Battery charging on PSR 500

Kel · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2009, 08:36 PM

What is the proper way to charge NiMh batteries?I usually charge them overnight using my wall wart,but playing with the Global menu I went on Battery Info entered Select and it started at 16 hrs and counted down as long as the radio was left on,and after that it said charger off,Is there away to shorten charging time up?

scannerjunkie · #2 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 01:25 AM

I always use an externial charger to charge my batteries.i use powerex AA 2700mah nimh batteries and a powerex charger.got these at a local battery store.i have the psr 500 uniden 396&346xt's and several other hand helds.i would never use the internial charging circuit.you never know what might happen.batteries could leak or burst and then your scanner is damaged.i had very good luck using these batteries.as for battery settings in scanner i never bothered to try them due to using externial charger.hope this info helps you.

subwaysurfer · #3 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 08:05 AM

I agree with scannerjunkie also buy using a external battery charger you can always have a set of batteries ready to go without having to leave the scanner plugged in.

Kel · #4 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 12:07 PM

Ok thanks I will try that option.

GTO_04 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-04-2009, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kel

What is the proper way to charge NiMh batteries?I usually charge them overnight using my wall wart,but playing with the Global menu I went on Battery Info entered Select and it started at 16 hrs and counted down as long as the radio was left on,and after that it said charger off,Is there away to shorten charging time up?

No, not on the internal charger unless you switch to a lower capacity battery. The higher the capacity of the battery the longer it will take to charge. This will be a signifcant time period since the PSR-500 internal charger is a trickle charger.

Like the others said, you will be better off using an external charger. That way you can always have a second set ready to go when the first batteries need to be recharged.

GTO_04

tobarger · #6 (**permalink**) 10-05-2009, 04:25 AM

FYI - Yes, the scanner charging time can be adjusted.

1) PGM
2) F3
3) Scroll down to "Charge Time"
4) Enter the amount of time in hours 0 - 16, or 99 for default.

Charge Time (106/500): Allows you to set the battery charge time in hours. 0 = OFF. The battery charger charges at a current rate of 150 mA. The charger is disabled when "Battery" is set to Alkaline. The default charge time (99) will charge 9 hours for Ni-Cd batteries and 16 hours for Ni-MH batteries.

bigcam406 · #7 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 09:58 AM

i just bought a set of energizer rehargables (nihm's) yesterday,and when i got home i read on the package that they are 1.2volts.i was under the assumption that they would be 1.5volts,as the scanner needs 6 volts to run on battery mode.can i use these or should i take them back and get a set with the proper 1.5 volts each? the scanner is a psr500 by the way.thx in advance.

AlabamaRS · #8 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:17 AM

YOU are good to go, That's standard on NIMH batteries

bigcam406 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:25 AM

thx for the quick reply.im using the scanner to charge them for now until i get a seperate charger.

TES · #10 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 10:42 AM

Be aware that the internal charger settings only apply while the scanner is on. With the scanner off, wall wart connected and powered, and the yellow battery holder, you'll be charging 24/7.

cfr301 · #11 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TES

Be aware that the internal charger settings only apply while the scanner is on. With the scanner off, wall wart connected and powered, and the yellow battery holder, you'll be charging 24/7.

Yep thats why I take mine OFF the power Cord Run the Batteries down during the Day or Leave it shut off if I am not using it unplugged from the Wall Wart. I only charge it plugged in over night IF its dead or getting that way. After an all night Charge I'm getting 8 to 9 hrs out of the batteries.

bigcam406 · #12 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 07:20 PM

thx for the info.i didnt know that it only applies to when the scanner is on.

eyes00only · #13 (**permalink**) 10-22-2009, 07:43 PM

My advice is to NEVER put the yellow battery pack
in your scanner.

JK

longreach · #14 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 08:25 AM

Hi all, i acutally leave the batteries out all together if im using external power supply on both my PSR500 and my Pro 96, i had the batteries in one day on my 500 (nimh 2500mAH) and after 45 minutes the battery lid had melted and the scanner was extremly hot too touch, fortunatly i saved the scanner, ive had similar problems with the 96 charging, so i just charge them externally now, much faster anyway.
cheers all