Nearly all manufacturers will advise you to turn your radio off while its charging. If you dont, the radio is both drawing current and charging at the same time. This can shorten the life of the battery.

It is often seen that tidy-minded offices use the charging unit as a stand to store the radio when not in use. If your radio is already fully charged, keeping it in the charger could shorten its battery life. Only put the radio in the charger when it needs recharging

New batteries need a long overnight charge before you use them for the first time. This is known as initialising, and it will help you obtain the maximum battery capacity. Charge NiMH batteries for 14-16 hours, and Li-Ion batteries for an extra 1 to 2 hours after the charger light turns green.