Tait TPA-CH-1 Series User manual

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger
Installation and User’s Guide
MPA-00032-03 · Issue 3· December 2020

2TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Contact Information
Corporate Head Office
New Zealand
Tait International Limited
P.O. Box 1645
Christchurch
New Zealand
For the address and telephone number of
regional offices, refer to the Tait website:
We b s i t e : www.taitradio.com
Technical Support
For assistance with specific technical issues,
contact Technical Support:
We b s i t e : www.support.taitradio.com
Copyright and Trademarks
All information contained in this document is the
property of Tait International Limited. All rights
reserved. This document may not, in whole or in part,
be copied, photocopied, reproduced, translated, stored,
or reduced to any electronic medium or machine-
readable form, without prior written permission from
Tait International Limited.
The word TAIT and the TAIT logo are trademarks of
Tait International Limited.
All trade names referenced are the service mark,
trademark or registered trademark of the respective
manufacturers.
Disclaimer
There are no warranties extended or granted by this
document. Tait International Limited accepts no
responsibility for damage arising from use of the
information contained in the document or of the
equipment and software it describes. It is the
responsibility of the user to ensure that use of such
information, equipment and software complies with the
laws, rules and regulations of the applicable
jurisdictions.
Enquiries and Comments
If you have any enquiries regarding this document, or
any comments, suggestions and notifications of errors,
please contact your regional Tait office.
Updates of Manual and Equipment
In the interests of improving the performance,
reliability or servicing of the equipment, Tait
International Limited reserves the right to update the
equipment or this document or both without
prior notice.
Intellectual Property Rights
This product may be protected by one or more patents
or designs of Tait International Limited together with
their international equivalents, pending patent or
design applications, and registered trade marks:
NZ409837, NZ409838, NZ415277, NZ415278,
NZ508806, NZ530819, NZ534475, NZ547713,
NZ577009, NZ579051, NZ579364, NZ586889,
NZ610563, NZ615954, NZ700387, NZ708662,
NZ710766, NZ711325 , NZ726313, NZ733434,
NZ593887, AU2015215962, AU339127, AU339391,
AU2016259281, AU2016902579, AU 2017204526,
EU000915475-0001, EU000915475-0002,
GB1518031.8, GB1710543.8, GB2532863,
US14/834609 Div. no 1, US15/346518 Div.no 2,
US15/350332, US15/387026 Div., US29/614639,
US62/713910, US62/729478, US 62/730107,
US62/767041, US62/781642, US 62/778238,
US9794940 Div. no 1, US20150085799,
US20160044572, US20160057051, US20170142646,
US20170055267 Div. no 2, US20180006844,
US640974, US640977, US 698339, US702666,
US7758996, US8902804, US9107231, US9504034,
US9559967.
Environmental Responsibilities
Tait International Limited is an environmentally
responsible company which supports waste
minimization, material recovery and restrictions in the
use of hazardous materials.
The European Union’s Waste Electrical and Electronic
Equipment (WEEE) Directive requires that this
product be disposed of separately from the general
waste stream when its service life is over. For more
information about how to dispose of your unwanted
Tait product, visit the Tait WEEE website at
www.taitradio.com/weee. Please be environmentally
responsible and dispose through the original supplier,
or contact Tait International Limited.
Tait International Limited also complies with the
Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances
in Electrical and Electronic Equipment (RoHS)
Directive in the European Union.
In China, we comply with the Measures for
Administration of the Pollution Control of Electronic
Information Products. We will comply with
environmental requirements in other markets as they
are introduced.

