Pro-668: AC charger for PRO-668 scanner

[RDGDigital]

I also should mention that the scanner will only charge while off. Any interruption of the charge cycle will cause it to start all over again. Such as unplugging and then plugging in the USB cable will reset the charge cycle. If you turn the scanner on for a while, then when you turn it back off the charge cycle will start all over again. This situation of possibly charging over and over again is, in my opinion again, just too much to expect from the batteries.

 

[kdo2milger]

Yup, I have multiple sets of Duracell AA NiMH, so I'll just keep charging them thru the external wall charger.

My pro-668 will charge while turned on

 

[jonsmth]

I just got a new Pro-668 scanner and am a little confused about how to charge it via an AC adapter. It looks like I can plug the USB charging cable into an Apple iPhone AC to USB adapter, but I just wanted to confirm that before trying it, so I don't damage the unit.

Has anyone else used this method? If not, any suggestions on how I should charge it, other than plugging into a computer?

Thanks!

Yes, I use my apple wall plug with a USB connector on it to power and charge the radio. Works great. I also use the cable plugged into a 12VDC connector in my truck which also powers and charges the radio with no problems.

 

[nyscan]

Which is it?

I also should mention that the scanner will only charge while off.

My pro-668 will charge while turned on

Can we get a consensus on this?

 

[kdo2milger]

Can we get a consensus on this?

my pro-668 did charge while on.

 

[RDGDigital]

Can we get a consensus on this?

Easier to Read Pro 668 - PSR800 Digital Scanner and EZ-Scan/iScan Software Manual

According to the Easier To Read Manual, the PSR-800 will not charge while the scanner is on, but the PRO-668 will. They don't mention the WS1080, but I Imagine that it will also since it is the scanner that the PRO-668 was rebranded from. I guess this was one of the changes that Whistler made once they acquired the IP rights of the GRECOM scanners.

And i guess I missed that point since I never charge anything with any of my scanners.

 

[TES]

Can we get a consensus on this?

Rather than a consensus I suggest you read this.

 

[nyscan]

Rather than a consensus I suggest you read this.

Got it. So it will charge when not receiving audio.

 

[kdo2milger]

Got it. So it will charge when not receiving audio.

It will charge while "On"

 

[Ed6698]

With my 1080 I keep the battery charge option set to Disable. There are times I do run my radio on external power and I do not want any charging of batteries to occur in the radio.

 

[kdo2milger]

With my 1080 I keep the battery charge option set to Disable. There are times I do run my radio on external power and I do not want any charging of batteries to occur in the radio.

The owners manual states that WS1080 will not charge while on:

Easier to Read WS1080/1095 Digital Scanner and EZ-Scan Software Manual

Charging the Batteries (WS1080)
To charge the batteries connect the supplied USB cable to the scanner (powered off only - will not charge with scanner on) and any USB port. You will see the battery icon display empty to full until charging is done then in the display. The battery charger charges at a current rate of 150 mA. It will reset the charge according to the Charge Time setting every time you connect the scanner to the USB cable.
Note: an external charger is strongly recommended.

WARNING:! ALKALINE BATTERIES CANNOT BE RECHARGED. Never operate the scanner with alkaline batteries if the Battery Type Selection switch is set to the NiMH position.

 

[Ed6698]

I do believe there was a firmware change with charging for the WS1080. When I have my radio hooked to external power and the charge option set to a value for time to charge, the radio does indeed charge the batteries when there is no signal being received, as soon as something is received the charging stops, then resumes upon no signal being received. The only way it will not charge the batteries while on external power is to disable the battery charge option.

 

[TES]

The owners manual states that WS1080 will not charge while on:
Easier to Read WS1080/1095 Digital Scanner and EZ-Scan Software Manual

Charging the Batteries (WS1080)
To charge the batteries connect the supplied USB cable to the scanner (powered off only - will not charge with scanner on) and any USB port. You will see the battery icon display empty to full until charging is done then in the display. The battery charger charges at a current rate of 150 mA. It will reset the charge according to the Charge Time setting every time you connect the scanner to the USB cable.
Note: an external charger is strongly recommended.

WARNING:! ALKALINE BATTERIES CANNOT BE RECHARGED. Never operate the scanner with alkaline batteries if the Battery Type Selection switch is set to the NiMH position.

It's interesting to me that you begin with "The owners manual states that WS1080 will not charge while on:" and then follow that with a statement lifted from a non-Whistler publication.

The Owner's Manual that Whistler includes with the WS1080 says little regarding the charging logic of this scanner. The link I provided earlier in this thread is worth repeating. Don Starr, the author of the WS1080 firmware, describes the charging logic simply, accurately, and logically: Batteries Charging = External power connected AND NiMH selected AND charge timer not expired AND (scanner powered off OR audio muted).

 

[Ed6698]

The owners manual states that WS1080 will not charge while on:

Easier to Read WS1080/1095 Digital Scanner and EZ-Scan Software Manual

Charging the Batteries (WS1080)
To charge the batteries connect the supplied USB cable to the scanner (powered off only - will not charge with scanner on) and any USB port. You will see the battery icon display empty to full until charging is done then in the display. The battery charger charges at a current rate of 150 mA. It will reset the charge according to the Charge Time setting every time you connect the scanner to the USB cable.
Note: an external charger is strongly recommended.

WARNING:! ALKALINE BATTERIES CANNOT BE RECHARGED. Never operate the scanner with alkaline batteries if the Battery Type Selection switch is set to the NiMH position.

I actually looked at the owners manual for the WS1080, there is nothing in it about charging the batteries while radio is on. The link you posted is not the owners manual for the 1080.

 

[kdo2milger]

I do believe there was a firmware change with charging for the WS1080. When I have my radio hooked to external power and the charge option set to a value for time to charge, the radio does indeed charge the batteries when there is no signal being received, as soon as something is received the charging stops, then resumes upon no signal being received. The only way it will not charge the batteries while on external power is to disable the battery charge option.

Nice! This is exactly what the RS Pro-668 does too

 

[kdo2milger]

It's interesting to me that you begin with "The owners manual states that WS1080 will not charge while on:" and then follow that with a statement lifted from a non-Whistler publication.

The Owner's Manual that Whistler includes with the WS1080 says little regarding the charging logic of this scanner. The link I provided earlier in this thread is worth repeating. Don Starr, the author of the WS1080 firmware, describes the charging logic simply, accurately, and logically: Batteries Charging = External power connected AND NiMH selected AND charge timer not expired AND (scanner powered off OR audio muted).

Thus far that "owners manual" has been very useful for me, I have not been able to find a PDF version for my Pro-668 so I have been using the WS1080 PDF. The website reference in question was refereed to me by a fellow member here and it has been very useful and a lot more in depth than what I currently have for it.

 

[kdo2milger]

I actually looked at the owners manual for the WS1080, there is nothing in it about charging the batteries while radio is on. The link you posted is not the owners manual for the 1080.

Yes I know I use both references for my Pro-668, That website actually has the RS Pro-668 and the WS1080 listed separately because there are slight differences in the SW/FW.

As a member stated previously, his WS1080 is able to be charged while in the "ON" position now from what he believes is a due to a FW/SW update.

The reference website does need updated to reflect the latest updates for both scanners. The author(s) of the reference websites went thru great lengths to create these data info for us and I for one appreciate it.