BCD436HP/BCD536HP: BCD436HP rechargeable battery recommendations

[TacoWarrior]

Anyone have any recommendations on rechargeable batteries for the 436HP? I was just gonna get the Energizer brand but was wondering if there is another brand that might be better for the hand held scanner.

 

[Markscan]

I used MAHA Powerex 2700 Mah. They always worked well for me. Got about 11 hours.

 

[n1chu]

envelop pro. A Panasonic Ni MH rechargable battery.

 

[doctordialtone]

Anyone have any recommendations on rechargeable batteries

Several good reports for these:

Eneloop Pros

Amazon.com : eneloop aa rechargeable batteries

 

[NuthinFancy]

Eneloop have worked great in my handheld radios, no complaints here. they hold a charge for a long time.

 

[KK4JUG]

Powerex and eneloops are generally the choice in this forum but people have had success with others.

You're new around here so a reminder. Don't charge the batteriess in the scanner. It is a timed scanner and it charges the same amount no matter how much you've discharged the batteries. Five minutes or 5 hours will get the same charge. That's really tough on batteries. You need a "smart" charger. I use a Maha but there are others. They will "read" the batteries and only charge what is necessary. They can cycle the batteries and sometimes even bring seemingly useless batteries back to life, not always but sometimes. The smart charger will likely extend the life of your rechargeable batteries.

 

[FIRE321FIGHTER1985]

I have used Energizer 2300 batteries with no problems. I use the charger that comes with 4 1300 mah batteries. I do not use the energizer fast charger because can ruin a set of batteries. Good luck and God bless.

 

[TacoWarrior]

Powerex and eneloops are generally the choice in this forum but people have had success with others.

You're new around here so a reminder. Don't charge the batteriess in the scanner. It is a timed scanner and it charges the same amount no matter how much you've discharged the batteries. Five minutes or 5 hours will get the same charge. That's really tough on batteries. You need a "smart" charger. I use a Maha but there are others. They will "read" the batteries and only charge what is necessary. They can cycle the batteries and sometimes even bring seemingly useless batteries back to life, not always but sometimes. The smart charger will likely extend the life of your rechargeable batteries.

that is good to know, i was thinking of charging them in the scanner. Now i wont THANKS!!

 

[KK4JUG]

For reasons known only to Uniden, they refuse to change the type of charger in the 436. Perhaps the cost is prohibitive. I've had my 436 for about 7 years and I can only remember charging the batteries in the scanner twice. Both times they were almost dead, I didn't have an external charger and I was nowhere near home.

 

[TacoWarrior]

probably cost having to do with parts and reengineering the board to accommodate the extra electronics needed to charge the batteries properly. I figured it would have came with a battery pack that plugs into the device instead of individual batteries but again probably due to cost like you said.

 

[GROL]

Eneloops are quite good, and I have discovered something new that is working out very well so far and comes with a quick charger. Quick charger requires a 2 amp 5V USB charge adapter for full quick charge ability.
EBL 2 Hour Quick Charger with 4 Pack NiMH AA They are supposed to hold a charge for a long time on the shelf as do the Eneloops, but I have not really tested that yet. The price and capacity attracted me. But I have always had great luck with Eneloops. I have some dated 2016 that are still holding a charge well, but as with any rechargeable battery some have gone bad.

Amazon.com: EBL 2 Hour Quich Charger with 4 Pack NiMH AA Rechargeable Batteries, AA/AAA Battery Charger with USB-C and Micro Charging Port: Electronics

Buy EBL 2 Hour Quich Charger with 4 Pack NiMH AA Rechargeable Batteries, AA/AAA Battery Charger with USB-C and Micro Charging Port: AAA - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[GROL]

For reasons known only to Uniden, they refuse to change the type of charger in the 436. Perhaps the cost is prohibitive. I've had my 436 for about 7 years and I can only remember charging the batteries in the scanner twice. Both times they were almost dead, I didn't have an external charger and I was nowhere near home.

