 months. To do this,leave your radio switched on and ignore the‘battery low’ warnings. When the radio switchesoff, the battery is fully discharged.Q Store batteries properly when not in use. See“Storing batteries” on page 57.Battery safety ventWarning: Do not cover the battery safety vent(shown below).
