Kenwood HT LMR replacement batteries good brand / source ?

[WRMS528]

Kenwood HT replacement batteries ? Anyone know of a good brand / source for quality replacements? I have several older LMR Kenwood HTs, for which original Kenwood batteries are no longer available. One is a TK-370G. I want good quality, but my biggest concern is safety with Lithium ion batteries. In terms of mitigating any potential fire risk, due to cheap and or unprotected cells. Another question is : is it even OK to use Lithium ion batteries in an older HT , which when the HT was originally manufactured, Lithium ion chemistry was not yet available?   I realize if I go with a Lithium ion battery that I would need a new charger, compatible with the Lithium ion chemistry.   I see plenty of offerings on Ebay & Amazon, but can't tell about the quality of cells used. Some claim to be made of quality Japanese cells, which would be good. But who knows if what is advertised is so?

Thanks WRMS528 Mike

[axorlov]

I would refurbish NiMH battery. I'd try to pry it open carefully, and replacing old cells with new ones. You will be able to keep the charger, and it will be much cheaper than using Lithium cells. I'd buy the cheapest ugliest battery off ebay to try out this lobotomy. In fact, I did it before to some laptop batteries (they were Li-Ion 18650, but the idea is the same).

[Lscott]

7 hours ago, WRMS528 said:

Kenwood HT replacement batteries ? Anyone know of a good brand / source for quality replacements? I have several older LMR Kenwood HTs, for which original Kenwood batteries are no longer available. One is a TK-370G. I want good quality, but my biggest concern is safety with Lithium ion batteries. In terms of mitigating any potential fire risk, due to cheap and or unprotected cells. Another question is : is it even OK to use Lithium ion batteries in an older HT , which when the HT was originally manufactured, Lithium ion chemistry was not yet available?   I realize if I go with a Lithium ion battery that I would need a new charger, compatible with the Lithium ion chemistry.   I see plenty of offerings on Ebay & Amazon, but can't tell about the quality of cells used. Some claim to be made of quality Japanese cells, which would be good. But who knows if what is advertised is so?

Thanks WRMS528 Mike

I've got a few of the TK-270G's and TK-370G's too. I just looked for battery packs on eBay. Make sure the seller has a money back guarantee. The cheapest ones are the KNB-14, but have the least capacity.

Another option is an AA-cell battery holder.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314150918381?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=3jJIioNETiu&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=j_t98fioS_6&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

You can then buy some of the Eneloop cells to fill it.

https://www.panasonic.com/global/energy/products/eneloop/en.html

And lastly you can check these guys out. Not the best prices around but have a good selection. I think the KNB-15AH and KNB-15A will work.

https://batteriesamerica.com/collections/land-mobile-radio-kenwood-batteries

https://batteriesamerica.com/collections/land-mobile-radio-kenwood-batteries/products/knb-15a

https://batteriesamerica.com/collections/land-mobile-radio-kenwood-batteries/products/knb-15ah

[gortex2]

When I was with a shop we used W & W Manufacturing. We even had our own "labeled" battery thru them. I have had great luck with them and still use them to this day for both SAR and my own personal stuff. I have some that are almost 20 years old and still working good following proper battery use. They are very good to work with.

http://www.ww-manufacturing.com/Results.asp?Keywords=692&OEM=%&Product=%&Category=6&Manufacturer=48

[wayoverthere]

One of my go to for aftermarket batteries has been cut rate batteries. Have them on a couple of my radios, and all good so far, along with one of their chargers for lithium batteries.

They do offer a Nimh replacement battery for the tk370g. https://www.cutratebatteries.com/collections/kenwood-radio-batteries/products/kenwood-tk-370g-battery