BCD325P2/BCD996P2: BCD325P2 batteries

[KA1WBF]

I recently purchased this scanner. I was able to program it with the included cable. I can’t get the batteries to charge. The display show‘s “battery error”. I’m thinking it’s the cable. I put regular heavy duty alkaline batteries in it and it works fine But it ate those up pretty fast. Now I’m trying to decide if I should send it back as defective? Anyone else experience this? It seems to receive better than my 996P2

TIA
Marc

 

[wtp]

for too many reasons i charge outside the radio.
depending on what you are listening to, yes it eats batteries pretty quickly.
one problem with rechargeable is that they age and decrease in capacity.
so i try and group them together for a longer running time.
so i hate to say it, get a smart charger, and not a quick charger.
also when i go out with mine a keep 2 extra cells in a pocket.
i will post a charger that is discontinued to give you the idea.

Powerex MH-C9000 WizardOne Charger (DISCONTINUED)

Maha Energy is the maker of Powerex batteries, NiMH Rechargeable Batteries, aa battery charger, aaa battery charger, nimh battery charger and charging solutions. Powerex batteries offer the highest performance available today. Powerex chargers use advanced techniques for optimized battery...

mahaenergy.com

 

[tvengr]

Do not try to charge alkaline batteries. They can leak, overheat, or even explode. Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries will charge only when the scanner is off. You cannot operate the scanner on external power and charge at the same time. There is a setting in the scanner menu to set how long the batteries will charge.

 

[Ronaldski]

You'll find on here a lot they say dont charge in the radio. Me... Ive done it for many years and no issues going back to the early years of the 396XT.

Main thing I do on those is go into settings and change the charge time of 14 hours to only 3 or maybe 4 hours. 14 hours yes that would work provided the batteries are drained to zero. The batteries still have a decent charge on them, but not enough to run the radio.
These are dumb chargers in that they dont check your battery conditions and just charge.

Only time the 325P2 charges is when it is off and press yes to do so.
When the radio is charging these for 14 hours it quickly kills the batteries, hence shortening up the charge timer.

Above mentioned not to charge Alkaline, he mentions he isnt, but also the radio detects if its a non-rechargeable batteries and wont charge.

 

[wtp]

When the scanner is turned on, the scanner will not charge the batteries.
When the scanner is turned off, the scanner will charge the batteries.

Plug the USB cable into the scanner when the scanner is off and "Battery Charge" - "Start Charging? Yes = "E"/ No = "." will display. Press E/yes.

 

[KA1WBF]

Do not try to charge alkaline batteries. They can leak, overheat, or even explode. Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries will charge only when the scanner is off. You cannot operate the scanner on external power and charge at the same time. There is a setting in the scanner menu to set how long the batteries will charge.

I know not to charge alkaline batterie, I just tried them to see if the scanner would work

 

[KA1WBF]

Do not try to charge alkaline batteries. They can leak, overheat, or even explode. Nickel-Cadmium and Nickel-Metal Hydride rechargeable batteries will charge only when the scanner is off. You cannot operate the scanner on external power and charge at the same time. There is a setting in the scanner menu to set how long the batteries will charge.

I know not to charge alkaline batteries, I just put them in the scanner to try it

 

[n1chu]

I have a battery issue with my BCD325P2 also. But my issue is a bit different. The battery indicator shows the need for fresh batteries after only a short time, maybe half an hour. I get the low battery indicator on the display and the beep… and then it shuts down. I pull the batteries and test them and it shows the batteries are fully charged! I’ve tried other “known good” batteries and get the same problem. I even purchased 4 double A Lithium-Ion rechargables (that come with their own outboard charger) to no avail.

I say “But my issue is a bit different.”, meaning it relates but only as far as the internal battery sensing operation is concerned. Our two issues may be related. As yet, Uniden hasn’t labeled it as a “known issue”, where a repair is warranted at their expense and since my 325 is out of warrenty, I’d have to pay their standard repair rate of around $100 after shipping to get it fixed. That’s a quarter of the cost of a new one. While a $100 charge may be reasonable when the cost per hour of bench time is considered, it means my two year old radio now cost me $500! And another unassociated repair at a later date would cost another $100! And that’s not a reasonable cost. I would like to learn the how many of these 325’s have been returned for repair, both in and out of warrenty. My suspicions have increased they may have a systemic problem here. Add to the fact it’s powered by only 2 AA’s causes further suspicion the radio was designed to fit into the same case as the 125 to cheapen manufacturing costs. They should have stuck with the previous case the 396’s came in that used 3 AA’s and given longer operating life before battery replacement. Exactly what was wrong with the size of the 396 case anyway? It’s smaller than the SDS100 case (another “rush to market” offering Uniden shoehorned into one of their cases they took down from their shelf of available cases).

 

[wtp]

n1chu,
what is the capacity of the Lion cells ?

 

[RandyKuff]

n1chu,
what is the capacity of the Lion cells ?

I would imagine something like this...

Hixon AA Size Button Top 3500mWh 1.5V 4 Pack Battery Kit

1.5V Lithium Ion Batteries - Replace your old AA batteries With a 1.5V rating, you can easily replace all of your old, non-rechargeable alkaline AA size batteries for ones that you can use over and over again. These are our newest highest capacity model with a staggering 3500mWh capacity...

liionwholesale.com

 

[n1chu]

Yea, not so much. I was hoping I could get the same usage time I get with the Energizer disposable l-ion’s but nope.

