BC346XT Battery Issues

[jrwarner]

Has anyone had any battery issues with their 346XT? Mine is eating batteries like crazy. I have several sets of NiMH batteries and they're not staying charged when I use them in the scanner. It doesn't seem to matter whether I charge them in the scanner or in the battery charging wall unit (made by duracell). It also doesn't seem to matter how I set the scanner battery charging setting either.

Suggestions? Thoughts?

Thanks for any help you could offer!

 

[BigDogg795]

Just curious how are you charging your batteries? External charger or using the built in charging circuit?

 

[jrwarner]

Bc346xt

Just curious how are you charging your batteries? External charger or using the built in charging circuit?

I've used both the battery manufacturer charging method (the duracel plug-in version) and the 346xt built-in charger. Neither seem to get the batteries charged - OR - there's a short in the scanner that's doing it.

 

[Ed_Seedhouse]

Has anyone had any battery issues with their 346XT? Mine is eating batteries
Suggestions? Thoughts?

My 346XT is fine with the rechargables that came with it, just using the wall wart to charge with. fully charged I have never had the batteries run out when using it as portable. I use rather efficient headphones so the volume setting is always fairly low - well below half.

Since it's acting up for you with several different sets of batteries, the unit itself comes into suspicion of drawing too much power. Have you had it tested for current draw?

 

[jrwarner]

My 346XT is fine with the rechargables that came with it, just using the wall wart to charge with. fully charged I have never had the batteries run out when using it as portable. I use rather efficient headphones so the volume setting is always fairly low - well below half.

Since it's acting up for you with several different sets of batteries, the unit itself comes into suspicion of drawing too much power. Have you had it tested for current draw?

Thanks for the info. I have not had it checked in any way. I've only had it for 2 weeks and I thought I would ask around before I went to disassembling or testing it in various ways. returning it would be the first option for me unless I hear a better option here. Thanks...

 

[RickS31]

I've used both the battery manufacturer charging method (the duracel plug-in version) and the 346xt built-in charger. Neither seem to get the batteries charged - OR - there's a short in the scanner that's doing it.

Hi jr,

I hang around on the GRE/RS sites but happened to see your post. If I may, I'd like to provide some level of input to you on battery charging, especially in the scanners.

Here's one of my posts there -

"I just want to emphasize that it is not a good idea to charge batteries in any of these scanners with the AC adapter. I've designed and built chargers and have also done a ton of research on what the designers of these rechargeables want the chargers to do to insure both full charge and full life.

Each type of battery, NiCd, NiMh and LiIon have different requirements for charge curves and discharge cutoffs. Exceeding those can result in both battery life loss as well as destruction. Included is possible destruction of the device they're in.

I decided to do an experiment with the PRO 106 with HiCap NiMh batteries. These were good batteries with only about 25 or 30 charge/discharge cycles on them. They were fully charged by an external smart charger for NiMh batteries. Within 5 hours sitting in the yellow battery carrier in the scanner attached to the AC adapter, these batteries turned extremely hot. Clearly well on their way to self destruction.

What's the message. Don't charge in the scanner! They have no smarts in them. Their whole charge process is to jam 150 or more ma into the battery no matter what. No cutoff, no overheat detection and no time limit. Bad, bad, bad.

Just a word of caution. Maybe you haven't had trouble yet but you will. Just my two cents worth."

I have no experience with Uniden. But I suspect they provide no better battery charging capability than our scanners. That is, they contain no smart circuits to properly charge these batteries and in fact can quickly destroy them. There just isn't room for the necessary circuits and heat sinking they require. My suggestion is to get a new set of 2100 maH or higher NiMhs. Charge them fully only in the external smart charger. Use them. Don't be alarmed at shorter times at the start. These batteries don't go to full capability until they've been through 5-6 charge/discharge cycles. Highly recommended you don't charge in the scanner at all. Give it a whirl. I think you'll find much better results down the pike and won't put your very expensive scanner at risk for destruction. IMHO.

Rick

 

[jrwarner]

Hi jr,

I hang around on the GRE/RS sites but happened to see your post. If I may, I'd like to provide some level of input to you on battery charging, especially in the scanners.

Here's one of my posts there -

"I just want to emphasize that it is not a good idea to charge batteries in any of these scanners with the AC adapter. I've designed and built chargers and have also done a ton of research on what the designers of these rechargeables want the chargers to do to insure both full charge and full life.

