BCD396T AC Power Not Working!!

[whooey]

:shock:

My AC plug that came with the 396 stopped working. When you plug it in the screen stays blank, doesnt say any thing. Wont power up the unit w/ no batteries in it. I used it maybe 5 times to charge the batteries. Took the scanner and the plug to 2 RadioShacks today.

Both RS's hooked up the multi meter and the AC cord is definatley dead.

But heres my problem.
When we hooked up the 6v 800 mA with adapta-plug B (Yes that was a direct fit, Looked the exact same, and had polarity right) the screen just says:

"Illegal Voltage"

WTF? I guess some how I need to get a new Uniden cord for this scanner. How do I get one? RS cords dont work for Uniden?

I just pray its just the cord and not the unit.

BTW did the firmware update just fine on Battery power.

Any thoughts???

Brandon G.

 

[pro92b]

If you tried R/S 273-1761, I don't believe it is regulated. The voltage will vary in inverse proportion to the load current. If the voltage goes high enough it could actually damage the radio. The Uniden adapter is regulated and the output will stay around 6 volts independent of the load.

Unless you understand all the details about how a power supply would interact with the radio, I'd suggest replacing the adapter with one of the exact same type. If it failed after only a few days the warranty should take care of it.

 

[whooey]

I was not aware of that thank you 92! I hope I dont have to send the whole box back, just the plug!!!

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

"Illegal Voltage"

I get the same message when I connect the 396 to the 246 AC adapter.

 

[UPMan]

The 6V, 1800mA adapter does work (don't recall the cat no). The adapter itself is also much smaller than the 800 mA version or the version that came with the scanner. I use it as my extra adapter at home.

 

[Joseph11]

What happened to the days where all scanners used 12 volt DC? I remember being able to use one 12 volt, positive tip AC adapter on all of my scanners.

 

[rick521]

What happened to the days where all scanners used 12 volt DC? I remember being able to use one 12 volt, positive tip AC adapter on all of my scanners.

That is why they are called the old days and we live in the modern progressive days :!:

 

[whooey]

The 6V, 1800mA adapter does work (don't recall the cat no). The adapter itself is also much smaller than the 800 mA version or the version that came with the scanner. I use it as my extra adapter at home.

Thanks UPman, I sent my girlfriend, who happended to already be at the mall. The 6v 1800mA works like a charm!!! :lol: :lol: :lol:

IT IS ADAPTAPLUG B!!!
I was worried my scanner was screwed, just the AC adapter.

Thanks,
Brandon G.

 

[jf222]

RS adapter for BCD396T

The RS catalogue number is 273-1763
As above use adaptaplug "B" and center (tip) is "positive"

cost is $21.99


Now - does Upman know what adapter should be used if using the DC 12v outlet in a vehicle - "lighter plug to radio"?

 

[Voyager]

"Illegal Voltage"

I get the same message when I connect the 396 to the 246 AC adapter.

That's because the 246's adapter cannot supply the current the 396 needs, and it drags the voltage down. Hence, 'illegal voltage'.

You need a regulated 6V supply that can provide at least 800 mAH.

Joe M.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

Re: RS adapter for BCD396T

what adapter should be used if using the DC 12v outlet in a vehicle - "lighter plug to radio"?

I've been using the RS 273-1859 with both my 246 and 396 without problem. You'll need a "B" tip for it which is free with purchase.

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

That's because the 246's adapter cannot supply the current the 396 needs, and it drags the voltage down. Hence, 'illegal voltage'.

Time to clearly mark the plugs somehow since I use both radios here on the desk! :shock:

 

[EricCottrell]

What happened to the days where all scanners used 12 volt DC? I remember being able to use one 12 volt, positive tip AC adapter on all of my scanners.

Hello,

I was alittle upset as well. But I know there are good reasons to go to 6 volts.

12 volt input interfaces well to vehicles so it is a popular input requirement. When you have 2.4 or 3.6 volt batteries like on the 246 and 396 then you need to drop 7 or more volts. The radio draws about 330 MA peak so it is over 2.25 peak watts of power. 2.25 watts means sizable resistors and devices for a small radio that generate heat.

