I tried yesterday to charge my SDS for the first time since buying it. I did not get a charging light indicator (I know the battery is low and the radio sees it as low). I tried 3 different 2A power blocks and 2 OEM cables. I tried with the radio on and with it off. I made sure the settings allowed for it to charge when on. Before I send it back, I just want to make sure there was not a bug in the latest firmware that messed up charging?
SDS100/SDS200: Not Charging
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N6ML
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Charging must be done through the mini-USB port (USB2) - the micro-USB port can be used for external power, but NOT for charging.
jonwienke
More Info Coming Soon!
I'm running with the latest firmware and it is charging normally. It sounds like you did all the correct troubleshooting steps (assuming you've been using the larger mini USB port with the charging label), and it's time for an exchange.
One time, mine refused to charge upon getting too hot. I had to let it cool down, remove the battery, re-insert, then it charged like normal. The strange thing was that I had to do the battery pull even after it cooled.
Thank you for the replies. I have been using the mini port and the unit spent the entire day in an air conditioned 70 degree office. Thanks again
JamesO
Member
Try Menu -> Settings -> Battery Options -> Set Charge While On -> Enable then MAKE SURE you press Enter
SDS100 Charging Battery
First I've heard that micro USB port is used foe external power only! I've seen nothing in the manual to indicate same.
Please advise!
First I've heard that micro USB port is used foe external power only! I've seen nothing in the manual to indicate same.
Please advise!
jonwienke
More Info Coming Soon!
There's a label on the side of the scanner pointing out that only the mini-USB can be used for charging.
Thank you Jon!
"You can power the scanner by connecting to either the USB micro or mini connector, but
only the mini connector can be used for charging." Page 10 of the User Manual under Using Internal Batteries.
only the mini connector can be used for charging." Page 10 of the User Manual under Using Internal Batteries.
JamesO
Member
So I noticed my SDS100 was not only not charging, but the battery Voltage was on the lower side in the 3.8 Volt range while the scanner was connected to power via the charging port.
The scanner had been on a while and I have it in my 436HP nylon case and the radio was quite warm. So I removed the radio from the case and allowed it to cool a bit, but still no charging and the radio appeared to be running off the battery?? I probably should have pulled the battery to confirm this, but this did not cross my mind at the time. Turned the radio off and left it plugged into the charging port and about 1-2 hours later noticed the radio was now charging based on the red LED indicator light as the radio must have cooled down. This morning the scanner was shown as fully charged with the green LED indicator.
What I found out is it is best to probably "power' the scanner by the top Micro USB port because this does not appear to draw on the battery when the temperature is considered "too hot". So unfortunately it appears you may need to have both a Mini and Micro USB cable handy or get one of the Mini/Micro USB splitter cables so you only have a single cable to deal with.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LAHZD6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3QF16EH69HELL&psc=1
What would be nice if the radio had the ability and smarts to use a splitter cable to charge the battery, then roll over automatically to power the radio via the Micro USB port in the situation when the radio heats up or that battery is fully charged and the battery charging circuit is not required which may also reduce heat buildup.
The scanner had been on a while and I have it in my 436HP nylon case and the radio was quite warm. So I removed the radio from the case and allowed it to cool a bit, but still no charging and the radio appeared to be running off the battery?? I probably should have pulled the battery to confirm this, but this did not cross my mind at the time. Turned the radio off and left it plugged into the charging port and about 1-2 hours later noticed the radio was now charging based on the red LED indicator light as the radio must have cooled down. This morning the scanner was shown as fully charged with the green LED indicator.
What I found out is it is best to probably "power' the scanner by the top Micro USB port because this does not appear to draw on the battery when the temperature is considered "too hot". So unfortunately it appears you may need to have both a Mini and Micro USB cable handy or get one of the Mini/Micro USB splitter cables so you only have a single cable to deal with.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008LAHZD6/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A3QF16EH69HELL&psc=1
What would be nice if the radio had the ability and smarts to use a splitter cable to charge the battery, then roll over automatically to power the radio via the Micro USB port in the situation when the radio heats up or that battery is fully charged and the battery charging circuit is not required which may also reduce heat buildup.
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Another complication to your interesting observation is that the mini USB port is the only one that can communicate to the PC (at least at present).
