Cordless phone stopped working

john_s_2

Not sure if this is the right forum - it was a toss up between here and the Techie forum. Apologies if I chose wrong!

I bought two BT Freestyle 610 phones a couple of years ago, and one has gone kaput. The red light (that normally indicates someone is on the phone) is constantly on, but there is nothing else. The LCD is completely blank. The buttons don't make a sound, nothing.

I've tried taking the batteries out and putting them back in; recharging it; nothing.

I had an older similar phone that went like this after I poured some wine over it. But my family assures me this phone hasn't suffered a similar fate (but do I believe them? ;-)

I tried opening it up but, beyond having done so, and looking at it, there was nothing much I could prod at so I closed it up again.

Does this sound familiar to anyone? Is this how these sorts of phones normally die? (The red light is really annoying - there is life in it!) Is there anything I can do? I've tried the trusty smacking it against my other hand technique, but even this usually fail-proof method yields not a flicker of life.

Sorry, I guess I just wanted to moan about it really...

Heinz

Have you tried a new set of batteries (or using the batteries from the still working phone)?

Rechargeable batteries don't last forever.

topherxp

If trying a different set of batteries doesn't work, you may have to buy another handset.

BritBrat

Always hapens to my phones when OH has used them in the bath.

Sounds dead to me.

Try cleaning the battery contacts.

Could it be that it has lost the chanel/connection to the base unit?

But it still sounds dead to me.

john_s_2

Thanks all for the replies. I haven't tried batteries from a still working phone - I considered it but didn't want to risk 'breaking' a working one. I will give that a go though. I bought some new batteries for them about six months ago as they weren't holding their charge for long.

I ruled out the batteries as the red light was on but I suppose a weak supply can cause all sorts of unexpected results.

Gingernutty

First up, I apologize for resurrecting a thread from 2008, but it showed a problem closest to the one I've got at the moment.....

I am the proud owner of a secondhand BT Freestyle 1025 cordless 'phone and an additional handset and they have served me well these past five-ish years.

The additional handset (which has it's own charger) gets a lot more use than the phone at the base unit and as a result, the battery low beep has kicked in over the last few phone calls.

TBH, it rarely leaves the charger, so by my reckoning, I've finally knackered the battery unit which is a white sealed package with a pair of wires finishing with a plug which fits into the base of the handset.

So, in true moneysaver fashion, I took the battery pack out and went to Maplins to find a replacement.

The problem is that the old battery unit is Ni-Cd and Maplins only sell Ni-MH now.

I've been back and forth over Google and various websites to see if I can replace the Ni-Cd with the Ni-MH unit and got myself thoroughly confused.

The advice ranges from "Yes you can, it doesn't matter" to "ON NO ACCOUNT DO IT!" :huh:

Further confusion comes from people talking about different chargers and replaceable batteries. :huh: :huh:

So here i am asking for advice from all you wunnerful MSE-ers.:A

Can I safely replace the Ni-Cd battery unit from a BT Freestyle additional handset (with its own charger) with what looks like a near identical Ni-MH unit?

silvercar

Not according to this link:

http://www.servocity.com/html/nicad_vs__nimh_batteries.html

Gingernutty

"Many modelers use high rate, peak detection or time-based chargers to charge NiCAD batteries. Such chargers are NOT recommended for NiMH batteries (unless otherwise specified in the charger or battery literature) as they can cause permanent damage to the NiMH cells."

I'm not using a high rate, peak detection or timebased charger for a high energy drain model aeroplane or it's radio controller.

Once again,

Can I safely replace the Ni-Cd battery unit from a BT Freestyle additional handset (with its own charger) with what looks like a near identical Ni-MH unit?

steveE2

Can I safely replace the Ni-Cd battery unit from a BT Freestyle additional handset (with its own charger) with what looks like a near identical Ni-MH unit?

Says here you can

My existing battery is NiCd. Can I use a NiMH equivalent? Yes, most definitely. Some older cordless phones will have been supplied with a rechargeable NiCd battery but you can certainly use a rechargeable NiMH battery to replace it. If you were to buy the same cordless phone again today it would almost certainly be supplied with an NiMH equivalent.

http://www.batterylogic.co.uk/uniross-cordless-phone-battery.asp?dd_brands=BT&dd_models=FREESTYLE%201025