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Contents 3
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Contents
1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Charger compliance information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Document conventions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Related documentation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Publication record . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2 Charging a Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Before using the charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Check compatibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Handle the battery safely. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Charging temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Normal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Optimal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Extreme. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Wet radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Inserting the battery in the charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Battery engaged . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
LED behavior – all batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Li-ion and LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
NiMH and LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Leaving the battery on charge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cleaning the battery contacts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Removing the battery from the charger. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Li-ion batteries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Li-ion charging requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
NiMH batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
NiMH charging requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Charger care and maintenance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Troubleshooting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Battery does not engage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
No LEDs are lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Orange LED continues to flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Orange LED is lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Red LED is flashing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Radio will not turn on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Unsure whether to charge the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
3 Before Installing the Vehicle Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Important safety requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Check the charger package . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Optional extras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Voltage converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Additional mounting hardware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

4 Contents TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Third-party installation requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Check tools and templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Drill templates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Decide how power will be connected to the charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Power cable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Vehicle power source. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Connection method . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Cigarette lighter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Enabling the ignition sense signal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Test the proposed installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
4 Installing the Vehicle Charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Main mounting bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Pre-drilled holes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Screws. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Mounting methods. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Mounted against a vertical surface. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Mounted against a vertical surface (no access) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Mounted using the right-angle bracket . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Mounted using the two U-brackets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Mounted using a third-party mount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Panel mounted into a horizontal surface . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Connecting power to the charger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Connecting to vehicle power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Ignition sensed. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Ignition switched . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Continuously powered. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Tait Software License Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Drill Template: Main Mounting Bracket. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Cutout Template: Horizontal Mounting Plate. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Introduction 5
© Tait International Limited December 2020
1 Introduction
The Tait TP9100 vehicle charger (TPA-CH-1xx) can be installed using any one of
a number of recommended mounting methods. Choose the safest and most
convenient mounting method available to you, and then follow the installation
instructions provided in Chapter 3 Before Installing the Vehicle Charger and
Chapter 4 Installing the Vehicle Charger. To use the charger once installation is
complete, please see Chapter 2 Charging a Battery.
Charger compliance information
The vehicle charger meets the following charger standards:
■EC Directive 2014/53/EU R&TTE
■EC Directive 2004/104/EC Automotive EMC
■EC Directive 2004/108/EC EMC Directive
■EN 301 489-1 V1.8.1 General Requirements and EN 301 489-5 V1.3.1 PMR
calling the following standards:
■EN55022 Conducted and Radiated emissions class B
■EN61000-4-3 RF electromagnetic field
■EN61000-4-6 RF common mode
■ISO 7637-2:2004 Transients and Surges in the Vehicular Environment
■EN 62368-1:2014 Safety of Information Technology Equipment
Document conventions
Please follow exactly any instruction that appears in the text as an ‘alert’. An alert
provides necessary safety information as well as instruction in the proper use of the
product. This manual uses the following types of alert:.
Warning This alert is used when there is a hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
Caution This alert is used when there is a hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury.
Notice This alert is used to highlight information that is required to ensure
procedures are performed correctly. Incorrectly performed procedures could
result in equipment damage or malfunction.
This icon is used to draw your attention to information that may improve your
understanding of the equipment or procedure.

6 Introduction TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Related documentation
The following documents provide instructions for the correct use and handling of
a TP9100 radio and battery. The -xx represents the current issue number.
Always get the latest issue of a manual from the Tait Support website,
http://support.taitradio.com. In addition to software release notes and the latest
issue of a manual, useful downloads from the Support website include:
■Technical notes (TN), which provide technical details not yet in the manuals or
solve any problems that may have arisen.
■User documentation in English and other languages.
Publication record
Title IPN/Item code Notes
Li-Ion Battery Safety
Information
MPC-00006-xx Supplied with every Li-ion battery. Multilingual.
Essential reading if using a Li-ion battery.
Battery Charging Guide MPA-00034-xx Supplied with the charger. Multi-lingual. Basic charging
instructions for Tait portable batteries.
Safety and Compliance
Information
MTA-00011-xx Supplied with every Tait portable and mobile. Multilingual.
Includes instructions for safe and legal radio operation.
TP9135/TP9140 User’s Guide
TP9155/TP9160 User’s Guide
MPA-00028-xx
MPA-00001-xx
On the User Documentation CD supplied with every
portable. Includes information on charging and caring for
the battery.
TP9100 Service Manual MPA-00005-xx Available from the Tait Support website,
http://support.taitradio.com. Servicing information for the
TP9100 battery chargers, includes disassembly instructions,
fault-finding, and PCB Information.
Issue Date Description
1 September 2009 First release
2 November 2012 ■Li-ion IS battery added.
■Leaving the battery in the charger added.
■Cleaning the battery contacts added.
■Vertical mounting as preferred method added.