So, if you are using a remote control and/or monitor PC program like Proscan or Arc you have to use the mini USB port.
So, if you are using a remote control and/or monitor PC program like Proscan or Arc you have to use the mini USB port.
Is Charge while On still enabled?
Bill1957
Member
SDS 100 not charging
My SDS 100 did the same thing. After several hours of use unit was quite warm and would not charge. Let it cool down and also pulled battery and re-installed it. It then began to charge. Similar conditions since, but SDS 100 has charged normally. Only had it happen once.
My SDS 100 did the same thing. After several hours of use unit was quite warm and would not charge. Let it cool down and also pulled battery and re-installed it. It then began to charge. Similar conditions since, but SDS 100 has charged normally. Only had it happen once.
troymail
Silent Key
It took some effort but I was finally able to get this thing to charge while turned on....
When the unit was sent to me by a friend as a loaner to test, he didn't include the USB "parts" (maybe assumed there was nothing special about them - obviously, that isn't the case.).
A few days ago, I finally dug around and looked at my various USB/AC adapters and most are 1A (some 0.5). Eventually, I found a unit that claimed to provide 2.1A. That one seems to work and I finally started seeing charging while powered on (red to green LED).
However, I took a drive yesterday and things stopped working again... Initially, plugged into the cig lighter USB in my truck, the radio showed red (charging) while powered on. I made a few stops and at some point, the unit stopped displaying any led (red or green). Of course, with the summer heat, the radio was even hotter than the normal "heat" I see coming from the unit (under normal conditions, the hottest parts seem to be the metal ones - antenna connection, USB mini plug, etc.).
Once I got home, I immiediately plugged the unit back into the 2.1A USB device that worked previously.... still no charging indicator.
The radio has been plugged into that unit all night in the house (72 degrees) and, aside from being generally silent and receiving nothing at that location, there still is no indication of charging status.
I powered the radio down and the RED led came on almost instantly.
Powered it back up and again, there is no LED.
And now the strange part - decided to verify that the "Charge while powered on" was enabled - it was NOT. Somewhere along the way, it seems that setting got changed to DISABLED.... no idea how or why.... I enabled it and now the red LED is once again lit.
FWIW - I'm running the latest beta f/w
When the unit was sent to me by a friend as a loaner to test, he didn't include the USB "parts" (maybe assumed there was nothing special about them - obviously, that isn't the case.).
A few days ago, I finally dug around and looked at my various USB/AC adapters and most are 1A (some 0.5). Eventually, I found a unit that claimed to provide 2.1A. That one seems to work and I finally started seeing charging while powered on (red to green LED).
However, I took a drive yesterday and things stopped working again... Initially, plugged into the cig lighter USB in my truck, the radio showed red (charging) while powered on. I made a few stops and at some point, the unit stopped displaying any led (red or green). Of course, with the summer heat, the radio was even hotter than the normal "heat" I see coming from the unit (under normal conditions, the hottest parts seem to be the metal ones - antenna connection, USB mini plug, etc.).
Once I got home, I immiediately plugged the unit back into the 2.1A USB device that worked previously.... still no charging indicator.
The radio has been plugged into that unit all night in the house (72 degrees) and, aside from being generally silent and receiving nothing at that location, there still is no indication of charging status.
I powered the radio down and the RED led came on almost instantly.
Powered it back up and again, there is no LED.
And now the strange part - decided to verify that the "Charge while powered on" was enabled - it was NOT. Somewhere along the way, it seems that setting got changed to DISABLED.... no idea how or why.... I enabled it and now the red LED is once again lit.
FWIW - I'm running the latest beta f/w
I'm pretty sure it's been said that if it gets too hot while charging it will disable charge while turned on.
troymail
Silent Key
It changes the user setting of ENABLED to DISABLED?
I could see the charging circuit disabling (temporarily) but (semi-permanently) changing a user setting?
User settings should never be changed by a device - particularly without any warning.
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jonwienke
More Info Coming Soon!
Heat won't reset the charge while on menu, but low USB voltage will. If the USB adapter in the vehicle drops voltage while the vehicle is being started, that could reset the menu. Is the 12V source powering the USB adapter in the vehicle ignition switched by any chance?
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