BCD436HP/BCD536HP: Battery charging options

[NS9710]

When using the cable wall charge for the BCD436HP, is there a quick charging option, when plugged in for charging all I ever see is "Normal Charging"

 

[dave3825]

Negative, and its recommended to charge in an external charger and not use the built in charger.

 

[n1chu]

Are we talking about the BCD436HP here? If so I haven’t heard of using an external AA battery charger for nickel metal hydride or nickel cadium for reasons such as swelled batteries. This is not the SDS100 that uses a lithium-ion battery. But if you are a rechargable battery affectionado, there are external chargers that will charge at different rates and show battery condition, etc. I don’t recommend rapid charging due to shortening the overall life of the battery (the battery will become hotter than normal for the length of the charge. Heat will dry up the battery, but in a pinch it will give a quicker recharge.)

 

[dave3825]

It more of the fact that the 436 uses a timer circuit, which shuts off at a set time, and may not fully charge higher mah batts, or overcharge the batts, where an external smart charger will charge them to their full capacity.

@hiegtx sums it up pretty well here.

the 'charger' circuit is simply based on a timer. It dos not take into account how much charge (if any) the batteries require, You set the time for charging in the menu. But if you set it for, say, 6 hours charge time (in the Menu, under Settings/Battery Options/Set Charge Time), then the scanner will charge for six hours (when turned off) even if the batteries are already completely charged. Your best option is to charge batteries in an external, 'smart', charger, that uses a proper rate, and ends the charge when the batteries are fully charged.

 

[NS9710]

My original posting was in regards to the BCD436HP.

Are we talking about the BCD436HP here? If so I haven’t heard of using an external AA battery charger for nickel metal hydride or nickel cadium for reasons such as swelled batteries. This is not the SDS100 that uses a lithium-ion battery. But if you are a rechargable battery affectionado, there are external chargers that will charge at different rates and show battery condition, etc. I don’t recommend rapid charging due to shortening the overall life of the battery (the battery will become hotter than normal for the length of the charge. Heat will dry up the battery, but in a pinch it will give a quicker recharge.)