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Charging a Battery 7
© Tait International Limited December 2020
2 Charging a Battery
Notice Do not allow a radio battery to fully discharge every time you use it,
or you will shorten the usable life (‘service life’) of the battery.
Before using the charger
Check
compatibility Check the battery label to see whether the battery is compatible with the charger.
The charger supports the following batteries:
■2500mAh Li-ion battery (TPA-BA-206)
■2500mAh Li-ion Intrinsically Safe IS battery (TPA-BA-207)
■2400mAh NiMH battery (TPA-BA-203)
■2400mAh NiMH IS battery (TPA-BA-204, TPA-BA-209, TPA-BA-2A3)
Handle the
battery
safely
Follow the proper care and handling instructions provided with the battery. The
battery label identifies the battery chemistry as lithium-ion or nickel metal hydride.
Warning Before using a Li-ion battery, please read the Li-Ion Bat-
tery Safety Information (MPC-00006-xx) and follow the instructions
it provides. Incorrect use of a Li-ion battery can cause explosion or
fire and can result in personal injury and/or equipment damage.
For NiMH batteries, follow the care and handling instructions in the radio user’s
guide.
Charging temperatures
Normal Normal (‘rapid’) charging takes place while the battery temperature is in the
following ranges:
■Li-ion battery: 32°F to 104°F (0°C to 40°C)
■NiMH battery: 32°F to 131°F (0 °C to 55°C)
Although normal charging will only start if the battery temperature is below 113°F
(45°C), charging will continue up to 131°F (55°C).
Optimal Optimal charging takes place between 50°F and 77°F (between 10°C and 25°C).
Extreme The vehicle charger manages battery temperatures that are outside the above ranges
in a seamless process that requires no intervention by you. For example:
■If a Li-ion battery is too hot for normal charging, the charger supplies current
to the radio only. When the temperature drops to the required range for safe
charging, charging starts automatically.
■If a NiMH battery returning to the vehicle is too cold for normal charging, the
charger ‘trickle-charges’ the battery to warm it to the point where normal
charging can start automatically.

8 Charging a Battery TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Notice Do not expose a battery to very high or very low temperatures for
extended periods of time. Doing so will shorten the usable life (‘service life’) of
the battery.
When the battery temperature is outside the normal charging range, the orange
(right) LED on the charger is lit. For information specific to your battery, see the
relevant section below.
Wet radio Best practice is to wipe excess moisture from the radio before placing it in the
charger.
Inserting the battery in the charger
Place just a battery in the charger, or a radio with a battery attached.
1. For best charging performance, switch off the radio before placing it in the
charger. There is no need to remove a belt clip, antenna, or any accessory
that is attached to the accessory connector. (The vehicle charger does not
connect the radio to the vehicle antenna.)
Caution When the TP9100 portable is used inside a vehicle, radio perfor-
mance is degraded. Use a mobile radio for all critical communications. If the
TP9100 portable must be left switched on while it is in the charger, removing
the portable from the charger will improve radio performance.
2. Place the battery/radio in the charger:
■If the battery is not attached to a radio, turn the battery so that its label
faces the charger LEDs. Place the battery towards the back of the charger,
behind the catches, and then press down lightly on the battery.
■If the battery is attached to a radio, turn the radio so that the radio display
faces the charger LEDs. Place the radio in the charger and then press
down lightly on the radio.
Battery
engaged There is an audible click as the catches engage. If the catches do not engage readily,
remove the battery/radio. Press down once firmly on the release bar at the top of
the vehicle charger and then try again.

