BCD325P2 Battery Charging

[ginky4]

I just noticed that this unit does not charge the 2 AA batteries while it is turned on and in use. It will only charge the batteries if it is turned off.

I usually run this unit off of the batteries until they begin to die. Once the battery notification beep starts I would plug it back in thinking that it was charging the batteries while I was still listening to it.

Is there a reason for why this doesn't charge the batteries while it is in use?

Is there a setting that can be changed so the unit charges the batteries while it is in use?

 

[kruser]

Thanks to a California law, many devices cannot charge and operate at the same time. Blame it on California!

I do see the SDS100 allows it to charge while operating but it has a Lithium battery which probably has something to do with it.
Many here will also tell you not to charge in the radio. The charging circuit is very basic and dumb. I bad cell can still try and charge but there have been several cases over the years of this running the radio. Usually melts the case down from overheating.

 

[ginky4]

I am pretty sure my 396XT used to charge the batteries while it was plugged in and running.

I would run the batteries down on that one and then plug it in to use it and have the batteries being charged at the same time. That was great.

The 325P2 uses the same batteries as the 396XT although it is only 2. Not sure why this changed.

 

[doctordialtone]

Not sure why this changed.

Because of the new law kruser cited that came out before the P2 was released..

 

[kruser]

Yep, older models did allow simultaneous charging while operating until California law took over.

I forget which model had this removed. I kind of recall the state of California threatening to not allow sales of devices in their state that did not comply.

 

[ginky4]

This may be the reason people are complaining about battery life on this unit. They have it plugged in and are listening to it thinking the batteries are charging. When in fact they aren't.

Then they disconnect from the power to use it on batteries and find that the batteries aren't lasting.

 

[iMONITOR]

You're much better off using an external charger, much faster charging rates, more battery choices! No risk of damaging your scanner. Buy an extra set to swap out when you need longer running time. Limited use of the back light will greatly extend running time!

 

[W6KRU]

Using the scanner to charge the AAs is a bad idea. There is no intelligence in the scanner for charging batteries. It is a simple timer and it will undercharge or overcharge because it does not monitor the voltage of the batteries. I learned through experience that my 396T would destroy a set of AAs well before their lifetime should have expired. Get a smart charger and your batteries will last much longer.

 

[ginky4]

I replaced the 2 AA batteries that came with the scanner with 2 rechargeable Duracells. Model DX1500 NiMH 1.2v 2500MAh. They are giving me 8-10 hours of service before the low battery beep comes on. I am charging those right through the scanner.

 

[KE5BCP]

Several years ago I saw a post where someone had charged their batteries inside a Pro-83 scanner and it malfunctioned, melting the entire charging compartment into a glob of plastic, rendering the radio useless.

That was all it took to make me ditch the internal chargers.

Your mileage may vary.

 

[buddrousa]

Pictures of a RS PRO18 or GRE800 if I remember correctly.

 

[W5JCK]

Definitely get an external charger and good batteries. Internal charging with the 325 will destroy the batteries fairly quickly.