BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436HP battery

[atomic000]

Hey everyone,

I have a new 436 HP and the battery life seems very short. About 2 hours of intermittent scanning. Backlight only comes on with squelch, beep volume is at 5, and recording is turned off.

I got a new set of rechargeable batteries and they act the same.

I let the radio wait till it says batteries need to be charged to charge it and I let it charge on the factory USB until it says complete.

Is there a setting or something I’m missing?

Thanks,

 

[IC-R20]

Yeah use an external charger instead. Doing it via usb does a poor job. Oh and make sure you get one of the so-called smart charges that is voltage based instead of timer.

 

[atomic000]

Yeah use an external charger instead. Doing it via usb does a poor job. Oh and make sure you get one of the so-called smart charges that is voltage based instead of timer.

Thanks, you mean a charger that I take the batteries out of the scanner and put into a cradle?

 

[K9KLC]

Yes take the batteries out and charge in another device. Prior to selling my 436, I had 3 sets I'd rotate thru. Eneloop Pro's seemed to work the best (longest) for me. YMMV...

 

[atomic000]

Yes take the batteries out and charge in another device. Prior to selling my 436, I had 3 sets I'd rotate thru. Eneloop Pro's seemed to work the best (longest) for me. YMMV...

Thanks. I appreciate it. I can’t believe they put it out this way.

 

[IC-R20]

Thanks, you mean a charger that I take the batteries out of the scanner and put into a cradle?

Yes, the set of eneloop pro AAs is also a good idea too. I use them in both the uniden and my whistlers and can monitor all day easily with a fully charged set.

 

[K9KLC]

Thanks. I appreciate it. I can’t believe they put it out this way.

Most welcome.

 

[tvengr]

Is there a setting or something I’m missing?

In the scanner menu, under Settings and Battery Options, you can set the charge time.

 

[Ubbe]

Try and always use a good external charger that have temperature sensors so it quits charging when the temperature rises, that will damage the batteries. When a battery are fully charged it will instead convert all charge power into heat, so are a good indicator that a battery have reached full capacity.

/Ubbe

 

[mc48]

You need to change the charge timer setting in the scanner. Press Menu>Settings>Battery Options>Set Charge Time.

 

[richardbritt]

Also know that the 436 doesn't charge the batteries while you are listening to the scanner. It has to be turned off. I use an external charger as others have recommended. I usually get at least 6 hours of use to a set of batteries and I use the recorder or I am in discovery mode. There is a battery charging mod if you do a search but I would wait until your warranty runs out. Plus it still takes 36 hours. I didn't do it, I just have the extra batteries and use an external charger.

 

[RichardKramer]

You can also manage two other settings for the BCD436:
In the menu go to settings - battery options - Set Battery Save (turn on) - Set Battery Low - Set Voltage (enter 3100).
Then Set Alert - Set Alert Time - Set Alert Interval - Set Alert Volume; each to your liking.
Setting the voltage to 3100 will let your batteries run down to the lowest level before the low battery alert comes on.
I charge the batteries in the scanner when I sleep; so under Battery Options - Set Charge Time (set to 6); that's plenty of time to charge the batteries even if you don't let them charge a full 6 hrs.
I've been using these settings since I bought 2 scanners in 2014 & 2015 with no issues at all.

 

[dave3825]

Make sure if you have batteries in the scanner that are charged, and your connected to external power while home, make sure what's providing the power is of a higher mAh or the batts in the scanner will drain right after you unplug it.

 

[atomic000]

Thank you for all of the replies, the external charger worked great!