PRO-106 battery life?

[bscout]

What kind of battery life are you getting on nimh or nicad batteries? My 106 gets a lot less run time than my PRO-97 using the same set of batteries. Thanks

 

[todd_18]

I have noticed a decrease in battery life going from a pro-164 to the pro-106. It seems like I'm getting about 1/2 the battery with the same amount of usage.

 

[rdale]

The Pro-97 doesn't do digital - seems to make sense that adding additional components would reduce the life.

 

[walter900]

I was going to post on battery life, but you beat me to it!

I would like to comment that i am going through Alkaline Batteries like water lol, as i have the upper backlight & LED set to come on with every active transmission. I noticed that the backlight can be set to stealth mode which kills the backlight, but un-fortunantly it also kills the LED as well. If there was only a GLOBAL way of turning on/off just the "backlight attatchment" part of the backlight to scan list objects (without shutting off the LED as well) that would have been great. The only solution i can do that will get me around this is to create another Win500 file with the "scan list backlight" set to off. Unfortunantly, if i want both files loaded into my PRO-106 for the choosing, i will have to erase one virtual file, as there is only one slot (0) available.

*I wish the "backlight attatchment to scan list object" had a dedicated on/off for all objects. Perhaps a future firmware will have this added???

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

Ok, I run POWEREX NIMH batteries (the best I believe), and discharge them fully each cycle, at which point the spare set goes in. I use LOTS of backlight, and of course am a complete scanner geek who takes it everywhere, and at worst I change them out once a day. I have forgot the backlight before, left it on all night, and it was still going when I got up, light on.

For what you would spend in a few weeks of alkalines, you could buy the low end conditioning charger and two sets from thomas distributing and after a few weeks you would begin saving the money.

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/index.htm

 

[walter900]

Ok, I run POWEREX NIMH batteries (the best I believe), and discharge the fully each cycle, at which point the spare set goes in. I use LOTS of backlight, and of course am a complete scanner geek who takes it everywhere, and at worst I change them out once a day. I have forgot the backlight before, left it on all night, and it was still going when I got up, light on.

For what you would spend in a few weeks of alkalines, you could buy the low end conditioning charger and two sets from thomas distributing and after a few weeks you would begin saving the money.

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/index.htm

OK, so are you talking about the POWEREX 2700 mAh as being the best.. I see the Delkin going up to 2900 mAh.. Wouldn't the Delkin 2900 mAh last longer than the POWEREX 2700 mAh.. I always thought that the more mAh you had, the longer the run time??

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

For most companies that number is rather a gimmick, like contrast ratio on flat panels. Maha has released a statement that their numbers are accurate, and that they refuse to take part in the game, and that 2700 is what is possible given current battery technology in AA size. They stand by their claim that their batteries will outlast others claiming greater numbers, and I vouch for them. Camera geeks who go through batteries like water swear by them, google "best nimh camera battery".

There are different ways to arrive at that number, kind of like GMRS radio makers claiming "15 mile range" or "25 mile range", its just hype all too often. The maha batteries have the rep to back up their numbers.

Even more important that just capacity, they don't sacrifice cycles to have capacity, these things last, have no memory, and don't go bad if you drop one. I have purchased them since 2006 when the 2700 came out, many sets, and swear by them.

 

[walter900]

For most companies that number is rather a gimmick, like contrast ratio on flat panels. Maha has released a statement that their numbers are accurate, and that they refuse to take part in the game, and that 2700 is what is possible given current battery technology in AA size. They stand by their claim that their batteries will outlast others claiming greater numbers, and I vouch for them. Camera geeks who go through batteries like water swear by them, google "best nimh camera battery".

There are different ways to arrive at that number, kind of like GMRS radio makers claiming "15 mile range" or "25 mile range", its just hype all too often. The maha batteries have the rep to back up their numbers.

OK, Thanks. I will give them a try.

 

[iMONITOR]

Radio Shack 2200ma NiMH (the green ones), about 8-10 hours on a charge.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

I get around 14 hours or so of pretty hard use, but that is a rough estimate thinking about how I use my scanner on average.

One thing is sure, whatever NIMH battery you choose is going to save you a whole lot of money over alkalines in the long run. PLUS, the top level NIMH batteries last longer than alkalines, and aren't that far from lithium performance now.

If you read down to the bottom on this page you will see what I mean about the hype and how maha handles it:

http://www.thomas-distributing.com/maha_2700_rechargeable_batteries.php

Plus, they are actually made in Japan, not China.

Kind of ironic how things have changed huh? I remember as a kid when Jap stuff was considered "junk". Now as a scanner guy, I look back fondly on japanese made scanners like the Pro-2006 and know very few Chinese scanners up until now have touched that level of quality, though they are making serious advances.

