Anyone ever use an external battery pack for longer scanning? Something like the link below.
BCD436HP/BCD536HP: External Battery pack
- Thread starter bearcatrp
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I have a Mophie power bank with 20,000 mah capacity that I use for my SDS100 and it works Great! Use the supplied usb cable for your 436. I have never completely run the power bank down, but a few weekends ago I used it for more than 24 total hours and the power bank was only down about 50%.
73, Rex
73, Rex
I have one similar to the one I posted. 5v. Three AA batteries in the 436 is 1.5v a piece for 4.5v total. Was wondering if I would fry the 436 with to much voltage. Just got this 436 on a great deal after selling one a few years back. Forgot how much it eats batteries. If these external batteries will work without damaging the radio, should be able to get a full days scanning. Tried to find max volts for the radio but no luck yet.
Yes… but it’s a personal preference, and mostly defined by convenience. Do you want to carry a bunch of Lithium-ion disposables, Nicad rechargables or an external battery such as you suggested? They all give you longer radio life but how do you want to carry the additional power sources? I attend military airshows (when there are no pandemics) and choose to splurge on a bunch of the everredy L-I disposable batteries. They cost a bit more but they fit both my BCD436HP and BCD325P2. I leave the SDS100 at home because there’s not a lot of trunking or simulcast going on at air shows on base. There is some at certain bases, but I can usually find an alternate conventional channel that shares the trunked broadcasts. I have used a Li-ion 12 volt motorcycle battery to power the SDS100 and an amplified speaker which all fit nicely into a shoulder carry bag but since 9-11 the military bases have banned pack packs and the such.
Ubbe
Member
When I have mine on the table for home scanning with roof antenna I use a USB 5v power supply. My USB volt/current meter doesn't have enough resolution at that low current that the 436 draw but it flips between 70mA and 100mA and when receiving audio it stays on the 100mA value. Those mini 2AH powerbanks for $5 or $10 will then last for 20 hours on one charge, so good for one whole field day on just the external bank without even using the internal batteries. It's a huge difference to a SDS100. I top up my internal batteries with two months intervals if I only use the scanner at home.
/Ubbe
I use the 30,000mah and run scanner for over a day 24/7
Now I feel better with others doing this. I have one from my labradar am charging up and will test it out to see how long I can scan on one charge. Thanks for the positive replies.
Got my battery pack charged up so will run it until its almost dead to see how long I get on one charge. Anyone know if someone makes a smaller cable with a right angle so the cable runs down the side of the scanner? To easy to damage the radio from the cord sticking out the side when moving it around.
See if this is what you want.
You can find them with right, left, up or down, angles on the mini-USB termination.
Looks great but to long. Will be ordering that though. Thanks for the link.
Here is one that might be better. Both ends angled.
Got 19 hours on one charged battery with a little to spare. Am impressed. Time to buy a few for future long time scanning. The battery I used is close to the same size of the 436. Time to find some kind of case that fits both and a short cable which I posted above.
I have a few 1.5 foot I bought off ebay
The one I posted above is 9 inches. If I can find a case that fits both radio and battery, the smaller cable will be easier to manage in a case.
racingfan360
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- Dec 19, 2005
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I regularly get at least a full days running from an Anker Astro E1 Power Bank, 6700mAh with my 436. Other higher capacity ones will of course last longer, but weigh more, and I'm rarely in a position where I can't recharge the Power Bank overnight.
The case I would want is open enough to operate it, have a belt clip, and easy to open from the top for easy access. Will do some digging around to find something close I could modify myself.
Just ordered the 9 inch cable and a battery pack from Amazon.
Just ordered the 9 inch cable and a battery pack from Amazon.
Got my battery pack and 9 inch cables today. Verified the cables work. Once I get the battery totally charged, will run a test like my other battery to see how long I get with it. Definitely cheaper than AA batteries at 4 hours with a set of 3. Now to find a case that supports both 436 and battery.
Am impressed with this new battery. Ran 23 hours straight and display on battery show 57% left. Been looking at different cases online but no luck yet.
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