BCD436HP/BCD536HP: li-ion for battery, and best anetnnas?

[casemods]

Does the 436hp use parallel or series for the 1.5v AA batteries?

A single 18650 would be 4.2v fully charged. 3 AA in series would be 4.5v. Would this theoretically work? Imagine 3 14500 cells at 1000mAh each and how much longer they would last. Yes it would take some modifying of the battery wiring but it would be worth it.

Secondly, what are some higher range antennas I can look into? Perhaps even a car mounted antenna?

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Secondly, what are some higher range antennas I can look into? Perhaps even a car mounted antenna?

Define "higher range". What band(s) or better yet specific system(s) are you looking to monitor?

 

[casemods]

Define "higher range". What band(s) or better yet specific system(s) are you looking to monitor?

Higher distance I guess. Pretty much everything besides police/fire/ems/air traffic. Also would prefer to do close proximity scanning majority of the time, but I'm still trying to figure out if you can set the range or if it's only very very close by (boo 👎)

 

[dave3825]

Does the 436hp use parallel or series for the 1.5v AA batteries?

A single 18650 would be 4.2v fully charged. 3 AA in series would be 4.5v. Would this theoretically work? Imagine 3 14500 cells at 1000mAh each and how much longer they would last. Yes it would take some modifying of the battery wiring but it would be worth it.

How about 3 batts with wireless charging?

https://www.rdforum.org/threads/90207/

 

[casemods]

How about 3 batts with wireless charging?

https://www.rdforum.org/threads/90207/

I dont know if I need wireless. Just 3 li-ion for ~3000mAh capacity would be fine lol

I found my other ni-mh Duracell rechargeables, will see how long those last. Regular alkaline not lasting long at all ☠️ 🔋

 

[n1chu]

How about 3 batts with wireless charging?

https://www.rdforum.org/threads/90207/

Does the 436hp use parallel or series for the 1.5v AA batteries?

A single 18650 would be 4.2v fully charged. 3 AA in series would be 4.5v. Would this theoretically work? Imagine 3 14500 cells at 1000mAh each and how much longer they would last. Yes it would take some modifying of the battery wiring but it would be worth it.

Secondly, what are some higher range antennas I can look into? Perhaps even a car mounted antenna?

I believe the stock 436 uses 3 AA batteries (1.5Vx3=4.5V), in series, to get 4.5 volts. But you can also use rechargeable nicads at 1.3 volts, (a total of 3.9v), a lower voltage would also work. So, theoretically, a single 18650 at 4.2 volts should work.

Regular alkaline cells will last longer than rechargables. So, if you are looking for longer life, lithium first (by far the best, alkaline second and nickel metal hydrides last.

 

[tvengr]

You can get rechargeable 1.5v lithium AA cells: https://www.amazon.com/EBL-Lithium-...d5-a4de-86bb0a1a3533&pd_rd_i=B09NB9QVFN&psc=1

 

[RandyKuff]

Would this theoretically work? Imagine 3 14500 cells at 1000mAh each and how much longer they would last. Yes it would take some modifying of the battery wiring but it would be worth it.

There was a member here who modified the battery tray on his 436...
The NiMh batt's are in series... He rewired his battery tray so the batt's are in parallel so he could use 14500 sized Lion batt's...
Doing this you can never charge the 14500's in the scanner... You would have to use an external charger...

One must be carefull when using 14500 batt's... They are the same size as a AA batt...
They can not be used to replace a standard NiMh AA batt...
Unless using something like the @tvengr link above...

 

[casemods]

There was a member here who modified the battery tray on his 436...
The NiMh batt's are in series... He rewired his battery tray so the batt's are in parallel so he could use 14500 sized Lion batt's...
Doing this you can never charge the 14500's in the scanner... You would have to use an external charger...

One must be carefull when using 14500 batt's... They are the same size as a AA batt...
They can not be used to replace a standard NiMh AA batt...
Unless using something like the @tvengr link above...

I have 2x 4 bay chargers for li-ion and ni-mh. Theoretically, you should be able to get 2-3 days usage out of 3 1000mAh li-on 14500 cells. I have Duracell ni-mh rechargeables rated 2500mAh and get about a day of use just on close call.

🤔

 

[casemods]

 

[RandyKuff]

I have 2x 4 bay chargers for li-ion and ni-mh. Theoretically, you should be able to get 2-3 days usage out of 3 1000mAh li-on 14500 cells. I have Duracell ni-mh rechargeables rated 2500mAh and get about a day of use just on close call.

🤔

The guy who did the mod on his batt tray never did say how much more run he got out of it...
So I'm not even going to speculate on that...

 

[casemods]

I might just buy a third set of 3x AA Ni-MH so I have 2 sets ready to go for 1-2 days. Cheaper, easier and more reliable. No chance of destroying the radio that way. The $60 wireless charging mod might be worth it though.

 

[Whiskey3JMC]

Higher distance I guess. Pretty much everything besides police/fire/ems/air traffic.

So what does that leave us with then...amateur radio...businesses...CB....What's your budget?

 

[bearcatrp]

If you don’t need the record feature, use an external battery. Have done that when I had a 436 but currently using it on my 325p2 and 160 DN. Get about 24 hours of continuous scanning.