Wasn't the way it is implemented in the BCD436HP to not charge while in use due some some kind of stupid California law? Does anyone remember that? Wouldn't surprise me one bit, what with CARB and Prop 65 nonsense.

 

[TacoWarrior]

Eneloops are quite good, and I have discovered something new that is working out very well so far and comes with a quick charger. Quick charger requires a 2 amp 5V USB charge adapter for full quick charge ability.
EBL 2 Hour Quick Charger with 4 Pack NiMH AA They are supposed to hold a charge for a long time on the shelf as do the Eneloops, but I have not really tested that yet. The price and capacity attracted me. But I have always had great luck with Eneloops. I have some dated 2016 that are still holding a charge well, but as with any rechargeable battery some have gone bad.

Amazon.com: EBL 2 Hour Quich Charger with 4 Pack NiMH AA Rechargeable Batteries, AA/AAA Battery Charger with USB-C and Micro Charging Port: Electronics

Buy EBL 2 Hour Quich Charger with 4 Pack NiMH AA Rechargeable Batteries, AA/AAA Battery Charger with USB-C and Micro Charging Port: AAA - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

I placed an order for some EBLs so I will see how they work out, they have some good reviews except i got these EBL batteries and charger

 

[GROL]

I placed an order for some EBLs so I will see how they work out, they have some good reviews except i got these EBL batteries and charger

I hope they work out well for you. So far they work very well for me. Same batteries I got. I wanted to try them first, but I will be getting more and that looks like a very nice charger.

 

[JoeBearcat]

For reasons known only to Uniden, they refuse to change the type of charger in the 436.

??? Can you clarify?

 

[RandyKuff]

He probably means being a timed charge... Not a smart charger...

 

[JoeBearcat]

Assuming that is what he means, that would probably require different hardware.

The 436 added a lot of new features, and I suspect the smart charging simply didn't make the cut for the budget.

 

[hiegtx]

Outside of the SDS100, which does not use 'standard' AA batteries, none of the Uniden scanners, including models for a number of years back, have a 'smart charger'. It's either a timed charge circuit, or none (i.e. the 346XTC). The XTC was released due to the California regulations regarding battery charging.

A true "smart" battery charger is set up to charge each cell individually. Each battery gets what it needs, than that single cell charge ends. The other cells might need a longer, or shorter charge, which is addressed by a true smart charger.

In a scanner, the cells are connected serially, so you cannot tailor a charge for one individual cell. The best you can do is try to charge the 'set' of batteries, which does not always work as needed. The timed chargers only use a lower current level, that in theory, is not high enough to induce heat related damage. The GRE/Whistler scanners do not have true 'smart' chargers either.

 

[daddyjohn]

I and many others have had good luck with these.

LADDA rechargeable battery, HR06 AA 1.2V, 2450mAh - IKEA

LADDA rechargeable battery, HR06 AA 1.2V, 2450mAh If you’re a frequent user of alkaline batteries, over time you can save money, reduce waste and lower your impact on the environment by switching to LADDA rechargeable batteries. The battery is ready to use.

www.ikea.com

 

[KK4JUG]

Assuming that is what he means, that would probably require different hardware.

The 436 added a lot of new features, and I suspect the smart charging simply didn't make the cut for the budget.

Yeah, Joe, that's pretty much what I meant but to be perfectly honest, I had never given it much thought. It was what it was so I bought the smart charger at about the same time I bought the 436 and moved on. While my knowledge of electronics is not on the same level as some around here, after only a little bit of thought, I realized it would take major changes in the scanner because it uses 3 separate batteries (as opposed to the SDS100, for instance) and it wouldn't really be practical. I still love my 436. It's a great scanner but I moved up to both an SDS100 and 200 because of simulcast issues.

As to why I made the statement, I don't know. I'm 77. I'll use that as an excuse.

For the record, I still own a 396, HP1 & 2, 436 and the infamous SDS 100 & 200.