Battery was smoking!

[dlbrock]

I recently purchased an additional battery for my Uniden BC296D scanner. I have used the battery for the past three weeks without issue. Today I plugged in the scanner, with the new battery installed, and left the room. About five minutes later I re-entered the room to find a very foul smell. For some reason I immediately thought of the scanner. I picked up the scanner and smoke was pooring out of it! I unplugged it and immediately unhooked the battery. All plastic had melted off the battery ends and it burnt my hand when I removed it. Fifteen minutes later, the battery was still very hot.

My original battery charges ok in the unit now so I don't think that is the problem. But just in case, I ordered a Maha C777PLUS-II Battery Charger so I can charge my batteries outside the scanner.

Any thoughts? Bad battery in the battery pack?

 

[hiegtx]

A couple of possibilities come to mind.

Bad cell in the new battery is one.
Incorrect polarity is another (new battery may have been incorrectly assembled with either the wires and or connector reversed, causing a short circuit).

Was the new battery pack a Uniden labeled pack, even if not from Uniden, or from a third party dealer? While I've yet to have one short out like that, I've had uneven results from some non-OEM batteries.

 

[Voyager]

My original battery charges ok in the unit now so I don't think that is the problem. But just in case, I ordered a Maha C777PLUS-II Battery Charger so I can charge my batteries outside the scanner.

Any thoughts? Bad battery in the battery pack?

I've said this many times before in posts. Better to risk a $25 charger than a $500 scanner. I ALWAYS charge my cells outside the scanners.

Needless to say, I would return the pack. As was asked, was it a Uniden pack or some ElCheapo brand? If the latter, while what you saw is somewhat uncommon, I'm not completely surprised. There are some really poorly made aftermarket packs out there. Same goes with two-way radios. Always use a reputable manufacturer. For NiMH cells (loose ones), I prefer Energizer. I've used many lesser known types in the past, but I don't think I've ever had an Energizer cell go bad on me.

For smoke and that much heat, I suspect that:

a) You were charging a cell type that the scanner was not made for (I.E. Charging NiMH cells in a NiCAD charging circuit). NiMHs require special 'attention' when charging that NiCADs don't.

b) You had several cells (maybe even the entire pack) short. I've had old cells short out before, but they never got THAT hot to cause smoke. They did get hot enough to not be able to hold in your hand.

c) it developed a short between the cells.

Joe M.

 

[wesct]

i would say that the short between the cells is probably the culprit.
if the battery was defective from day one, you would have had smoke from day one.

nimh cells come with the unit.

wesct

 

[dlbrock]

Thanks for the feedback. I purchased the batter pack about three weeks ago and have been using it for some time. It was a BP1600 NiMH Battery Pack from Scan Master. I figured it was a short due to the amount of smoke and the heat produced. I will contact them in the morning for a replacement.

 

[Chief71]

I've said this many times before in posts. Better to risk a $25 charger than a $500 scanner. I ALWAYS charge my cells outside the scanners.

Are there any chargers for the BC250D stock batteries? If so where can I find them.

 

[wesct]

Are there any chargers for the BC250D stock batteries? If so where can I find them.

theres a battery tray made by uniden called a crx 120. it will allow you to charge 2 batteries at the same time. it comes with a 700mah battery. since it uses the charger from the radio, it will be trickle charge only.

if you want rapid charge, you can purchase a maha c777+ and modify the crx 120 tray so it can plug into the charger.

wesct

 

[dlbrock]

An Update.... I sent an email to Scanner Master and in two days I had a replacement battery pack! Great customer service!!

I purchased a Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal Charger and Analyzer. After conditioning the standard battery pack, I get 12 - 14 hours of scanner time with the battery!

I decided to go ahead and build my own battery pack. I purchased four Energizer 2500 mah AA rechargable batteries. Wired them in series and I now get close to 30 hours of scan time with that battery pack. It's kind of a pain to build but worth the effort.

 

[SCPD]

Those are awesome chargers and will serve you well.

I have never charged my batteries inside the scanner as there are so much better alternatives now. Like why charge for 16+ hours when you can charge batteries in some cases 15 minutes.

Just my 2 cents ... and it also ensures that nothing will damage your scanner.

 

[Chief71]

if you want rapid charge, you can purchase a maha c777+ and modify the crx 120 tray so it can plug into the charger.

wesct

Are there any chargers that can charge rapidly with out any modifications and are still reasonably priced?

 

[Voyager]

Those are awesome chargers and will serve you well.

I have never charged my batteries inside the scanner as there are so much better alternatives now. Like why charge for 16+ hours when you can charge batteries in some cases 15 minutes.

Just my 2 cents ... and it also ensures that nothing will damage your scanner.

If you're looking for an answer... :wink:

Because usually faster charging equals more heat, and heat is the enemy of electronics - especially batteries. I would rather have several sets of spare cells and charge them slower so they ultimnately last much longer than cells charged at 15 minutes.

I can just imagine how much heat a shorted cell (or one that is developing a short) would produce in a 15 minute charger. :twisted:

Joe M.

 

[dlbrock]

The faster you charge batteries the shorter the lifespan of the charge. This is because of the heat. The Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal Charger has a temperature magnetic probe that monitors the battery packs temp. If it gets too high, it shuts down the charge process.

The Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal Charger does not have to be altered in any way to charge your battery packs. The charger is made for charging battery packs.

 

[Junior08]

Does anyone know who sells these Maha chargers? Any links?

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

who sells these Maha chargers?

Try Thomas Distributing.

 

[dlbrock]

I used Thomas Distributing and have no complaints.

 

[John_M]

dlbrock Wrote:

The faster you charge batteries the shorter the lifespan of the charge. This is because of the heat. The Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal Charger has a temperature magnetic probe that monitors the battery packs temp. If it gets too high, it shuts down the charge process. The Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal Charger does not have to be altered in any way to charge your battery packs. The charger is made for charging battery packs.

You can also charge regular batteries with the optional battery holders.

 

[JLHDU]

An Update.... I sent an email to Scanner Master and in two days I had a replacement battery pack! Great customer service!!

I purchased a Maha MH-C777PLUS-II Universal Charger and Analyzer. After conditioning the standard battery pack, I get 12 - 14 hours of scanner time with the battery!

I decided to go ahead and build my own battery pack. I purchased four Energizer 2500 mah AA rechargable batteries. Wired them in series and I now get close to 30 hours of scan time with that battery pack. It's kind of a pain to build but worth the effort.

I see there's a few different options. I like the energizer pack for simplicity, but the Radio Shack book for the PRO-97 doesn't really give a standard. One of the notes says:

"The scanner can also charge Ni-Cd batteries. 600mAh batteries require 6 hours and 850 mAh batteries require 8 hours to charge."

With that, I went to the energizer site and found the following:

http://www.energizer.com/products/rechargeables/sizes.aspx
-Three different ratings...1700, 2200 and 2500 mAh

http://www.utilitysafeguard.com/s.nl/sc.23/category.2562/it.A/id.3216/.f
-This one has an 1850 mAh.

http://www.utilitysafeguard.com/s.n...Gr5XDqQLvpAe?sc=23&category=2562&it=A&id=3361
-And this one did not say....but it has a 15 minute charge?


Has anyone had any experience with these?

-J