Battery life and A/C power help please

[millerfour]

Maybe these will seem like stupid questions, but I am at a loss and need help. A few months ago I purchased a used Uniden Bearcat Sportcat and have no idea how old the battery was. Finally the battery went dead and the scanner wouldn't turn on, even when pluged in. So I got a new battery, but I am still having trouble. The new battery came on Monday, I put it in and had it turned on for a little over an hour, then turned it off. On Tuesday morning I pluged it in and left it. Tonight (Wednesday) I turned it on, while it was pluged in and after 10-15 seconds, it beeped low battery, so I unpluged it and it worked for five minutes before it started to beep low battery again. After another 3-5 minutes it shut off.

- how long should it need to be pluged in to run for more than a few minutes?
- how long should the battery last between charging?
- shouldn't it work when pluged in?

Thanks
kelly

 

[davidmc36]

I have seen similar issues when using my 296 and 245. It sounds like your AC adapter is not working. If I have my battery fully charged and plug in the adapter that is NOT powered it will beep the battery signal and die within a few seconds. The only reason that yours worked for a little while after you left it off and plugged in for a while was the battery just recoverd a bit while not being used, you did not actually charge it up any. It worked for a little while when you first got it because from new it had a tiny bit of charge in it, but nowhere near full charge.

 

[millerfour]

Is there any way to know for sure that the A/C adapter is the issue? It was just a few months ago that I purchased the adapter. My fear is that it is the scanner its self that is bad and not the battery or adapter.

 

[W6KRU]

Is there any way to know for sure that the A/C adapter is the issue? It was just a few months ago that I purchased the adapter. My fear is that it is the scanner its self that is bad and not the battery or adapter.

Measure the output of the adapter with a voltage meter. That is not a definitive answer but it is a big clue.

 

[Viper43]

If it's a 396 the tip should have 6 volts across the + and - of the A/C adapter, use a volt meter to check the voltage or take it somewhere where some can test it. If they can test the current it should be 800Ma.

V

 

[millerfour]

take it somewhere where some can test it

I got the adapter at Radio Shack, if I take it back there can they test it? Is there any slight chance that they may replace it, if it doesn't work?

 

[Viper43]

RS, depends on the people working.... some can some aren't smart enough to turn on a multimeter. As for replacement, depends on the warranty, but if within warranty they should replace it.
Just make sure the replacement is the right one for the job!

V

I got the adapter at Radio Shack, if I take it back there can they test it? Is there any slight chance that they may replace it, if it doesn't work?

 

[millerfour]

Today I finally took the A/C adapter up to RS and it's working. So now what..... The battery is new, the A/C tested fine, but it still won't work, so what is the next thing I can test? Or is the scanner its self just bad?

 

[davidmc36]

It can happen especially with an older scanner. My 245 the power connector is worn out, if you jiggle it just the right way it will come on. Try the scanner without the batteries in it and see if you can jiggle it a bit and make it come on.