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Charging a Battery 9
© Tait International Limited December 2020
LED behavior – all batteries
If there is a battery in the charger when power is supplied to the charger, the LEDs
behave as follows:
Initially, all three LEDs are lit for 2 seconds.
The red (middle) LED stays lit while the battery charges.
The green (left) LED stays lit once normal charging is complete.
A steady orange (right) LED requires no action by you. It indicates that normal
charging has temporarily stopped but will automatically be resumed when
conditions are suitable.
If the orange LED continues to flash, there is a fault. See "Orange LED continues
to flash" on page 12.
For LED behavior specific to each battery type, see the relevant section below.
Li-ion and LEDs
When the green LED remains lit, normal charging of the Li-ion battery is
complete. No further charging will take place at this time. You can remove the
battery or leave it in the charger.
The steady orange LED requires no action by you. It indicates that normal
charging has temporarily stopped but will automatically be resumed when
conditions are suitable. The steady orange LED is lit when the battery temperature
is out of the range 32°F to 104°F (0 °C to 40°C):
■At out-of-range battery temperatures up to 140°F (60°C) or down to 14°F
(–10°C), the charger supplies current to the radio but no battery charging takes
place.
■At more extreme battery temperatures, the charger suspends all activity.
NiMH and LEDs
When the green LED remains lit, normal charging is complete. Although the
charger continues to supply current to the radio, no further charging of the battery
will take place at this time. You can remove the battery or leave it in the charger.
The red LED is lit while normal charging takes place. At out-of-range battery
temperatures down to 14°F (–10°C), the charger trickle-charges the battery to
warm it. Normal charging starts automatically when the battery temperature
reaches the required range. No action is required by you.
The red LED flashes if priming is in progress. For more information about
priming, see "NiMH charging requirements" on page 11. Priming takes place
between 41°F (5°C) and 113°F (45°C). A flashing red LED does not indicate a
fault. If possible, do not interrupt charging until the green LED is lit.

10 Charging a Battery TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Notice Tait recommends that you use a desktop charger or multicharger, not
the vehicle charger, to prime a battery.
A steady orange LED requires no action by you. It indicates that normal charging
has temporarily stopped but will automatically be resumed when conditions are
suitable. The steady orange LED is lit when the battery temperature is too high for
normal charging:
■If the battery temperature is too high for normal charging but is less than 140°F
(60°C), the charger supplies current to the radio but no battery charging takes
place.
■If the battery temperature is higher than 140°F (60°C) the charger suspends all
activity.
Leaving the battery on charge
It is safe to switch off the ignition while there is still a battery in the charger. But
if the vehicle will not be used again for some time, check whether charging will
continue while the ignition is off, and consider what effect this might have on the
vehicle battery. To check, place the battery in the charger and switch off the vehicle
ignition:
■If no charger LED stays lit, the charger will resume charging only when the
ignition is switched on again. Minimal charger standby power will be drawn
from the vehicle battery until then.
■If a charger LED stays lit, the charger will continue to charge the radio battery
even while the ignition is off, and will continue to draw power from the vehicle
battery. Once the battery is charged, the charger draws minimal current and has
little effect on a healthy vehicle battery.
TP9100 battery contacts are self-cleaning. The act of placing the battery/radio in
the charger and then removing it is normally sufficient to keep the contacts clean.
However, self-cleaning cannot occur if the battery/radio is not regularly removed
from the charger. When combined with other environmental factors, such as dust
and vibration, this can lead to dirty battery contacts and potentially a drop in
charging performance.
Notice A battery may not charge properly if the contacts are dirty.
If you intend to leave a battery/radio in the vehicle charger for extended periods
(longer than one week) best practice is to remove the battery from the charger at
regular intervals, wipe the battery contacts with a dry lint-free cloth, and replace
the battery in the charger. Do not forget to do this if you ‘store’ a battery in a
charger that is mounted out of sight (for example, in the boot or trunk).
Cleaning the
battery
contacts
If charging does not take place as expected, clean the battery contacts. You may
also need to clean the contacts on the vehicle charger. To clean, wipe the contacts
with a dry lint-free cloth to remove any dirt, oil or grease.

