BCD396T question

[JM0228]

I realize this is an old scanner. I actually got it used from my uncle probably almost two years ago. My rechargeable batteries last like crap in it and always have. I use 2300 mAh Energizers. Lately the lifespan of theses batteries has been about an hour max so I know they need replacement. Today however while plugged into the wall the low battery indicator started flashing. Any idea why this would do that? Is it just because these batteries are shot?

 

[russellmaher]

Hello JMO228. Welcome to RR, it's good to have you aboard. The 396T was introduced in 2005 and you got it around 2 years ago. So, assuming that in the past two years, you have put in new rechargeable Energizer 2300's, you have recharged them many times over. In that case, they would be likely to need replacing - I have several sets that I recharge and get about 8 hours run time in my 396T - and when my charger light starts flashing, I just throw them away and start out with new ones.

And while on the subject of charging batteries, let me ask you this: Do you recharge the batteries when they're in the scanner, or do you recharge them in a separate charger that you plug into the wall?? The charge system in the scanner is a trickle charge type and I don't find that the batteries get enough of a jolt in there as opposed to a wall charger which I feel gives them more juice.

And incidentally, remember that a wall charger is less expensive to replace than a $500 Uniden scanner....so if there is a problem with batteries leaking or exploding while being charged, let the accident happen while they're in the charger and not in the scanner.

Hope this helps you!


Russell

 

[JM0228]

That was very helpful. I have just left the batteries in the scanner, but after I purchase new batteries, I will be careful to purchase a good charger for the batteries. I need one for my photography flashes anyway. Thank you for replying to my question and helping me out.

 

[MarkWestin]

The Energizer 2300s were very good batteries, in fact much better than the Energizer 2500s that I bought later. The 2300s had a much longer life which is to say lasted many more charge/discharge cycles than the 2500s did. When they eventually wore out, my digital camera just acted like they were dead even though they would still sort of take a charge.

When you look for a charger you need one that can charge one cell not one that charges pairs of cells. You can easily tell the difference because the one that can charge one cell will have an indicator for each cell as opposed to an indicator for a pair of cells. This is important because you will be charging 3 cells at once. The indicators can be a LED or can be a LCD panel which will have several sections or channels. Your batteries will work much better if you have a charger that charges each one separately and not in pairs or more.

I have had the best luck with Sanyo Eneloop (or their Duracell equivalent) and the Powerex Imedion batteries. These are both Low Self Discharge (or so called Pre-Charged) batteries. You can tell if the Duracell ones are actually rebranded Eneloops if they are made in Japan (Eneloop) or somewhere else like China (not Eneloop).

Normal NiMh batteries will almost completely discharge in about 3 months. The Low Self Discharge ones will still have 80% or more of their charge after a year. Of course nothing is free and you have to settle for lower maximum capacity per cell like 2000 mAh (Low Self Discharge) vs 2700 mAh (Normal NiMh).

I hope this was helpful and not too confusing.

Mark

 

[mike_s104]

If you are using a fast charger that will charge the batteries in about 15mins, some that you think are bad might be OK. I would suggest a charger that can discharge and re-condition. Since I stopped using a 15min charger, my batteries have lasted many, many more charges.

 

[Dewey]

If you are using a fast charger that will charge the batteries in about 15mins, some that you think are bad might be OK. I would suggest a charger that can discharge and re-condition. Since I stopped using a 15min charger, my batteries have lasted many, many more charges.

+1. Fast chargers will kill batteries faster than "normal" chargers due to the heat generated from the fast charge. There are some good 5+ hours chargers out there that will really take care of your batteries. While I know that there are others, I am partial to the Maha brand chargers, and have two MH-C401FS that I use to keep my batteries charged (these are AA only chargers). I usually get over two years of good service out of my batteries before I'm below 75-80 of remaining capacity.

Dewey

 

[jkahn]

I realize this is an old scanner. I actually got it used from my uncle probably almost two years ago. My rechargeable batteries last like crap in it and always have. I use 2300 mAh Energizers. Lately the lifespan of theses batteries has been about an hour max so I know they need replacement. Today however while plugged into the wall the low battery indicator started flashing. Any idea why this would do that? Is it just because these batteries are shot?

Since my pal Dewey answered, I'll add my 2 cents, too!
I got a mid-price range Maha charger at Thoms Distributors [ thomasdistributors.com ] and a bulk pack of 2600Mah batteries. I get 6-8 hours on each set, and rotate them between the HP-1 and 396T, as well as my digital camera (which uses 4 AA's).

I agree that you should never charge batteries in the radio. This made me think....in the battery compartment of the 396 there is a tiny switch that lets you select alkaline or rechargable for the batteries you put in. This switch may be set to alkaline in your radio, which means it is not charging the batteries as you think it might be. This IS the proper setting for not charging batteries, regarless of the type.

JK ;D

 

[nanZor]

The Energizer 2300s were very good batteries, in fact much better than the Energizer 2500s that I bought later. The 2300s had a much longer life which is to say lasted many more charge/discharge cycles than the 2500s did. When they eventually wore out, my digital camera just acted like they were dead even though they would still sort of take a charge.

There are a LOT of old-stock Energizers (2450 and up) that didn't have much of a cycle-life, and the higher you went in capacity, the higher the self-discharge. Many of the off-the-rack chargers contain these old aging energizers. Toss those. (recycle)

The CHROME/Green 2300's are relatively new - just beware of the older Silver-Green ones. Interestingly enough, depending on how old the packaging is, the chrome-green energizers might actually say "pre-charged" which means low-self-discharge.

While I prefer Eneloops and Imedions for LSD types, the newer 2300 chrome-green energizers are a vast improvement over the ones that rode the fad years ago of just pumping high capacity. Consumers quickly found out about short cycle life and high self-discharge. Seems like bringing the capacity down to 2300 again improved things immensely for Energizer.

 

[W9NES]

I use 2900Mah batteries and get a longer life on the batteries in both the Uniden 396T and the Uniden 396XT. I charge the batteries outside the scanner.

 

[nanZor]

On the non-lsd normal 2900's - yes you'll get longer life if you use them right away.

Let them sit around for a week, and they'll act just like 2600's. Two weeks perhaps the equivalent of 2500's. And this is when they are relatively young in age. But yeah, if you use them right away / daily and they haven't been mistreated - a good recommendation over the 2300's, low-self-discharge or not.

And if you charge them in the radio, (which I think you don't) at 16 hours max, one will never reach full charge on a 2900 unless they do multiple sessions...

 

[nanZor]

I am partial to the Maha brand chargers, and have two MH-C401FS that I use to keep my batteries charged (these are AA only chargers)

I'm partial to Maha / Powerex as well, but be careful with the C401FS as it's charge profile / algorithm was designed many years ago when maybe 1800mah was king, and cells back then had a pretty high impedance to start with. Ever notice how hot the AA's get on the fast setting? Compare that to more recent models and they never reach those temps that the 401FS does. That may be due to not using the reverse-polarity pulse like the 401FS does (doublecheck this) when it was thought important to revive dead AA's like zombies back to only a 60% capacity.

If you run them on "fast", it isn't fast enough really. The current level on the 401FS for today's 2300+ batteries is way too low and the possibility of missing the delta-v trigger signal to go into float can be missed.

Of course you can fall back to the "slow" trickle, but you aren't really gaining the ability and performance of a Maha with modern AA's. Might as well use the radio's trickle.