396 Charging problem

[Mark01]

The power requirements are clearly marked on the scanner, right next to the power jack.

Yes the tiny universal polarity symbol is on the side power jack.It should also be stated in the manual to use a positive tip power source but it does not make reference to that in the Using AC Power section (page 34).

An oversight? Are you serious?

Uniden is affixing polarity warning stickers on the back of ther new BCD396T's, that shows aknowledgement of an oversight to me

Are you really in the habit of just plugging in any old adapter to your scanners?

I used a new DC car adapter

 

[Viper43]

Yes the tiny universal polarity symbol is on the side power jack.It should also be stated in the manual to use a positive tip power source but it does not make reference to that in the Using AC Power section (page 34).Uniden is affixing polarity warning stickers on the back of ther new BCD396T's, that shows aknowledgement of an oversight to me


I used a new DC car adapter

It does however mention on page 127 exactly what the jack is, including that it's a center positive 4mm jack.
Their putting the sticker on isn't because of their oversight, it's due to customer oversight not reading the manual completly including the specifications and not paying attention to the markings next to the jack. Even with the sticker on the back people will still plug the wrong polarity plug into it.....

V

 

[Mark01]

It does however mention on page 127 exactly what the jack is, including that it's a center positive 4mm jack.

Yes I stated that in my first post,I'm just used to the competition (GRE) where they for the most part they state wether to uses a positive or negative tip in the beginning of there printed and or online operating manuals in the hooking up AC power section.

Maybe it is just wishful thinking on my part that Uniden would do the same.I know radio designs are different and vary from manufacture but if you tried to connect incorrect polarity to a GRE radio it would not blow a diode like that,it would do nothing because of there design.

 

[jagr707]

I am quite certain I did not blow the circuit , I was using the factory wall wort and only used the variable one after the problem started. It says the correct polarity and voltage right on the side and I always to pay attention to the polarity (especially with something expensive like this) (-)-----(o-----(+) 6V 800mA shows a positive tip and everything else I need to know.

Regardless, I bought an RS charger and batteries and I can at least use it until I send it off on Monday. Thanks again for the help.

Have a fun weekend!
J

 

[slicerwizard]

I know radio designs are different and vary from manufacture but if you tried to connect incorrect polarity to a GRE radio it would not blow a diode like that,it would do nothing because of there design.

I agree that a reverse biased diode across the power jack is a poor choice for scanners. A forward biased diode in series with the power jack's hot lead would make much more sense - reversed polarity would just lead to no power getting in to any of the scanner's components and with the polarity corrected, the scanner would work just fine.

Due to their higher power consumption, the reverse biased diode is a standard component in transceivers, but a scanner doesn't draw enough to require it.