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Charging a Battery 11
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Removing the battery from the charger
To remove a battery/radio from the charger, press down once fir mly on the release
bar at the top of the vehicle charger and then lift out the battery/radio.
You can remove a battery/radio from the charger at any time without harming the
battery, the radio, or the charger. When you return the battery/radio to the
charger, charging is automatically resumed. You can also leave a battery/radio in
the charger once charging is complete.
Batteries charged in the vehicle charger do not require regular additional charg-
ing in a desktop charger or multicharger.
Li-ion batteries
Warning Incorrect use of a Li-ion battery can cause explosion or
fire and can result in personal injury and/or equipment damage.
Please read the Li-Ion Battery Safety Information (MPC-00006-xx)
and follow the instructions it provides.
Li-ion
charging
requirements
■Fully charge a Li-ion battery before using it for the first time.
■A Li-ion battery should not be completely discharged. Li-ion batteries, unlike
NiMH batteries, do not require conditioning.
■If possible, charge a Li-ion battery when its temperature is in
the range shown in the figure.
■Fully charge a Li-ion battery before storing it for a short time
(about a month). Charge the battery to about 30% before
storing it for a longer time. Store at a cool temperature and
charge the battery before use.
NiMH batteries
For information about the proper care and handling of NiMH batteries, please
refer to the radio user’s guide.
NiMH
charging
requirements
■Fully charge (prime) a new NiMH battery before using it for the first time.
Priming takes up to 14 hours and is most effective if completed without
interruption. See also "NiMH and LEDs" on page 9.
Notice Tait recommends that you use a desktop charger or multicharger, not
the vehicle charger, to prime a battery.
■‘Condition’ a NiMH battery every three months to extend its shift life.
Conditioning enables a battery to hold its charge for longer. To condition a
battery, leave the radio switched on and ignore the Battery Low warnings.
When the radio switches itself off, the battery is fully discharged and ready to
be recharged.
104°F
40°C
32°F
0°C

12 Charging a Battery TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
■If possible, charge a NiMH battery when its temperature is in
the range shown in the figure. Although normal charging will
only start if the battery temperature is below 113°F (45°C),
charging will continue up to 131°F (55°C).
■Before storing a NiMH battery for one month or longer,
remove the battery from the radio. There is no need to charge
or discharge the battery. Store the battery in a cool dry place.
Charge the battery before using it.
Charger care and maintenance
If necessary, wipe the vehicle charger casing with a clean, damp cloth. Avoid
detergents, alcohols, aerosol sprays, or petroleum-based products, as these
substances may permanently damage the casing. If the contacts are dirty, wipe them
with a clean lint-free cloth.
Troubleshooting
Battery does
not engage When the catches engage, there is an audible click. If the catches do not engage,
remove the battery/radio. Press down once firmly on the release bar at the top of
the vehicle charger and then try again.
No LEDs are
lit
■If the charger is connected to switched accessory power (recommended):
All three LEDs should be lit for 2 seconds when you turn on the ignition,
whether there is a battery in the charger or not. If no LEDs are lit when you
turn on the ignition, check that the power cable is firmly connected to the
charger. If the problem persists, have the charger and the power cable checked
by your Tait dealer.
■If the charger is connected directly to the vehicle battery (the charger is
continuously powered): No LEDs should be lit when you turn on the
ignition. The red LED should be lit when you place a battery/radio in the
charger and charging starts. If no LED is lit when you place a battery in the
charger, check that the power cable is firmly connected to the charger. If the
problem persists, have the charger and the power cable checked by your Tait
dealer.
Orange LED
continues to
flash
If the orange LED flashes and continues to flash, there is a fault
that requires action by you.
Starting the engine can cause a temporary drop in the voltage that the vehicle
battery supplies to the vehicle charger. The orange LED flashes briefly but stops
once the engine is running. No action is required by you. Once the engine is
running, the orange LED will no longer flash.
If the orange LED continues to flash, the voltage that the vehicle is supplying to
the charger may be too low. Try to reduce the total amount of power being drawn
from the vehicle battery. For example, switch off any non-essential lights or air
conditioning.
113°F
45°C
32°F
0°C