Each type of battery, NiCd, NiMh and LiIon have different requirements for charge curves and discharge cutoffs. Exceeding those can result in both battery life loss as well as destruction. Included is possible destruction of the device they're in.

I decided to do an experiment with the PRO 106 with HiCap NiMh batteries. These were good batteries with only about 25 or 30 charge/discharge cycles on them. They were fully charged by an external smart charger for NiMh batteries. Within 5 hours sitting in the yellow battery carrier in the scanner attached to the AC adapter, these batteries turned extremely hot. Clearly well on their way to self destruction.

What's the message. Don't charge in the scanner! They have no smarts in them. Their whole charge process is to jam 150 or more ma into the battery no matter what. No cutoff, no overheat detection and no time limit. Bad, bad, bad.

Just a word of caution. Maybe you haven't had trouble yet but you will. Just my two cents worth."

I have no experience with Uniden. But I suspect they provide no better battery charging capability than our scanners. That is, they contain no smart circuits to properly charge these batteries and in fact can quickly destroy them. There just isn't room for the necessary circuits and heat sinking they require. My suggestion is to get a new set of 2100 maH or higher NiMhs. Charge them fully only in the external smart charger. Use them. Don't be alarmed at shorter times at the start. These batteries don't go to full capability until they've been through 5-6 charge/discharge cycles. Highly recommended you don't charge in the scanner at all. Give it a whirl. I think you'll find much better results down the pike and won't put your very expensive scanner at risk for destruction. IMHO.

Rick

Thanks Rick - I have tried to charge both ways and actually prefer to charge with the battery wall unit that came with the batteries. I have several sets, so I can use a set while one charges in the wall unit. I've never really had faith in "internal charging systems", but I wanted to try it since this scanner is eating charged batteries like nothing I've ever seen. J

 

[RickS31]

Thanks Rick - I have tried to charge both ways and actually prefer to charge with the battery wall unit that came with the batteries. I have several sets, so I can use a set while one charges in the wall unit. I've never really had faith in "internal charging systems", but I wanted to try it since this scanner is eating charged batteries like nothing I've ever seen. J

How much time are you getting? I don't want to say you don't have a radio problem. As I said, I have no experience with your radio. Other users of Uniden can help you with that.

Gotta watch these relatively inexpensive external chargers as well. I've found, testing four them from all different manufacturers including the large branded battery brand version, that they err on the undercharge side. Meaning they don't fully charge them either (better than overcharge). Found that to really fully charge them I needed to wait till the external charger claimed full charge by their display (whatever it used), let it go for a few hours more then pull it out of the wall. Wait 20 seconds or so then plug it back in. It will start recharging for another period. Then let it go for another few hours after it claims full charge. I get another 2-3 hours out of the batteries than just taking them at first charge. Can we say cheap?

Again, just results from a lot of experimentation.

Rick

 

[jrwarner]

How much time are you getting? I don't want to say you don't have a radio problem. As I said, I have no experience with your radio. Other users of Uniden can help you with that.

Gotta watch these relatively inexpensive external chargers as well. I've found, testing four them from all different manufacturers including the large branded battery brand version, that they err on the undercharge side. Meaning they don't fully charge them either (better than overcharge). Found that to really fully charge them I needed to wait till the external charger claimed full charge by their display (whatever it used), let it go for a few hours more then pull it out of the wall. Wait 20 seconds or so then plug it back in. It will start recharging for another period. Then let it go for another few hours after it claims full charge. I get another 2-3 hours out of the batteries than just taking them at first charge. Can we say cheap?

Again, just results from a lot of experimentation.

Rick

Time on a "fully charged battery set"? Only 20 minutes - literally, only 20 minutes. I'll try what you're suggesting with the chargers and see what I can get.

 

[KI6APZ]

I've had my 346xt for a while and I have noticed that if I set the back lit display on for to long or keep
the volume to high it kills the batteries rapidly. Just a heads up.

 

[Ed_Seedhouse]

I've had my 346xt for a while and I have noticed that if I set the back lit display on for to long or keep
the volume to high it kills the batteries rapidly. Just a heads up.

Yes, leaving the backlight on will likely drain even fully charged batteries quickly.