Whether it is cars, or batteries, "Japanese made" is a plus now, lol.

 

[N1SQB]

Pro-106 on NiMH batteries....

I have my baby running on Sanyo NiMH 2700 Ma batteries. I use it strictly to monitor the Ct. State Police Motorola 800mhz / P25 omnilink digital system. I have leds assigned to the closest 7 Troops that I monitor. So far, with an all day run, I only change battteries once a day. This includes an occasional use of the back light. I have to say that I use a MAHA MH-C801D charger. THAT is what I believe makes the difference in how long my batteries are lasting. Conditioning the batteries once a month is key to extending battery life.

Manny

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

Having a good conditioning charger really is a huge thing. HOW it charges is big too. Maha chargers come on strong, then ease off, and once a charge of about 98% is reached, they go into trickle mode. They have heat sensing too, so they can back off when needed. Also the conditioning mode is just key, if you ever partially discharge before charging, which most do. Even if you are like me and always fully drain them before charging, once a month is still good practice for conditioning. Don't believe anyone that tells you NIMH batteries have no memory effect, its not true. They are NOT the same as lithium ion, which really do have almost no memory. Even there my camera which uses a lithium ion says it is best to discharge fully before charging for maximum life.

 

[theboog]

I was going to do a post on this. I get about 16 hours or so with my RS 2100mAh rechargeables. I luckily have two sets so I can charge one while operating with another. I don't use the back light often, if at all, but my talkgroups do use the LED. I think I will purchase the 9v adapter for use at home, and pop the batteries in for mobile use. I also think I'll get a better charger. I just purchased the cheap $20 RS one.

One thing, I have the battery setting under Alkaline. I found that the scanner would alert to low battery a lot sooner under the NiMH setting. Is there any harm in doing this?

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

I was going to do a post on this. I get about 16 hours or so with my RS 2100mAh rechargeables. I luckily have two sets so I can charge one while operating with another. I don't use the back light often, if at all, but my talkgroups do use the LED. I think I will purchase the 9v adapter for use at home, and pop the batteries in for mobile use. I also think I'll get a better charger. I just purchased the cheap $20 RS one.

One thing, I have the battery setting under Alkaline. I found that the scanner would alert to low battery a lot sooner under the NiMH setting. Is there any harm in doing this?

No, you are just setting a trigger for a warning based on available voltage. You are just "fooling" the computer, nothing more.

 

[mush0man]

I may be misremembering.....but.....
What about the battery charge time setting in WIN500 ? I think there is a selection for charge time.
Is this any help to preserving battery life ? As opposed to buying a stand alone charger that may have a better condtioning method.
I just received the sanyo 2700s,....I will let yall know.

 

[PHOENIX_SCANNER]

Your digital scanner makes for a very expensive, and vulnerable battery charger. Cells sometimes explode and destroy electronics. Besides, waiting some ridiculous amount of time to charge batteries is silly.

A charger and a spare set of cells is well worth it.

 

[w9zro]

I am using duracell NIMH 2650'S and i get 14.5 hours of HEAVY USE all lights on and backlight on both. i found a o.k. deal on a charger and 4 aa batteries at walmart for $20 seem to work pretty well
just my 2 cents

W9ZRO

 

[kf4sek]

I use the Maha PowerEx 2700 mAh and a La Crosse BC-900. I only have 1 set of the batteries but they are the greatest (personal opinion). Usually, I get around a days worth of use with the backlight on and no LED use. I recommend the Maha PowerEx 2700 mAh batteries. I found them at Thomas Distributing (http://thomasdistributing.com/shop/...html?SP_id=&osCsid=ik352inp85vl8c7u5d3cpej1o1) and do not buy anything else.

 

[hcpholder]

I also use the Radio Shack 2200ma NiMH (the green ones), and have been for over four (4) years. I have had my Pro-96 for over four years, and I have only changed out the batteries once in that time. I imagin thta the circuitry in the Pro-106, with the "flaching LED's" and such will use more power. The only charger I have ever used was the radio itself. I generally use the scanner in the office during the day on the AC charger. I have a Pro-97, Pro-164, Pro-96, and the Pro-106, all using the same batteries, and I'll swap them around when needed.

 

[bscout]

PRO106 current demand

Has anyone inserted a millamp meter to see what the current drain is for normal/no backlight no led operation or normal/backlight on mode, etc? I think my 106 is too hard on batteries. I am using quick charge nimh cells (2450mah) of both Duracell and Ray-O-Vac brands that lasts longer on my PRO-97. I understand that there is more going on with the 106 but it seems like there shouldn't be that much difference in the two. I get about 6 hours with little backlight use but some LED use on the 106 and 20-24hours on the 97. This is with conventional scanning only as I just today programmed trunking. Well, anyway let me know and thanks..sl