Dead Batteries in BCD436HP

[Heidi750]

I've asked around but nobody seems to know ...

When I take my handheld in my vehicle, I usually power my unit with the USB charging cable.
After awhile of travelling, when I disconnect the power cable, I get a Low Battery notification.
so I have to change Batteries before leaving the vehicle.
(Note I also like to record most of the time, so I can go back later and see what I've missed)

So the BIG Question is, can I use the programming/charging/power cable to charge and/or power my unit while it's turned on? Am I doing something wrong? Can I power the portable while driving?
(Note: I know it worked with my Uniden 396XT ... even when I removed the batteries, it would still power my scanner from the aux/cigarette plug.

Thanks

 

[ofd8001]

As I understand it, you can connect the USB and use it for either power or charging, but not both at the same time.

When you first connect the USB cable and get the question "Serial or Mass Storage", choose Serial (.No).

If you power the scanner down, then the USB do the battery charging "thing".

 

[626hawkeye]

The 436 will not charge while powered on. I was disappointed that they made it that way. It also won't let you record unless the batteries are in.

 

[ofd8001]

'cause some USB power supplies don't have enough "juice" to operate the scanner and charge batteries. You don't want to have power hiccups when recording - sure thing to cause SD card failure.

 

[n1chu]

That’s something Uniden changed with the SDS100... you CAN charge the batteries while the scanner is on. I believe you have the option to do this or simply power the scanner without charging. But, I would think charging the batteries while the scanner is on would take longer than if it was off.

 

[dave3825]

Same problem with mine. I put in a fully charged set of batts at 9 am. Plugged it in to run off of a usb cable with plenty of power. Left at noon so I unplugged the wire and after 5 minutes, its beeping that the batteries are dead. Cant record without batteries so it sucks that I always have to change them out if I want to take the scanner outside.

 

[RandyKuff]

Just asking Dave...
How old are those batterys...


This is what I used in my 436 years ago... I could pull the USB adapter and get close to 8 hours of runtime...

 

[jonwienke]

If you're getting a low battery warning within minutes of unplugging the power cable, you either need new batteries or a better external battery charger.

 

[dave3825]

@RandyKuff & @jonwienke

Let me ask, if I plug in a power cable to the scanner and the batteries are in, and I tell it not to charge, where is the scanner getting the power to run the scanner? The power cable or the batteries?

I know when I put the wire in and the scanner is on, I can remove the batts from the scanner and it runs uninterrupted so I thought it gets it from the power cable when its plugged in.

I am not charging the batts while in the scanner (there already charged ) when I plug in the cable. And the same batts that are dead after 3 hours while plugged in, give me about 8 to 9 hours when I do not use the power cable. What I thought was if you put in a fresh set of batts, and run off power cable, you could grab the scanner and go and have the 8 hours of runtime. Maybe I misunderstood how it works?

 

[RandyKuff]

Are you recording by chance... I hardly ever used the recording feature...
Running the scanner from USB power should not drain the batt's...
Now if you are recording and running from USB power, I cant answer if the recording function is only being powered by the batterys even though your using USB power...
I do know it will not record without batterys installed though...

 

[jonwienke]

Recording does not use battery power if the scanner is plugged into USB power.

 

[RandyKuff]

Ok... So the batt's have to be in so as not to corrupt the SD card when recording if USB power is lost...
Which is probably why recording can't be enabled without batterys installed...

 

[dave3825]

Running the scanner from USB power should not drain the batt's...

That's what it seems like, battery drain when plugged in when it should be using power cable. I am not recording.

Recording does not use battery power if the scanner is plugged into USB power.

I seem to remember it will not record when plugged in without either batteries or dummy batteries installed. I would think dead batteries would still complete the circuit making the scanner something is there.

 

[RandyKuff]

Are you sure the cable your using is working ok?

 

[RandyKuff]

Something like this comes in real handy to check a cable...

DROK-300043 Digital Multimeter USB 2.0, Multifunctional Electrical Tester, Capacity Voltage, Current Power Meter Detector Reader with Dual USB Ports, LED Display, 7 Modes: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

DROK-300043 Digital Multimeter USB 2.0, Multifunctional Electrical Tester, Capacity Voltage, Current Power Meter Detector Reader with Dual USB Ports, LED Display, 7 Modes: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

 

[Heidi750]

So with all that ... what's the verdict?
How about I put in a set of dead batteries, plug in the power cable ...
Then when I get where I'm going to get out, change to fresh batteries?
It's just a thought.

 

[dave3825]

Are you sure the cable your using is working ok?

The scanner works without batteries so Is safe to say its not the cable. .

How about I put in a set of dead batteries, plug in the power cable ...
Then when I get where I'm going to get out, change to fresh batteries?

Well, unless your recording, there is really no point in putting batteries in, dead or charged. I have been keeping a ready to go set with the scanner for when I am going out.

If the radio should operate on power and not batteries when plugged in, then to me, it seems like a defect.

 

[JoeBearcat]

The scanner works without batteries so Is safe to say its not the cable. .

Capability to supply voltage is not the same as capability to supply current. If the cable cannot supply enough current the unit will draw from the batteries to suppliment the current from the cable.

If the radio should operate on power and not batteries when plugged in, then to me, it seems like a defect.

It does operate without the batteries. It will not, however, RECORD when there are no batteries since the odds of corrupting the SD card would be fairly high if it lost power while writing to the card.

 

[dave3825]

If the cable cannot supply enough current the unit will draw from the batteries to suppliment the current from the cable.

Now that makes sense.
As long as the usb power source puts out more mAh than the three batteries, they should not drain. @JoeBearcat would you know how much current the scanner needs to see before switching to battery?

 

[Heidi750]

The scanner works without batteries so Is safe to say its not the cable. .



Well, unless your recording, there is really no point in putting batteries in, dead or charged. I have been keeping a ready to go set with the scanner for when I am going out.

If the radio should operate on power and not batteries when plugged in, then to me, it seems like a defect.

My 436 will not work with NO batteries and being plugged in.
is it supposed to work without batteries (and not record?)