I have spent five our more hours running around town on the batteries that came with my 346, with the unit scanning the whole time, and the thing is still running OK when I get home and plug it back in. That is why I suspect a problem with the 346 unit itself. Remember when you press the button on top you get to see the current voltage coming from the batteries. When charged for a few hours this comes in at around 4.1 to 4.2 volts, and after a few hours running around town it's down to around 3.5.

But I am careful not to let the backlight stay on and my volume levels are almost always well below one half since I use efficient headphones when roaming around.

 

[Jakemcgraw]

My bc346xt, scanning only conventional channels, and the backlight set for medium, and set to auto squelch.....runs continuously for 13 hrs on duracell precharged 2000 mah ni-mh batteries , and i get 14 1/2 hours on sanyo eneloops precharged 2000 mah ni-mh batteries .

 

[RickS31]

Time on a "fully charged battery set"? Only 20 minutes - literally, only 20 minutes. I'll try what you're suggesting with the chargers and see what I can get.

Yikes! Let's put that into perspective. Most NiMh rehargeables are around 2000 maH. That equates to 2 amps supply capability for an hour give or take some for battery inefficiencies. Therefore, your scanner, if the batteries are fully charged, is drawing about 5+ amps (5000 ma). Something would be getting really hot at that current. At the least, the batteries themselves should be almost untouchable. Even if you had 20 LED backlights in the unit (you don't) that would only draw .2 amps or less. You have a major problem.

If you've tried many sets of batteries and chargers and it sounds like you have then it's pretty obvious the scanner has a major problem. First run it on a fresh charged set of batteries. When it does run down, pull the battery holder out of it and see if you can feel/see any area of fairly high heat. Check the battery holder carefully to see if the contacts are where they're supposed to be and not shorting against anything. If all looks well, run, don't walk, to your Uniden warranty repair. Hopefully, the unit is still under warranty.

Whatever the case, this is not normal for any scanner, bar none!

Rick

 

[kskarma]

Just a quick thought to help gather a bit more data on this, you might try using either regular alkaline or lithium batteries and get totally away from the rechargables...just to provide you with more info. If you get much longer run times with non-rechargables, that might help you diagnose this situation. This approach gets the charger and batteries out of the equation...good luck.

My own experience with my 330T..which I am going to assume should be very similar in current drain, is that I get 8 or so hours on a set of rechargables...and I have only recharged them in the scanner...usually with a car cord. I've had this radio for 2-3 years now, same set of batteries and no problems at all. Knock on wood...


That's just my 2 volts worth.....!!!

 

[Jakemcgraw]

Just a quick note of info Rick...the uniden handheld scanners, dont use battery holders, such as most gre handhelds do...the batteries are inserted directly into the scanner individually,

 

[RickS31]

Thanks Jake,

Like I said, I have absloutely no knowledge of Uniden scanners. That definitely makes it tougher to see where a possible short is occuring. His unit has one for sure. You don't draw 5+ amps with one of these radios unless something is very wrong. Don't envy figuring this one out. Hope he has warranty.

Thanks for the input.

Rick

 

[SCPD]

I have 2500 in my 346. I scan two systems most of the time. (Va Beach Fire & Police about 35 ID's) The radio will go for more than 10 hours before I get the battery BEEP. I have the battery charge set to 10 hours and so far I have had no problems.

Mark

 

[SCPD]

P.S. The batteries are NUON brand, and got them at Wal-Mart for a good price. Bought the four pack. Really hard to find a three pack of batteries.

Mark

 

[DaveIN]

I'd say you have a bad 346. It should not exhaust the battery's that quickly at all. It should be a warranty covered problem if you purchased it two weeks ago new.

 

[RickS31]

I have 2500 in my 346. I scan two systems most of the time. (Va Beach Fire & Police about 35 ID's) The radio will go for more than 10 hours before I get the battery BEEP. I have the battery charge set to 10 hours and so far I have had no problems.

Mark

Hi Investigator,

The battery charge timers in these (at least for the GRE/Radio Shack units) is just that, a timer. It doesn't cutoff the charge current. It just beeps at you to tell you that you've charged long enough. If you ignore it or turn it off, the unit will still jam 100-150 mas into the batteries as long as it's plugged in. Not sure on the Unidens, though. Something worth checking for sure. If it is as I suspect, just a timer, I wouldn't risk my $300+ device on not having any problem so far. All it takes is one partially shorted rechargeable battery. Just IMHO.

Rick