Does anyone know why AAA batteries don't fit properly in an old Bearcat Thin Scan VHF hi/low? The batteries are too short to make contact. I thought there was a battery holder but I forgot. Also, cannot find the manual for it. Any help would be appreciated!
Bearcat Thin Scan Ol' school
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wcr20
Member
i seem to recall that the battery door was actually the holder, no?
ST-Bob
Member
Are you sure it's not AA batteries. Thin-Scan seem to all be VHF/UHF or VHF/Air and use 4 AAA batteries. The Bearcat Hi/Lo VHF units seem to use AA batteries.
Thin Scan
Thank you both for your reply. I have the box and it is a ThinScan VHF hi/low. No Aircraft or UHF. AA batteries do not fit and the box says AAA as does the vinyl flap where you put the batteries. Very bizarre. I think It's time to blob some solder. I can't see any other way. The "gold/bronze" colored case is not deformed and the metal pieces appear intact. Any other thoughts are appreciated.
Thank you both for your reply. I have the box and it is a ThinScan VHF hi/low. No Aircraft or UHF. AA batteries do not fit and the box says AAA as does the vinyl flap where you put the batteries. Very bizarre. I think It's time to blob some solder. I can't see any other way. The "gold/bronze" colored case is not deformed and the metal pieces appear intact. Any other thoughts are appreciated.
Bucko
Member
I pulled my 4/6 thin scan out of storage to look and the AAA batteries fit in the lid as stated on the other post. It does not have a vinyl flap, you lost me there. When I bought this scanner years ago it came with a leather carry case and was real weak with the stock duck antenna.
I have a Fannon/Courrier thin/scan bought in 1981, it has a small AAA battery holder, still works....
W9NES
Member
I used t own a 4/6 Bearcat Thinscan and then I sold it.the radio took AAA batteries and I used re-chargeable batteries.The Thin Scan was a great radio.Would like to get one to add to my collection.
I've seen battery corrosion from leakage corrode part of the spring away which shortens the spring contact. I've also seen corrosion eat and break off the flat steel type contacts as well.
I've been lucky on some of the coiled types to have enough contact spring left to just grab it with a needle nose and pull it longer so the batteries make contact. This does not usually last very long though.
If this is what happened, the best bet is to try and fabricate and install a new contact maybe from a battery holder from radio shack or something.
I've also seen some that the battery door had the flat type contact that shorted the two batteries sticking out the end of the case together. In this case, I discovered the entire contact plate had fell off. That one took me a few minutes to realize there was supposed to be a contact plate on the door. I had a Thin Scan but I do not recall what type of contact arrangement it had but hopefully the above will be enough to figure it out.
My bet is corrosion ate part or all of the spring steel away on one or more of the ends of the battery compartment and that is why they are loose.
edit: I missed your part about all the steel appearing to be intact. Maybe the spring steel has simply compressed after time?
If no corrosion, try and pull or bend them back out on all ends.
I've been lucky on some of the coiled types to have enough contact spring left to just grab it with a needle nose and pull it longer so the batteries make contact. This does not usually last very long though.
If this is what happened, the best bet is to try and fabricate and install a new contact maybe from a battery holder from radio shack or something.
I've also seen some that the battery door had the flat type contact that shorted the two batteries sticking out the end of the case together. In this case, I discovered the entire contact plate had fell off. That one took me a few minutes to realize there was supposed to be a contact plate on the door. I had a Thin Scan but I do not recall what type of contact arrangement it had but hopefully the above will be enough to figure it out.
My bet is corrosion ate part or all of the spring steel away on one or more of the ends of the battery compartment and that is why they are loose.
edit: I missed your part about all the steel appearing to be intact. Maybe the spring steel has simply compressed after time?
If no corrosion, try and pull or bend them back out on all ends.
Last edited:
RIG
Member
Don't the batteries fit in a tray and then into the radio? I need to search for mine and see, if I'm correct I'll try to post a picture.
Rob
Rob
Thin Scan AAA Batteries
I may be a little late for this thread, but may help someone in the future. I have a 4 channel Thin Scan. It takes 4 AAA Batteries that fit directly into the scanner (no tray). There is a Vinyl strip inside the battery compartment to facilitate battery removal.
Now about the fit of the batteries ... They Don't !
It is a design flaw.
Don't worry, here's the fix. Looking inside the battery compartment, notice that the connectors differ from left side and the right. (there are no springs) Examine the connectors on the right. I suspect this is your problem. They do not reach the battery ends. I used pea size pieces of paper towel and wedged them under the four positions of the battery ends. This will be enough to force the right connectors to span the gap and make contact. The paper is 'springy' enough to hold the it proper position.
I may be a little late for this thread, but may help someone in the future. I have a 4 channel Thin Scan. It takes 4 AAA Batteries that fit directly into the scanner (no tray). There is a Vinyl strip inside the battery compartment to facilitate battery removal.
Now about the fit of the batteries ... They Don't !
It is a design flaw.
Don't worry, here's the fix. Looking inside the battery compartment, notice that the connectors differ from left side and the right. (there are no springs) Examine the connectors on the right. I suspect this is your problem. They do not reach the battery ends. I used pea size pieces of paper towel and wedged them under the four positions of the battery ends. This will be enough to force the right connectors to span the gap and make contact. The paper is 'springy' enough to hold the it proper position.
I doubt it is a design flaw. Simple metal fatigue or compression is the most likely culprit.
A spring will do the same thing after many years if batteries held the contacts or springs compressed all that time. Heck, how many years ago were the thin scans made?
I'd imagine they used a mild spring steel for the flat type contacts. Tin plated brass was also commonly used for the flat plate type connectors (contacts) that you describe. I've also used similar methods to get more life from the contacts.
I’ve also rolled up tight little balls of aluminum foil for when the now compressed contact plate had snapped off while trying to stick something behind it to hold it out to make contact again. That method was always short lived though as the aluminum foil compress’s further very quickly but it worked in a pinch!
A spring will do the same thing after many years if batteries held the contacts or springs compressed all that time. Heck, how many years ago were the thin scans made?
I'd imagine they used a mild spring steel for the flat type contacts. Tin plated brass was also commonly used for the flat plate type connectors (contacts) that you describe. I've also used similar methods to get more life from the contacts.
I’ve also rolled up tight little balls of aluminum foil for when the now compressed contact plate had snapped off while trying to stick something behind it to hold it out to make contact again. That method was always short lived though as the aluminum foil compress’s further very quickly but it worked in a pinch!
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