 

[wtp]

For AA rechargeable batteries, you'll find capacities between 1,300mAh and 2,900mAh
and if he has the 1300 they would not last long, i will wait for his reply.
if the radio was draining a couple of 2900's in a half hour, i would expect him to say the radio was warm....

 

[n1chu]

No. I did not say the radio was draining the batteries in a half hour. Just re-read my post.

But it’s becoming evident my post has, at least in part, hyjacked the OP’s post. Hopefully, as this was not my intent, I haven’t offended anyone. And since no one has pointed that out, at least not yet, I will continue.

The OP’s post dealt with a problem that may require a repair. I know mine does. Because it’s telling me the batteries are going dead after a half hour (approximated) of usage. But when I pull the batteries and test them they test fine. Nothing is getting hot. It’s like someone cranked up the voltage alarm level the radio is reading and setting off the low battery alarm prematurely. I haven’t found any menu controlled setting that would allow for this as yet on the 325 but there is a feature that allows for setting the voltage level yourself and setting it to a lower value to get added usage time from the scanner generated a lot of interest when the SDS100 first came out the the smaller battery pack. The feature allowed for letting the remaining power to drop a bit lower (to whatever value they chose) before sounding the alarm in the SDS100. And I am hoping someone out there knows how to do this with the 325 also. (Before anyone goes looking for how to do that with the SDS100, remember, lithium-Ion batteries should never be allowed to approach zero volts. If they do drop that low they are toast. It’s a paperweight. There’s no way a consumer can or should salvage the battery.)

This last part deals with my attempt to get more usage from the two AA batteries and has nothing to do with the original issue the OP is having. I was using the very expensive Eveready Lithium-Ion AA DISPOSABLE batteries. Note that I said “disposable”. They last longer but can not be recharged. That’s what “disposable” means. They also longer than the alkaline disposables or the nicad rechargables. My wish was for an Eveready AA Lithium-Ion battery that was Rechargeable. But then I saw an add for a rechargeable L-I AA battery. The battery label reads TENAVOLTS Rechargeable lithium Battery. It’s rated at 1.5 volts and 2775 mWh. They came 4 to a pack with their own charger. The charger model is TS-C1.

 

[Chris0516]

While I sold my 325p2, and have a 436HP. They both use AA batteries. I only use rechargeable batteries. Buy an external battery charger from Amazon.

 

[KA1WBF]

n1chu,
what is the capacity of the Lion cells ?

2300, I tried other batteries as well. Always got the same message, almost right away. “battery error” I’m going to send it back and shop for another one.

 

[KA1WBF]

For AA rechargeable batteries, you'll find capacities between 1,300mAh and 2,900mAh
and if he has the 1300 they would not last long, i will wait for his reply.
if the radio was draining a couple of 2900's in a half hour, i would expect him to say the radio was warm....

It came with 2300, I also tried other batteries but always get the same message on the display. “Battery error” I tried to charge it for 24 hours with the same result. I’m sending it back.

 

[wtp]

OK, it does sound like that is best.
of all the dozens of rechargeables i have bought in decades only 1 or 2 were bad when new.
one was a nicad and the other was list year nimh .not really bad on that one but a 2500 has only gotten to 1600. he is in a solar light now.
otherwise known as the battery graveyard.
and yes, one bad battery does spoil the whole bunch.
that is why about once a month they all get checked ang grouped.

 

[Chris0516]

I am really going hijack the thread!!!

These batteries: Amazon.com : energizer rechargeable batteries aa

Worked well(sold earlier this year) in my 325p2(2 AA). They are just as good in my 436HP(3 AA). Of course, when I get my SDS100. I will only be able to use them in my 436HP, which is fine with me. Before the OP, or anyone else wants' to spend $95(out-of-warranty) to have Uniden fix the problem, try these batteries. They come w/ an AC/DC charger, so. You can rotate a pack of batteries and you don't need to charge them in the scanner.

 

[Sector46]

Was gonna buy BCD325P2 , but after reading the battery charging issues
I changed my mind. I Have the SDS100 but too large to hang on belt
for a walk . Sad Uniden did not give the " Keypad Lock " option on
SDS100 . I was taken back as it's very easy to hit the keypad accidently.
Think same about 3 AAs instead of 2. If Batteries cannot be charged
inside the radio , that's a deal buster for me. Anyway , Staying away
until they come out with something better .

 

[n1chu]

True, the BCD325P2 could use a longer playing time before recharging or replacing the batteries. But I believe you can charge the rechargable batteries while still in the radio.

The SDS100 can be worn while hanging off the belt but I find only when used in conjunction with suspenders! Best to use a shoulder strap attached to a hard leather case. (The hard leather case I have from Scanner Master offers needs to have eyelets attached to the case so a shoulder strap can be attached. You can also check into tactical vests or radio vests that allow for hands free use.

A keypad lock would be nice on the SDS100 but until Uniden offers one, we just learn how to handle the radio without touching the keypad. Hang a bell on a cat’s collar to get them to stop catching birds and soon the cat will adapt to moving in such a way the bell doesn’t ring out a warning. We have to be cat-like with the radio.