My Uniden 250D has slightly deformed plastic near the battery plug. If you leave the 250D plugged into 12 volts all the time with the battery in then that area gets hot. The reason is due to a surface mount power resistor near the battery plug that is used in the charging circuit to limit current. It only has to drop about 6 volts across it. If Uniden had 12 volt input in the 296 and 396 then people would complain about how hot it got during battery charging and you would see distortions in the plastic after a bit.

73 Eric

 

[MarkEagleUSA]

If Uniden had 12 volt input in the 296 and 396 then people would complain about how hot it got during battery charging and you would see distortions in the plastic after a bit.

I wouldn't call it hot, but my 396 sure does get extremely warm when charging as it is.

 

[Voyager]

12 volt input interfaces well to vehicles so it is a popular input requirement.

BUT, devices that take 12V actually (in most designs) see 10-18V :!:
That's not an uncommon range for car voltage.

Devices that take 6V ususlly get pretty close to 6V from a converter designed to output 6V.

IOW: Lower voltage converters are usually much better regulated.

Joe M.

 

[scaven]

Umm smoke...not good.

Ok guys, firstly I'm in Australia and got this scanner ent over here recently.
Of course the AC power adapter that comes with the 396t doesn't work over here (different voltage etc). So I went a bought a (unregulated..big mistake) power supply from a place over here not unlike you radioshack stores in the US.
Anyway to cut a long story short, it came up with Illegal Voltage then smoke started to come out of the power connector (on the scanner where you plug the AC adapter in).
So I quickly pulled it out, the scanner still works fine and links to the PC fine (thank god).
So I went back to my RadioShack type of store (called Tandy in Australia) and got hooked up the scanner to a regulated 6v 1A power supply and the scanner did nothing
Is there a way to repair the power connecter on this scanner (without sending it back to the US?) maybe a diode?

Thanks in advance,

Scaven

 

[Al42]

Re: Umm smoke...not good.

So I went back to my RadioShack type of store (called Tandy in Australia)

Corporate name of the company that owns Radio Shack.

and got hooked up the scanner to a regulated 6v 1A power supply and the scanner did nothing
Is there a way to repair the power connecter on this scanner (without sending it back to the US?) maybe a diode?

Well ... there is a protection diode at the power connector. If you connected the power backwards (negative to the center pin), the diode would have blown if the power supply isn't fused. From the picture I've seen (Paul could confirm this) it's a surface mount device.

 

[loumaag]

Re: Umm smoke...not good.

So I went back to my RadioShack type of store (called Tandy in Australia)

Corporate name of the company that owns Radio Shack.

Used to be "Tandy". That corporate name was changed some 5 years ago to "Radio Shack". NYSE symbol "RSH".

 

[Al42]

Re: Umm smoke...not good.

So I went back to my RadioShack type of store (called Tandy in Australia)

Corporate name of the company that owns Radio Shack.

Used to be "Tandy". That corporate name was changed some 5 years ago to "Radio Shack". NYSE symbol "RSH".

Oops. So I guess I said it backwards. Unless RS sold the "Tandy" division.

 

[DonS]

Re: Umm smoke...not good.

So I went back to my RadioShack type of store (called Tandy in Australia)

Corporate name of the company that owns Radio Shack.

Used to be "Tandy". That corporate name was changed some 5 years ago to "Radio Shack". NYSE symbol "RSH".

Oops. So I guess I said it backwards. Unless RS sold the "Tandy" division.

Nope.

Tandy Corporation bought RadioShack in 1963. In 1975, Tandy spun off all non-electronics operations. In 1986, all foreign retail ops were spun off into InterTAN, Inc. By this time, about all Tandy had was RadioShack. In 2000, the name Tandy Corporation was changed to RadioShack Corporation.
Source: http://www.radioshackcorporation.com/about/history.html

So, what you said: "[Tandy] Corporate name of the company that owns Radio Shack" used to be true - until 2000.