problem with BCD396T

mtl828 · #1 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 05:46 PM

Today when I got turned on my scanner with batteries in them it tells me that they are dieing. but last night i had charged them. so i decided to get new batteries that were charged and its still telling me that they are dieing. so now the scanner wont stay on more then 3 mins. even thought it also tells me there is 3.80 left for the batteries. what could have caused this problem? the scanner is only like 3 months old. is there a hard reset button for the scanner? i have a BCD396T.

garys · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 06:05 PM

First, check the battery switch in the battery compartment. If you are using rechargeables, it should be in the NiMH position. If that's OK, then change to Alkaline batteries and see if the scanner works OK. Remember to move the switch to the Alkaline position. If the scanner runs OK on alkaline batteries, then you have a battery problem. Otherwise, it's most likely a hardware problem and a reset won't help.

mtl828 · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 06:14 PM

it is in the NiMH position. so it appears that there is something wrong then?

KD4UXQ · #4 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 07:24 PM

Rechargeable batteries often give such problems. Try the suggestion of using a fresh set of alkaline batteries. If it works fine then you need a new set of NiMH.

garys · #5 (**permalink**) 10-31-2008, 07:59 PM

I had one of my less than six month old NiMH batteries go bad in my BR330T just yesterday. Yes, batteries can and do go bad with no warning.

mtl828 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 10:07 AM

so it appears there might be a hardware problem?

radioman15 · #7 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 11:27 AM

First take out the batteries. Plug in the ac adapter and run the radio for a while. If it is good, then the batteries may be bad. The scanner uses a timer, not a charger circuit. new batteries need a long time to fully charge up. Out of the package, rechargeable batteries are ususally not charged. If the radio will not work with the ac adaptor, then that is the problem and you will need a new one.

See these threads:
battery life on Uniden BC 396T
396T V3 - no longer takes DC power?

Good luck

RoninJoliet · #8 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 06:19 PM

I have been having the same problem with my 396 on battery failure. After about a hour my Duracell2650 mah batterys after being charged in a external charger fail...I charged them again and put them in my GRE500 and they did the same thing...I tried setting the 396 to "alkaline instead og NiMHD but that did not work either...Using Alkalines in the 396 work great so my one year old Duracells are finished that quick...Im trying to find the new slow discharge "Sanyo Eneloop batteries locally....

nexus · #9 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 07:03 PM

I too have lost several rechargeable batteries to the garbage can. They do tend to go out a lot sooner than one would wish.

garys · #10 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoninJoliet

I have been having the same problem with my 396 on battery failure. After about a hour my Duracell2650 mah batterys after being charged in a external charger fail...I charged them again and put them in my GRE500 and they did the same thing...I tried setting the 396 to "alkaline instead og NiMHD but that did not work either...Using Alkalines in the 396 work great so my one year old Duracells are finished that quick...Im trying to find the new slow discharge "Sanyo Eneloop batteries locally....

I just tossed three Duracell 2650 batteries from my BR330T. To be honest, I mostly use that on the DC charger, so overheating them is probably a big component. I bought Energizer 2450s, but since I use the 330 in a vehicle 99% of the time I might just go to alkalines for emergency use.

GTO_04 · #11 (**permalink**) 11-02-2008, 10:27 PM

Get some Maha (Powerex) 2700s from Thomas Distributing. They are far superior to the Duracell and Energizer NiMH. Ansman AAs are supposed to very good also.

I have a few sets of Powerex cells that are 2 years old. I am hard on these batteries and they have held up very well. I would also get a charger that charges each cell individually. You will get a longer run time because you know each battery is fully charged. When you charge 4 cells in series you are not assured that all the cells are fully charged. It is not practical to use a 4 cell charger for a scanner that uses only 3 batteries.

GTO_04

RoninJoliet · #12 (**permalink**) 11-03-2008, 03:02 PM

Try a "reset" of the radio, i think you turn it on and hold 2-9-manual, if that don't work i guess $50.00 to repair a $500.00 radio is not that bad!!....

torontokris · #13 (**permalink**) 11-05-2008, 01:49 PM

have you charged the batteries in an external charger like a MAHA, or done a diagnosis of the batterys?

it does seem weird that it died even when its showing 3.80... possibly a contact gone bad?

DaveNF2G · #14 (**permalink**) 11-06-2008, 05:09 PM

One of my 396s has started showing "Battery Error" on the display while plugged in to AC power.

Firmware is v3.01.00

donc13 · #15 (**permalink**) 11-07-2008, 04:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoninJoliet

I have been having the same problem with my 396 on battery failure. After about a hour my Duracell2650 mah batterys after being charged in a external charger fail...I charged them again and put them in my GRE500 and they did the same thing...I tried setting the 396 to "alkaline instead og NiMHD but that did not work either...Using Alkalines in the 396 work great so my one year old Duracells are finished that quick...Im trying to find the new slow discharge "Sanyo Eneloop batteries locally....

If you quick charge your batteries...you can easily shorten their life to around a hundred RECHARGES (more or less), meaning in less than a year they can die. This is especially true if you've got a charger that does is simply a single charging circuit for all the batteries. If you've got a bad cell in the charger, it can ruin the other cells via overcharge.

slow discharge batteries won't help....the "slow" discharge refers to discharge on the shelf...when they're not being used. All batteries self-discharge sitting on a shelf doing nothing. The slow discharge types are just less prone to that. Nothing to do with their actual use in a device.