SoLoDoc, your battery pack lasted 6 years--that's very respectable. All batteries have a limited number of recharge cycles. I'd say your's was a good investment, as far as batteries go.

Don't be fooled by the humble look of a battery pack. It might look like just a bunch of flashlight batteries covered in plastic shrink wrap, but it's not about looks, it's about performance.

If you want someone who knows batteries and you don't want to wait two weeks for the factory, you might find good help at a retail battery specialty store* that can custom-build a replacement battery pack, and give you great advice, as well (Radio Shack is not in that league.) You might even want to go with a sealed lead-acid battery (which would require a new charger,) for a fraction of the cost of NiCd's (but it won't last nearly as long as your NiCd did, and they are heavier.)

The only problem with going outside the original company for a battery replacement is that it might void your warranty, but since your system is already 6 years old, I'm not sure your warranty is still good, anyway. But check with the manufacturer, just to be sure.


* Batteries Plus might be good, but service can vary according to location.