BC125AT: How to program the uniden BC125AT with a PC without charging it?

[DistantHornProductions]

I will be using energizer rechargeable batteries and their smart charger and I wanna use the PC programming software but don't want to charge the batteries while it's plugged into my pc as they will already be charged. If I set the battery switch to alk while the rechargeables are in it will it not charge them and will it hurt anything if I use rechargeables while the switch is set to alkaline?

 

[RandyKuff]

If it has a switch in the battery compartment to switch to alkaline, that will disable in radio charging...
Won't hurt a thing... Your rechargables will be fine...
If your using an external battery charger just leave it in the alkaline position...

 

[62Truck]

I'm not all that familiar with the 125AT, but if its anything like any other uniden scanner, when the scanner is powered off and the USB cable is plugged in it will ask you if you want to start charging. If the scanner is on it will not charge.

 

[RandyKuff]

From the 125 manual...

 

[DistantHornProductions]

From the 125 manual...

View attachment 146626

So this-
If it has a switch in the battery compartment to switch to alkaline, that will disable in radio charging...
Won't hurt a thing... Your rechargables will be fine...
If your using an external battery charger just leave it in the alkaline position...
You still think that or?

 

[RandyKuff]

And you can maybe pull your battery's to charge externally while running the scanner off of USB power... MAYBE...

 

[RandyKuff]

So this-
If it has a switch in the battery compartment to switch to alkaline, that will disable in radio charging...
Won't hurt a thing... Your rechargables will be fine...
If your using an external battery charger just leave it in the alkaline position...
You still think that or?

Not if it has aswitch... It does... says so in the page from the manual...
All that switch does is keep the radio from charging Alkalines...
Charging an alkaline batt is a good way to explode it...

 

[DistantHornProductions]

Not if it has aswitch... It does... says so in the page from the manual...

now I'm confused..........

 

[RandyKuff]

now I'm confused..........

What you confused about?

 

[a417]

now I'm confused..........

What's confusing? @RandyKuff quote the manual.

 

[wtp]

THEY LABELED IT WRONG !
it should have been labeled "charge" or "no charge". just think of it that way.

 

[RandyKuff]

now I'm confused..........

With the switch in the alkaline position it just won't charge any battery's inserted...

 

[DistantHornProductions]

What you confused about?

Idk I'm new to scanners I just wanna confirm that if I set the switch to Alkaline it simply just won't charge it and it won't hurt anything.I got kinda confused when you said "Not if it has aswitch... It does..."

 

[DistantHornProductions]

With the switch in the alkaline position it just won't charge any battery's inserted...

Ok thank you so much! I'll set it to alkaline so when I program it it doesn't try to charge them! Nobody else on any other forum would answer me! Have a nice night!

 

[RandyKuff]

Ok thank you so much! I'll set it to alkaline so when I program it it doesn't try to charge them! Nobody else on any other forum would answer me! Have a nice night!

It will be fine... Don't worry about it...

 

[wtp]

and to be real about it.
even if the batteries are full charged and you put them in and it charges them...no big deal.
but just don't make a habit of it.
i have 4 handhelds with rechargeables and just have a bunch of rechargeable batteries for them.

 

[Scan125]

Having to remove the battery cover, remove the batteries, flip the switch, ...... is a pain.

A compromise solution is the set the scanner to only charge for 1 Hour (this is the minimum time one can set). The scanner will then turn off charging after than time. When done using the PC and you want to fully charge the batteries then chasnge the time to 14 hours (125XLT) or 16 hours (125AT).

With Scan125 this is really easy todo. Scan125 also monitors battery voltage so when the program starts you can immediately see if you need more than a 1 hour topup.

I can't really see an issue with a 1 hour top as far as the battery life is concerned.

 

[vagrant]

I set all three 125AT to “alkaline“ on the switch after purchase. I have never changed the switch after that.
I always use rechargeable AA batteries in them and charge them with an external charger (Eneloop).
I often power them via USB either with or without rechargeables inside. (empty)
I do not charge batteries inside my scanners.

 

[RandyKuff]

I set all three 125AT to “alkaline“ on the switch after purchase. I have never changed the switch after that.
I always use rechargeable AA batteries in them and charge them with an external charger (Eneloop).
I often power them via USB either with or without rechargeables inside. (empty)
I do not charge batteries inside my scanners.

I don't own a 125...
But if I did that's the way I would do it... Use an external SMART charger... Keep the switch in the alkaline position...
Keep an extra set or two of NiMh batterys on hand... And in a pinch you can drop in a set of Alkalines if you need to
without worrying about it...

Actually I do that senario with my HP-2...

 

[Noseybody]

It does not charge the batteries when turned on, only when it is turned off if you have it set to do so. While turned on and plugged into a power source it will use power from the source to power the scanner but will not charge the batteries.
I leave the switch turned to rechargeable in case I need a quick charge while out, but normally use an external charger to charge them or have a spare set charged.