About this replacement
Kenwood TK-2200 Series — 7.4V Li-ion Replacement Battery (KNB-53N)
This is a 7.4V 1800mAh Li-ion battery for the Kenwood TK-2200, TK-2202, TK-2206, and TK-2207 portable UHF transceivers, plus over 80 additional compatible models. It replaces OEM packs including KNB-53N, KNB-29N, KNB-30N, and RAD0148. The pack uses the same footprint and connector as factory Kenwood batteries in this series.
- TK-2200 series compatibility: The TK-2200, TK-2202, TK-2206, and TK-2207 share the same 7.4V battery bay, BMS handshake protocol, and slide-lock connector. One pack covers the full platform without modification.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this pack on a TK-2202 through multiple PTT-heavy sessions. The BMS held voltage through sustained transmit loads and returned expected bar readings on the radio's indicator within two full charge cycles.
- First insertion into KSC-35 dock: If the KSC-35 or KSC-35S dock shows a fault LED on first insertion, remove the pack, wipe the gold contact strip with a dry cloth, and reseat firmly. The Kenwood dock requires a clean contact cycle to accept the new BMS handshake before charging begins.
Why the TK-2200 cuts out mid-transmission on a freshly inserted battery
New Li-ion cells ship at storage voltage — typically 3.6–3.7V per cell, not full charge. When PTT is pressed, the transmit current spike can hit 1.5–2A on UHF handhelds. If the pack hasn't completed a full charge cycle, the BMS may interpret that spike as an overcurrent event and trip the output. The radio drops off the air without warning. One full charge cycle before first field use resolves this — the BMS recalibrates its overcurrent threshold against a fully topped cell.
Bar indicator showing one fewer bar than expected on the new KNB-53N
The TK-2200 platform reads battery level using voltage-threshold steps — not a fuel gauge chip. A new pack at storage voltage sits below the top threshold, so the radio displays one bar fewer than full. This is not a defective cell. Run the pack through one complete charge in the KSC-35 dock until the green LED holds solid, then power on the radio. The bar indicator should read full at 8.4V across the pack terminals.