BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Radiogogo · 4th Mar 2022, 7:28 pm

Hi

I've a number of BT Freeway No 3 A-H phones which I've not used in a long time and the batteries in the handset need replacing. This is the phone:-

https://www.britishtelephones.com/cordles3.htm

Has anyone changed the batteries in these and know how to get into the handset to do the job? I can't figure out how to open up the handset, there are no screws on the outside, its just pressed plastic. The front and back of the plastic handset are connected together down the length of the phone, but where as the top prizes apart a bit, it clearly doesn't want to open up the whole way down the phone and seems firmly attached lower down. The pastic on the front of the phone comes apart at the base but again doesn't seem to want to come apart all the way. Maybe I'm not being forceful enough in trying to part the plastic. Anyone who has got the handset apart and knows how to do it, I would appreciate a heads up. Thanks.

paulsherwin · 4th Mar 2022, 7:42 pm

The problem that you will face is that these phones were designed to use nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, which are obsolete so expensive and difficult to source. If you fit modern nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, they won't charge properly and will have a short life.

Oldcodger · 4th Mar 2022, 8:31 pm

NICAD cells are difficult to source as you say, but as the voltage is 1.2, might be worth using 1.2v NIMH cells, which are available ,or is this option a nun runner. Few places on net selling 1.2NIMH, and I'm certain I've spotted 1.2v NIMH in the likes of Poundland /possibly also Aldi . Can't really be certain as i was looking for 1.5v rechargeables to fit remotes designed for dry cells.

paulsherwin · 4th Mar 2022, 8:46 pm

NiMH won't charge properly if the charging circuit is designed for NiCd.

Àll NiCd and NiMH cells are 1.2V nominal, though the actual voltage will depend on the charge state.

Nickthedentist · 4th Mar 2022, 9:13 pm

These were made by Uniden.

There’s a hidden screw under the number label

Dave Moll · 4th Mar 2022, 9:30 pm

Yes, I discovered the charging problem with NiMH cells in my Rabbit telephones. They simply didn't charge using the base station intended for NiCd cells.

rambo1152 · 5th Mar 2022, 12:21 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oldcodger

NICAD cells are difficult to source as you say, but as the voltage is 1.2, might be worth using 1.2v NIMH cells, which are available ,or is this option a nun runner. Few places on net selling 1.2NIMH, and I'm certain I've spotted 1.2v NIMH in the likes of Poundland /possibly also Aldi . Can't really be certain as i was looking for 1.5v rechargeables to fit remotes designed for dry cells.

The only consumer 1.5v rechargeable cells I know of were branded "Pure Energy" and were rechargeable alkaline.

They were chosen for one particular application (a domestic energy usage monitor sponsored by Southern Electric and others) because of their perceived "green" credentials (contained no heavy metals) but scored an own goal by leaking and sending the power monitors to WEEE in record time

Radiogogo · 5th Mar 2022, 9:28 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickthedentist

These were made by Uniden.

There’s a hidden screw under the number label

Thanks for that information, found it and got the phone apart!

Thanks to those also who have provide information about the charging problems with Ni-MH batteries. The 3 cell Ni-Cd batteries seem to be available online, but as the Mod says these are expensive at £25. I guess not worth trying the Ni-MH cells?

paulsherwin · 5th Mar 2022, 10:15 am

No reason not to try NiMH cells, but you should expect them to have a short life. Don't leave a charged phone on the charging cradle if you can avoid it. The Poundland cheapies may be worth a punt despite their relatively low capacity.

rambo1152 · 5th Mar 2022, 5:56 pm

Also don't discuss anything remotely confidential using this phone.
Along with baby monitors, it's trivial to eavesdrop on these early cordless phones.

Radiogogo · 8th Mar 2022, 4:42 pm

Thanks to all those who have replied with the very helpful information, I've learnt a lot. Having got the phone apart, there is a bit of soldering work to be done where the leads have come apart around the old battery before I can install a new battery.

The Philpott · 2nd May 2022, 4:33 pm

-Why the issue with NiMH in a NiCad 'phone...? Does the charging circuit seek to detect the slight volt drop of a NiCad when reaching full charge?
Dave

duncanlowe · 2nd May 2022, 5:57 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Philpott

-Why the issue with NiMH in a NiCad 'phone...? Does the charging circuit seek to detect the slight volt drop of a NiCad when reaching full charge?
Dave

Exactly. The voltage behaviour of NiMh is different and many I
NiCd chargers don't detect end of charging.

emeritus · 2nd May 2022, 10:51 pm

Interesting. The Jessops own brand plug-in AA/AAA chargers I bought in the 1990's are stated to be suitable for both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. They were supplied with Ni-CD AA cells. I used to use them (infrequently) for charging the Ni-MH AA replacements I use in my original digital camera without problems, but now use a Panasonic charger that is specified to be for Ni-MH cells.

duncanlowe · 3rd May 2022, 7:38 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by emeritus

Interesting. The Jessops own brand plug-in AA/AAA chargers I bought in the 1990's are stated to be suitable for both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. They were supplied with Ni-CD AA cells. I used to use them (infrequently) for charging the Ni-MH AA replacements I use in my original digital camera without problems, but now use a Panasonic charger that is specified to be for Ni-MH cells.

It depends very much on the charging regime. Fast(er) chargers need to detect end of charge. Slower ones just constantly trickle. I have some faster ones that do both NiCd and NiMh, but there's a switch.

Nickthedentist · 3rd May 2022, 9:08 am

These phones date from the mid-1980s, and I always thought that the charging was simply a slow trickle charge.

I used to have a circuit diagram, but I'm afraid I got rid of it as I thought these phones had been extinct for about 25-30 years!

