I bought rechargeable Alkaline batteries but they won't recharge in 'Alkaline' mode with the external power supply. What do I do?
WS1040: Rechargeable Batteries
- Thread starter Tumbleweed1954
- Start date
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These scanners are not meant to use Rechargeable Alkaline batteries. Use the Black holder for Alkaline Non-rechargeable and if you have an external charger to charge the rechargeable Alkaline then use the black holder when you put the recharged batteries in the radio. This will avoid accidently attempting to charge the Alkaline rechargeable batteries in the radio.
Use only Ni-Cd and NiMH rechargeable batteries in the yellow battery holder.
The black holder is configured to not allow any charging in the radio. The yellow battery holder is set up to allow charging. If you put non-rechargeable batteries or rechargeable Alkaline batteries in the yellow holder and plug external power into the radio bad things may happen, never put non-rechargeable or rechargeable Alkaline batteries in the yellow holder. The charge circuits are designed for NiMH and Ni-CD cells only.
See below from the manual:
Batteries
Two battery holders are included with your WS1040,
a black battery holder for non-rechargeable alkaline
batteries and a yellow battery holder for rechargeable
NiMH or NiCAD batteries.
1. Slide open the battery compartment cover.
2. Place 4 AA batteries into the correct battery holder
matching polarity symbols (+ / –):
• Black – Alkaline (non-rechargeable)
• Yellow – Rechargeable Ni-MH or Ni-Cd
3. Place the battery holder into the battery
compartment. The battery holder fits only one way.
Do not force it.
4. Replace the cover.
Warning: Never install non-rechargeable batteries
in the yellow rechargeable battery holder. Non-
rechargeable batteries can get hot or explode if you
try to recharge them.
Also note: Many people, including myself, do not recommend charging any batteries in the radio. I always use the black battery holder and charge all of my rechargeable batteries outside the radio in chargers designed specifically to charge that particular battery chemistry.
Use only Ni-Cd and NiMH rechargeable batteries in the yellow battery holder.
The black holder is configured to not allow any charging in the radio. The yellow battery holder is set up to allow charging. If you put non-rechargeable batteries or rechargeable Alkaline batteries in the yellow holder and plug external power into the radio bad things may happen, never put non-rechargeable or rechargeable Alkaline batteries in the yellow holder. The charge circuits are designed for NiMH and Ni-CD cells only.
See below from the manual:
Batteries
Two battery holders are included with your WS1040,
a black battery holder for non-rechargeable alkaline
batteries and a yellow battery holder for rechargeable
NiMH or NiCAD batteries.
1. Slide open the battery compartment cover.
2. Place 4 AA batteries into the correct battery holder
matching polarity symbols (+ / –):
• Black – Alkaline (non-rechargeable)
• Yellow – Rechargeable Ni-MH or Ni-Cd
3. Place the battery holder into the battery
compartment. The battery holder fits only one way.
Do not force it.
4. Replace the cover.
Warning: Never install non-rechargeable batteries
in the yellow rechargeable battery holder. Non-
rechargeable batteries can get hot or explode if you
try to recharge them.
Also note: Many people, including myself, do not recommend charging any batteries in the radio. I always use the black battery holder and charge all of my rechargeable batteries outside the radio in chargers designed specifically to charge that particular battery chemistry.
Thank you! It appears I have NiMH batteries installed but for some reason I thought they were alkaline. Brain fart I guess! Thank you for the response. We are good now. 
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