About this replacement
Kirisun DP980 / DP990 Series — 7.4V Li-ion Replacement Battery (KB-98A)
This is a 7.4V, 2000mAh Li-ion replacement battery for the Kirisun DP980, DP985, DP990, and DP995 portable two-way radios. It replaces OEM part numbers KB-98A and KB-990. Capacity is rated at 14.8Wh — matching the original pack specification.
- DP980 / DP985 / DP990 / DP995 platform fit: These four models share the same 7.4V battery bay, connector pinout, and BMS handshake protocol. One pack covers all four without any adapter or modification.
- Bench tested on actual hardware: We cycled this pack on a DP990 and monitored BMS response through full transmit loads. The overcurrent protection tripped correctly at sustained PTT draw and reset cleanly without manual intervention.
- First insertion into the charger dock: If the dock LED shows a fault on first insertion, remove the pack, wipe the gold contact strip with a dry cloth, and reseat firmly. The Kirisun dock requires a clean contact cycle to complete the BMS handshake before it begins charging.
Why the DP980 cuts out mid-transmission on a fresh KB-98A pack
New Li-ion cells ship at storage voltage — typically around 3.6–3.7V per cell, not full charge. When you press PTT, the radio draws a sharp transmit current spike. If the cells haven't been charged first, voltage sags below the BMS cutoff threshold under that load, and the radio drops audio mid-keying. This isn't a faulty pack — it's the BMS protecting cells that aren't yet at operating voltage. Charge the KB-98A fully before first use in the field; the dock should show green before you clip it to a belt.
Bar indicator showing one fewer bar than expected after swapping to a new pack
The DP980 series uses a voltage-threshold bar indicator — each bar corresponds to a voltage window, not a percentage from a fuel gauge chip. A new pack at storage voltage reads in the lower threshold window, so the display shows one or two bars even though the pack isn't depleted. After a full charge cycle brings both cells to approximately 4.1–4.2V, the indicator jumps to full bars. If it still reads low after a confirmed full charge, check that the dock contacts are clean and making firm contact with the battery strip.