Maintenance for Inmarsat’s IsatPhone Pro battery

IsatPhone Pro with SatStation docs

Inmarsat and GMPCS have received reports regarding the IsatPhone Pro battery not being able to hold a charge. Some of the batteries for the IsatPhone Pro have been draining to the point where they will no longer power the IsatPhone Pro and cannot be recharged in the phone via USB. If you have experienced this issue the only way to recharge the battery is to place it in a SatStation charging cradle or purchase a new battery.

What is the IsatPhone Pro Battery Bug?
The IsatPhone Pro handset battery is becoming impossible to recharge. This issue is occurring in the field and has been reported by several distribution partners and customers. There are no records from customers on battery usage and maintenance related to these reported failures, however it is most likely related to the charge level in the battery becoming too low, and the safety circuit in the battery activating. The safety circuit can become activated when the differential between the positive and negative is so low that it thinks there is a short circuit, and disconnects the cell. This can be caused by poor battery maintenance.

Another cause for this battery issue may be from excessive charging. We have seen that where the battery is charged constantly, it has a very short lifespan. If the battery is left in the handset it will naturally drain power slowly until the battery reaches the level where it cannot be recharged again. However if the battery starts with a full charge and is then left in the handset, it should last many months before reaching the un-rechargeable state, depending on the environmental conditions.

Proper Battery Maintenance
When in storage the battery should be recharged regularly. We recommend recharging once a month to be safe. Inmarsat recommends you charge the battery to around 60% charge, and store the battery in a dry environment separate from the handset. This gives the best shelf life, because fully charged batteries degrade quicker than part charged batteries, and humidity affects charge life in storage. If a battery is left to go completely flat, then it may not be possible to recharge it again with the normal charger. Therefore never store batteries with a low charge level.

Solution
If you have experienced this issue or have difficulty charging your IsatPhone Pro battery your best solution is the SatStation Bay Charger. The SatStation IsatPhone Pro Battery Charger is the only standalone charging solution for the IsatPhone Pro satellite phone. It comes in a 4-Bay Charging station and Single Bay.

For more information contact GMPCS Tech at 954-973-3100 or www.gmpcs-us.com