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Charging a Battery 13
© Tait International Limited December 2020
If the orange LED still continues to flash, remove the battery from the charger until
the fault is resolved. Perform the following checks:
■If possible, check that the power cable is firmly connected to the charger.
■Make sure that the battery is approved for use with the charger. See "Check
compatibility" on page 7.
■Make sure that the contacts on the battery, and the contacts in the charger, are
clean and making contact.
■Place a different battery in the charger:
■If the orange LED does not flash, there may be a problem with the first
battery. Have the battery checked and replace it if necessary.
■If the orange LED flashes again, there may be a problem with the vehicle
charger or the power supplied to the charger. Have the charger and the
power cable checked by your Tait dealer.
Orange LED
is lit A steady orange LED does not indicate a fault condition and
requires no action by you. Normal charging has temporarily
stopped but will automatically be resumed when conditions are
suitable.
Red LED is
flashing A flashing red LED does not indicate a fault condition. It
indicates that the NiMH battery in the charger is being primed.
If possible, do not interrupt charging until the green LED is lit.
Notice Tait recommends that you use a desktop charger or multicharger, not
the vehicle charger, to prime a battery.
Radio will
not turn on If the green LED on the charger indicates that the battery is fully charged, but the
radio will not turn on:
■Make sure that the battery is firmly attached to the radio.
■Attach a different battery to the radio. If the radio works, there is a problem
with the battery. If the radio does not work, there may be a problem with the
radio.
■Charge the battery in a different charger. If the radio works, there is a problem
with the vehicle charger.
Unsure
whether to
charge the
battery
If a battery is low or empty, charge it as soon as possible. Placing a fully or partially
charged battery in the vehicle charger will not harm the battery or the radio. You
can safely:
■remove a battery/radio from the charger at any time
■leave a battery/radio in the charger once charging is complete
When the battery is low, the radio may display an empty battery icon and emit a
high-pitched beep. The status LED on the radio slowly flashes red. When the
battery is empty, the radio may display a ‘battery is flat’ error message, emit a long
low-pitched beep, and stop working.

14 Charging a Battery TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Before Installing the Vehicle Charger 15
© Tait International Limited December 2020
3 Before Installing the Vehicle Charger
Before starting to install a TP9100 vehicle charger, make sure that:
■the installation will meet all safety requirements identified below
■the charger package is correct for the mounting method to be used
■you have the appropriate tools and templates
Then:
■choose the best path for the power cable
■decide how power will be supplied to the charger and, if necessary,
enable the ignition sense signal
■test the proposed position
Notice Tait recommends that you mount the vehicle charger in a ver-
tical orientation if possible. Vertical mounting minimizes the build-up of
dirt that can occur if the contacts are not cleaned regularly.
If using the ignition sensed (recommended) connection method, enable
the ignition sense signal before mounting the charger.
Important safety requirements
Warning Check before drilling holes in the vehicle. Select
points where drilling will not damage existing wiring, fuel
tanks, fuel lines, brake pipes, or battery cables.
Warning Avoid obstructions. When mounted, the charger
must not obstruct or endanger the occupants of the vehicle. The
charger must not obscure the driver’s vision, interfere with con-
trol of the vehicle, or obstruct any airbags.
Warning Mount the charger securely. The charger must not
break loose in the event of a collision. An unsecured charger can
seriously injure vehicle occupants.
Warning If the vehicle is a fuel or gas tanker, observe the spe-
cial conditions that must be observed when installing radio
equipment on fuel or gas tankers. For details, contact your radio
provider or a Tait-accredited service center.

16 Before Installing the Vehicle Charger TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Warning If the vehicle is powered by LPG (liquefied petro-
leum gas), observe LPG requirements. If the LPG container is
in a sealed-off space within the interior of the vehicle, a radio
equipment installation must conform to the National Fire Pro-
tection Association Standard NFPA 58. The standard states that
the radio equipment installation must meet the following
requirements:
The space containing the radio equipment shall be isolated by a
seal from the space containing the LPG container and its fitting.
Outside filling connections shall be used for the LPG container
and its fittings.
The LPG container space shall be vented to the outside of the
vehicle.
Warning Avoid interference with vehicle electronics. Install
the charger and the power cable clear of all other electronic sys-
tems and cables. Some electronic devices in the vehicle may
malfunction when a radio is transmitting. Devices that can be
affected include electronic fuel injection systems, electronic
anti-skid braking systems, electronic cruise control systems, and
vehicle indicators (turn signals). Interference can occur if the
electronic device is not adequately protected against RF energy.
If the vehicle contains such equipment, consult the vehicle man-
ufacturer or vehicle dealer to determine whether these elec-
tronic circuits will perform normally when a radio is transmit-
ting.