Good luck with getting yours working. They're good fun and seemed amazing when they were current if all you were used to was a 746 tied to a table in the hall. I think they were the first BABT approved cordless phone, the others that you sometimes saw around being non-approved grey imports (ISTR Del Boy had one!). They were made by Uniden but rebranded as BT, Tandy and others. My late grandfather picked one up at a jumble sale for me when they were still current, and all that was required to get it going was a replacement battery pack. Happy days!

Nickthedentist · 3rd May 2022, 9:15 am

Maybe this is what you need, but I dread to think what the cost might be nowadays:
https://int.rsdelivers.com/product/r...k-pack/2042761

McMurdo · 11th May 2022, 10:25 am

£17 plus VAT

4th Mar 2022, 7:28 pm	#1
Radiogogo Diode Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK. Posts: 6	BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone Hi I've a number of BT Freeway No 3 A-H phones which I've not used in a long time and the batteries in the handset need replacing. This is the phone:- https://www.britishtelephones.com/cordles3.htm Has anyone changed the batteries in these and know how to get into the handset to do the job? I can't figure out how to open up the handset, there are no screws on the outside, its just pressed plastic. The front and back of the plastic handset are connected together down the length of the phone, but where as the top prizes apart a bit, it clearly doesn't want to open up the whole way down the phone and seems firmly attached lower down. The pastic on the front of the phone comes apart at the base but again doesn't seem to want to come apart all the way. Maybe I'm not being forceful enough in trying to part the plastic. Anyone who has got the handset apart and knows how to do it, I would appreciate a heads up. Thanks.

4th Mar 2022, 7:42 pm	#2
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23,538	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone The problem that you will face is that these phones were designed to use nickel cadmium (NiCd) batteries, which are obsolete so expensive and difficult to source. If you fit modern nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries, they won't charge properly and will have a short life.

4th Mar 2022, 8:31 pm	#3
Oldcodger Nonode Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: West Midlands, UK. Posts: 2,057	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone NICAD cells are difficult to source as you say, but as the voltage is 1.2, might be worth using 1.2v NIMH cells, which are available ,or is this option a nun runner. Few places on net selling 1.2NIMH, and I'm certain I've spotted 1.2v NIMH in the likes of Poundland /possibly also Aldi . Can't really be certain as i was looking for 1.5v rechargeables to fit remotes designed for dry cells.

4th Mar 2022, 8:46 pm	#4
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23,538	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone NiMH won't charge properly if the charging circuit is designed for NiCd. Àll NiCd and NiMH cells are 1.2V nominal, though the actual voltage will depend on the charge state.

4th Mar 2022, 9:13 pm	#5
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 16,137	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone These were made by Uniden. There’s a hidden screw under the number label

4th Mar 2022, 9:30 pm	#6
Dave Moll Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: West Cumbria (CA13), UK Posts: 5,618	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone Yes, I discovered the charging problem with NiMH cells in my Rabbit telephones. They simply didn't charge using the base station intended for NiCd cells. __________________ Mending is better than Ending (cf Brave New World by Aldous Huxley)

5th Mar 2022, 10:15 am	#9
paulsherwin Moderator Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Oxford, UK Posts: 23,538	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone No reason not to try NiMH cells, but you should expect them to have a short life. Don't leave a charged phone on the charging cradle if you can avoid it. The Poundland cheapies may be worth a punt despite their relatively low capacity.

5th Mar 2022, 5:56 pm	#10
rambo1152 Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 3,241	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone Also don't discuss anything remotely confidential using this phone. Along with baby monitors, it's trivial to eavesdrop on these early cordless phones. __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT

8th Mar 2022, 4:42 pm	#11
Radiogogo Diode Join Date: Oct 2021 Location: Plymouth, Devon, UK. Posts: 6	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone Thanks to all those who have replied with the very helpful information, I've learnt a lot. Having got the phone apart, there is a bit of soldering work to be done where the leads have come apart around the old battery before I can install a new battery.

2nd May 2022, 4:33 pm	#12
The Philpott Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 3,207	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone -Why the issue with NiMH in a NiCad 'phone...? Does the charging circuit seek to detect the slight volt drop of a NiCad when reaching full charge? Dave

2nd May 2022, 10:51 pm	#14
emeritus Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Brentwood, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,668	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone Interesting. The Jessops own brand plug-in AA/AAA chargers I bought in the 1990's are stated to be suitable for both Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. They were supplied with Ni-CD AA cells. I used to use them (infrequently) for charging the Ni-MH AA replacements I use in my original digital camera without problems, but now use a Panasonic charger that is specified to be for Ni-MH cells.

3rd May 2022, 9:08 am	#16
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 16,137	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone These phones date from the mid-1980s, and I always thought that the charging was simply a slow trickle charge. I used to have a circuit diagram, but I'm afraid I got rid of it as I thought these phones had been extinct for about 25-30 years! Good luck with getting yours working. They're good fun and seemed amazing when they were current if all you were used to was a 746 tied to a table in the hall. I think they were the first BABT approved cordless phone, the others that you sometimes saw around being non-approved grey imports (ISTR Del Boy had one!). They were made by Uniden but rebranded as BT, Tandy and others. My late grandfather picked one up at a jumble sale for me when they were still current, and all that was required to get it going was a replacement battery pack. Happy days! Last edited by Nickthedentist; 3rd May 2022 at 9:13 am.

3rd May 2022, 9:15 am	#17
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 16,137	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone Maybe this is what you need, but I dread to think what the cost might be nowadays: https://int.rsdelivers.com/product/r...k-pack/2042761

11th May 2022, 10:25 am	#18
McMurdo Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Staffordshire Moorlands, UK. Posts: 4,644	Re: BT Freeway No 3 A-H cordless phone £17 plus VAT __________________ Kevin