Roberts Radio solarDAB 2 User Manual

Your Roberts solarDAB 2 radio has been designed to use a choice of 
power sources.  You may plug it into the mains using the supplied high-
effi ciency adaptor, or for listening away from the mains you may use 
either rechargeable batteries (included) or alkaline batteries.  We do not 
recommend the use of carbon-zinc or zinc-chloride batteries.

1)  Whichever type of batteries you choose to use, it is very important 

that the battery selection switch under the cover is set to the correct 
type.  

a.  If no batteries are fi tted, then set the switch to the Alkaline position (to 

the left as viewed from the back of the radio).  This position minimises 
the power consumption when the radio is powered from the mains.

b.  If Alkaline batteries are fi tted, then set the switch to the Alkaline 

position (to the left as viewed from the back of the radio).  

c.  If Rechargeable batteries are fi tted, then set the switch to the 

NiMH/NiCad position (to the right as viewed from the back of the 
radio).  Your radio is designed to use Nickel-Metal-Hydride or Nickel 
Cadmium rechargeable batteries. No other type of rechargeable 
battery should be used in the radio.

2)  NEVER mix old and new Alkaline batteries. The old batteries may 

suffer damage and leak which will damage your radio and whatever 
the radio is standing on.

3)  NEVER mix old and new Rechargeable batteries. This may 

result in unreliable charging and shortened battery life. Never mix 
Rechargeable batteries of different types or capacities even if they 
are new. 

4)  NEVER mix Alkaline and Rechargeable batteries. The recharging of 

Alkaline batteries can be very dangerous.

  

Your solarDAB 2 radio uses a range of methods to ensure correct and 
safe charging of Rechargeable Nickel-Metal-Hydride or Nickel Cadmium 
batteries. These work to protect your batteries from excessive charge 
and discharge.  These protections can only work properly if the advice 
above is followed.  In particular, the radio will not be able to correctly 
charge batteries if they are a mixture of different brands, or different 
ages, or different capacities.

We recommend that all the rechargeable batteries used in your radio 
are bought together as a set. They should always be charged together 
and discharged together and not “borrowed” from time to time for other 
applications.  This will ensure that they give their optimum performance 
in your radio.  

We recommend that the rechargeable batteries that you use should 
be from a quality brand, and should be of at least 2500mAh capacity.  
Batteries of this capacity should be able to power your radio for up to 
20 hours depending upon the volume of the radio, whether DAB or FM 
mode is used (DAB mode uses slightly less power than FM), and also 
depending on the condition of the batteries.

Before you fi rst install a new set of rechargeable batteries into your 
radio you should fi rst make sure that the battery type switch beneath the 
battery cover is in the NiMH/NiCad position. Install the batteries arranging 
them as shown on the back of the radio. Plug the mains adaptor into a 
mains socket and then into the radio. While the batteries are charging the 
charge indicator should show a fl ashing green light. When the batteries 
are fully charged the indicator will stop fl ashing and will show a steady 
green light.  The time taken to charge the batteries will depend on how 
much charging they require. New batteries may be partly charged when 
fi rst fi tted, but it is normal for a set of batteries to take several hours to 
charge fully (this can be between 5 and 8 hours depending on the battery 
capacity and their initial state of charge).