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Before Installing the Vehicle Charger 17
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Check the charger package
Note the item code on the vehicle charger box and then use Table 3.1 to
check that all parts are present. Make sure that you have the correct charger
package for the intended mounting method. To purchase a different
package, or if anything is missing or damaged, please contact your Tait
dealer.
Notice If the vehicle has a 24V power supply, or if the power supplied
by the vehicle may be unstable, Tait recommends that you use the vehicle
charger with a 24V to 12V DC-DC converter. See "Voltage converter"
on page 18.
Table 3.1 TP9100 vehicle charger packages
Charger package Contents Mounting methods
TPA-CH-100
TP9100 vehicle charger
with no additional
brackets
■TP9100 vehicle charger
■Power cable see page 19
■M5x12 button head screw14x
■M5 spring washer 4x
(353-00010-30)
■M5 flat washer 4x
(353-00010-29)
■TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger
Installation and User’s Guide
■Mounted against a vertical surface
see page 25
■Mounted against a vertical surface
(no access) see page 26
■Mounted using a third-party
mount see page 31
■Panel mounted into a horizontal
surface see page 32
TPA-CH-101
TP9100 vehicle charger
with right-angle (‘L’)
bracket and two
U-brackets
■All items in TPA-CH-100 and:
■Right-angle mounting bracket
(302-06017-00)
■Single height U-bracket2
(TOPA-VK-020)
■Double height U-bracket
(TOPA-VK-030)
■M5x8 button head screw12x
All recommended mounting
methods.
TPA-CH-102
TP9100 vehicle charger
with right-angle (‘L’)
bracket
■All items in TPA-CH-100 and:
■Right-angle mounting bracket
(302-06017-00)
■Any method supported by the
TPA-CH-100 charger package.
■Mounted using the right-angle
bracket see page 29.
TPA-CH-103
TP9100 vehicle charger
with two U-brackets
■All items in TPA-CH-100 and:
■Single height U-bracket2
(TOPA-VK-020)
■Double height U-bracket
(TOPA-VK-030)
■M5x8 button head screw12x
■Any method supported by the
TPA-CH-100 charger package.
■Mounted using the two U-
brackets see page 30.
1For more information see "Screws" on page 24.
2The double-height U-bracket is longer than the single-height U-bracket. To order a triple-height U-bracket, see "Op-
tional extras" on page 18. U-brackets are always used in pairs.

18 Before Installing the Vehicle Charger TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Optional extras
These items are compatible with the charger but are not included in any
TP9100 vehicle charger packages. To purchase them please contact your Tait
dealer.
Voltage converter The Tait 24V to 12V DC-DC converter (TA2761-02) takes input
between 10V and 30V and regulates it to 14.4V at up to 6 A. Use a voltage
converter if the vehicle has a 24 V power supply or if the power supplied by
the vehicle may be unstable (for example, while the battery in a fire tender
is being charged at the station).
Additional
mounting hardware TOPA-VK-040 triple height U-bracket. This longer U-bracket can be
attached to either of the U-brackets supplied in a charger package. Use the
M5x8 button head screw (346-00005-08) supplied with the bracket to join
any two U-brackets. Different combinations of U-brackets enable you to
mount the charger in a suitable position in most situations.
TOPA-VK-050 mounting plate. This mounting plate can be attached to
the outside of the mounting surface for added stability. For example, it can
be used to secure the two-piece U-bracket assembly to the vehicle. Use the
four M5x20 screws (346-0005-20) and four M5 spring washers
(353-00010-30) provided with the mounting plate to secure the mounting
plate to the vehicle.
Third-party installation requirements
Selected third-party mounts are compatible with the main mounting bracket
on the vehicle charger. For example, the RAM-202U ball head mount from
RAM Mounting Systems, Inc. The RAM-202U has a 2 1/2 inch diameter
flat base with pre-drilled holes and a 1 1/2 inch ball head that attaches to a
mounting arm. For details of recommended mounting arms, and to order
these parts, go to www.ram-mount.com and search for
‘RAM-202U’.Before starting the installation, make sure that you have a
suitable TP9100 vehicle charger package (TPA-CH-100) and a compatible
third-party mount. You will also need instructions, a drill template, and the
fasteners needed to secure the mount to the vehicle. These should be
supplied with the third-party mount. See "Mounted using a third-party
mount" on page 31.

TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide Before Installing the Vehicle Charger 19
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Check tools and templates
No tools are supplied in the charger packages. Check that you have the tools
and templates needed for the installation.
Drill templates Templates are at the back of this manual. To attach third-party mounting
hardware to the vehicle, use the templates and documentation provided with
that hardware.
Decide how power will be connected to the charger
Power cable The power cable (219-02668-xx) supplied in all charger packages has red,
black, and blue leads and a DC power plug for connection to the charger.
Plan how you will install the power cable and then see "Test the proposed
installation" on page 22.
Fuses The red and black leads in the power cable each have a built-in 3A
automotive blade fuse. The fuses are plugged into inline fuse holders and are
easily replaced if necessary. When installing the power cable, make sure that
the fuses are near the battery and accessible. To remove a fuse, slide it from
the holder. (If the fuse has blown, the ‘S’ is no longer visible through the
plastic body of the fuse.) To order a replacement fuse from your Tait dealer,
quote part number 265-00000-64.
Vehicle power
source Make sure that the vehicle power source can supply the power required by
the charger. The charger is designed to operate from a 12V nominal supply
but will tolerate a supply voltage range of 11V to 20V. The charger will
draw a maximum of 2.3A.
Notice If using a 24V to 12V converter to supply power to the char-
ger, make sure that the converter maintains output regulation to 12V
when the load current is 0mA. See "Voltage converter" on page 18.
Table 3.2 Installation tools
Tool Purpose
3mm hexagonal driver Required to remove and fasten the screws listed in Table 4.1 on page 24.
Portable drill and drill bits;
(optional) center punch, hammer
Required for all mounting methods.
Saw Required if the charger is mounted into a hole in a horizontal surface.
Side cutters or wire strippers;
(optional) cable ties
Required when connecting the charger power cable to vehicle power.
Spanner (wrench) Required if using bolts (not supplied) to secure a bracket to the vehicle.

20 Before Installing the Vehicle Charger TPA-CH-1xx Vehicle Charger Installation and User’s Guide
© Tait International Limited December 2020
Connection method
Decide how to connect the charger to the power source.
If using the ignition sensed (recommended) method, enable the ignition
sense signal before mounting the charger.
Cigarette lighter If the cigarette lighter works only when the ignition is switched on,
connection to the lighter has the same effect as ‘ignition switched’. If the
cigarette lighter works even when the ignition is switched off, connection
to the lighter has the same effect as ‘continuously powered’.
Table 3.3 Connection methods: charger to vehicle power source
Method Description
Ignition sensed
(recommended)
The charger is switched off when the vehicle ignition is switched off. Charging resumes
when the ignition is switched on again. Until then, the charger draws only minimal standby
power from the vehicle battery. To use this method, enable the ignition sense signal as
described below. Then see "Ignition sensed" on page 34.
Ignition
switched
The charger is switched off when the vehicle ignition is switched off. See previous.
An easier installation than ‘ignition sensed’ because the ignition sense signal does not have
to be enabled. The source of switched accessory power (for example, the fuse box in the
vehicle) must have a current rating of at least 3A. If the charger and multiple in-vehicle
systems are connected to the same source of switched accessory power, the total power
drawn can trigger a charger ‘under voltage’ event. This will not harm the charger but
charging will be temporarily suspended and the orange LED will flash until the voltage
returns to normal. See "Ignition switched" on page 34.
Continuously
powered
An easier installation than ‘ignition sensed’ because the ignition sense signal does not have
to be enabled. The charger is on at all times. Even when the vehicle ignition is switched off,
the charger continues to operate and to draw power from the vehicle battery. If the charger
is left on when the vehicle is not in regular use, the vehicle battery could be drained. See
"Continuously powered" on page 34.