When to Replace Batteries vs. Radios
Like all electronic devices, radios and batteries have a life span. Lithium batteries are generally expected to last in the 1-2 year range, and that is why Black Diamond Radio warrants them for 1 year; this ensures you get a full year of use out of that battery no matter what. Keep in mind that many batteries do end up lasting a lot longer, but that's not always the case. For radios we consider them "too old" at about 5 years, but determining replacement is a process.
When Does a Battery Need Replacing?
Generally, a battery on one of these radios should be lasting for no less than a full 8 hour shift on a full charge. If you find that you are getting less than that in a shift, then it may be time to consider replacing the battery for that unit. However, if you feel it may be time to replace the battery and the radio has surpassed it's 2 year warranty, then it's also the the appropriate time to evaluate whether that radio needs replacing or not.
When should I replace a radio?
There are a few factors to consider:
1. The state of the warranty
2. The functionality of the radio
3. The "wear and tear" of the radio
If the radio is still in warranty, then there is no reason to replace it. If it gives you any issues it's not going to ding your budget since that would be Black Diamond Radio's problem and not yours. In this case, it never makes sense to replace it on your own.
Is the out-of-warranty radio still working "perfectly"? If you're comfortable with the functionality of the radio and it's been very reliable then it doesn't hurt to keep it around until at least that 5 year mark. That does not mean that it shouldn't be replaced earlier. When implemented in the workplace electronics get much heavier use than at home. They collect dust, dirt, sweat, have things spilled on them, people use them with dirty hands; there are many opportunities for contaminants to sneak in through the speaker or the earpiece jack, even the knobs. When these things start to collect internally the circuitry can start to corrode and the knobs and buttons can begin to become unreliable. Call quality slowly degrades with time, and one day you realize the radio just isn't what it used to be. When this happens, these radios can start to be more of a hindrance than a time-saver as teammates will be constantly fiddling with them when there is an issue rather than cruising through their everyday routine. These speed bumps can get frustrating and cost you time and money, and so it's worth it to replace the unit and save all of that time and frustration with a fresh 2 year warranty that makes radio problems our problems instead of yours.
Wear and tear is a big factor. What kind of business are you using the units in? For example, while a retail store is often a cleaner and more office-like environment, a pet boarding facility is much more rugged, pet hair everywhere, dogs wagging tails, cats trying to escape, animals can get rowdy and knock stuff over. We've opened older radios from pet-based businesses and found a substantial amount of pet hair inside, and even seen radios chewed on by dogs. That's not something you would find with radios used in a church, for example. Car washes have water, nightclubs have drinks everywhere, maintenance crews deal with rust, dust, or grease often. If the radios don't have skins and get held a lot then they collect the oils and sweat from users hands, you can see it build up in the cracks and crevices of the outside of the device. When this happens you can assume that the outside is a reflection of the inside, and though the inside will be cleaner, it will not be genuinely clean because that same buildup has been working it's way in for years through the tiny spaces of outer components like knobs or the speaker. Keep the nature of your facility/business in mind when deciding whether it's time to replace the radio rather than put a new battery on it, a veterinary office may have to replace them more often than an office based business. With that in mind, ask yourself these questions: Does the volume knob sound scratchy when you turn it? Does the radio look heavily worn? Does the PTT button seem worn out? Is the earpiece jack looser than newer radios? What is the overall cosmetic appearance of the unit? Does it look worn out? These can all be signs that the smart move is to replace the radio entirely because it's moving toward being one of those annoying repetitive problems now that it's been used every day for 8-12 hours for 3-5 years.
Save Yourself the Hassle and the Reputation
In the end, many users don't realize that it's often cheaper to just replace the unit rather than the battery. The amount of time spent dealing with radio issues costs the company money just as much as buying a new radio would, the difference being that spending time dealing with it can ultimately damage your bottom line in addition to costing you that same amount of money, sometimes more. Between old worn out equipment slowing down the service your customer or patient receives and teammates exuding frustration throughout their shift that some customers and patients can sense it is a risky proposition to limp along on beat up gear. When considering a battery purchase, always consider making your radio problems our problems by replacing it and getting a new warranty. You are the expert in your business and your time is too important to deal with radio issues - we are the radio experts, make us deal with your radio problems!