Instructions for 2577BA Battery Adapter Ver 6.2
Intended Use
This battery adapter is intended to hold 10 each “D” cells for use on the PRC-25 or PRC-77 radios. It should fit any application where the battery box is the CY-2562/PRC-25. It supplies both the 3 Volt “A” source and the +15 Volt “B” source. Because the height of the adapter exceeds the height of a BA-4386/U battery the 2577BA may not fit in other BA-4386/U applications.Preparation of Battery Box for Use with 2577BA
Before using the adapter you need to remove all the foam strips from the bottom of the CY-2562 battery box. Normally there will be two strips, but in radios that have been retrofitted to allow the use of two each BA-5598/U batteries there will be 4 strips to remove. Store on sides of bat box.Choosing a Battery Chemistry
This is just a rough guide to selecting battery chemistry:Alkaline – offers the highest Amp Hour capacity – typically 18 AH and under $13 at Wal-Mart for Energizer E95 cells. Not rechargeable.NiCad – Rechargeable lowers cost per AH but suffers from “memory”. The capacity per cell might be the same as a “C”
NiCad at around 2 AH (RS 23-123 ) or might be around 4.5 AH Be sure to watch the price per AH.
NMH – the Nickel Metal Hydride chemistry gets rid of the “memory” problem of the NiCad but may have a problem with capacity decreasing after a number of charge – discharge cycles. 4 AH (RS 23-519 )
Rayovac 713 Rechargeable – These don’t have as many charge – discharge cycles as the other rechargeable types, have no “memory” problems and are priced like NiCads. 5.8 AH (RS 960-1812 ).
Installing batteries into the 2577BA
Place the 2577BA on a flat surface with the socket on your left facing down. Starting with the top left side, install a battery by compressing the spring with your left index finger and inserting the battery so as to further compress the spring and insert the positive battery contact into the snap. Some “D” cells have a slightly larger positive contact diameter and for those you should use both thumbs to seat the positive contact into the snap. Turn the 2577BA end for end and install a battery in position next to the just installed battery. Repeat the above process 10 times in a zig-zag patttern. Check all cells to be sure that the positive contact is seated in its snap and the battery is more or less in line. (Sometimes the spring will be to one side and needs to be more centered). It’s helpful to use a small screwdriver, Popsicle stick, etc. to help get the spring compressed enough to install the battery and to center the spring.Note
- DO NOT MIX CELL TYPES.
- ALL CELLS SHOULD BE OF THE SAME MODEL NUMBER AND DATE CODE
- Do not tighten the two screws that hold the socket to the bracket. The socket is loose so that if the battery were to rotate it would not put any torque into the plug on the radio.
Testing the 2577BA
A
voltmeter should measure about 3 Volts from the black wire to the socket
pin that has the resistor and about 15 Volts from the black wire to the
red wire with the 2577BA disconnected from the radio. This
is a check that the cells are installed properly. It is not a test
of the state of charge of the cells.
To check the state of charge when you are using either the PRC-25 or PRC-77 radios use a couple of 8 Ohm >= 10 W resistors to make a 16 Ohm load. The battery should read more than 10 Volts with this load.