Pro-106 Major Charging Issues

[Tramagod]

Okay guys, here's the deal. I am using 2650 mah NiMH duracel batteries in my radio. I have the battery type set appropriately in the global menu. When I am listening to my radio at home, I leave it plugged in to the charger. When I turn in for the night, I turn off the radio and let it charge. The next day I take the radio to work with me, and within 2 to 3 hours, the "Low Battery" indicator comes on, and within 1/2 hour after that, the audible tone starts. Any suggestions? I am using a Radio Shack 9 Volt charger.

 

[KC5EIB]

The amount of current supplied by the charger will dictate how long it takes to charge the batteries. According to page 19 of the manual for your radio, 1600mAh batteries take 16 hours to charge using a 500ma source. Using a higher current source to shorten the charge time could damage the radio due to high heat generated by the batteries while being charged. To properly charge those high current battreries over night with out possible damage to radio, use an external charger.

 

[DonS]

The amount of current supplied by the charger will dictate how long it takes to charge the batteries. According to page 19 of the manual for your radio, 1600mAh batteries take 16 hours to charge using a 500ma source. Using a higher current source to shorten the charge time could damage the radio due to high heat generated by the batteries while being charged. To properly charge those high current battreries over night with out possible damage to radio, use an external charger.

There's no way to use "a higher current source to shorten the charge time" if charging in the scanner. The scanner's charging circuit is current-limited at ~150mA.

2650mAh NiMH cells will take quite some time to fully charge in the scanner. If the PRO-106 manual is correct in saying that charging 1600mAh cells will take 16 hours, then it will take more than 26 hours to charge a set of 2650mAh cells.

Additionally, some users have found that the scanner's default "Battery Levels" settings (in the FUNC-GLOB menu) are a bit too aggressive for their particular batteries. Some users have had success with "dropping" the default NiMH values so that the scanner does not alert quite so "soon" (early in the discharge curve). What values work best for you depend on battery brand, capacity, condition, etc.

 

[N1SQB]

Okay guys, here's the deal. I am using 2650 mah NiMH duracel batteries in my radio. I have the battery type set appropriately in the global menu. When I am listening to my radio at home, I leave it plugged in to the charger. When I turn in for the night, I turn off the radio and let it charge. The next day I take the radio to work with me, and within 2 to 3 hours, the "Low Battery" indicator comes on, and within 1/2 hour after that, the audible tone starts. Any suggestions? I am using a Radio Shack 9 Volt charger.

I use the same batteries on MY Pro-106. The charger makes all the difference in the world. I recommend as already has been suggested that you get an external charger. My choice was this one:

- MAHA MH-C801D AA - AAA Battery ChargerDELUXE 8 Cell Profes..

Now you dont have to go this expensive, I run 4 portable scanners at a time so I go through batteries a lot. Here are some other choices. I highly recommend going with these folks. Very reliable.

Thomas Distributing

I get about 8-12 hours on my 106. I recondition my batteries through the charger which makes them last longer. I really do think that you would be better off getting an external charger. You dont want to take more chances charging internaly. Just my $.02 worth.

Manny

 

[GTO_04]

Additionally, some users have found that the scanner's default "Battery Levels" settings (in the FUNC-GLOB menu) are a bit too aggressive for their particular batteries. Some users have had success with "dropping" the default NiMH values so that the scanner does not alert quite so "soon" (early in the discharge curve). What values work best for you depend on battery brand, capacity, condition, etc.

I use the Powerex 2700 Ni MH. What values would work best with those?

GTO_04

 

[johnyvico]

charger

i just wanted to say that i purchased the MAHA MH-C801D AA - AAA BATTERY CHARGER it got a lot of positive feedback and from reading loks like its a awesome charger, i hope that it works better then the P.O.S one i have now . they never fully charge and the batterys are pretty new . if anyone else has one let me know how you like it

 

[GTO_04]

After using one at work for over a year, I bought one for home use. Awesome charger!

For anyone that doesn't want to spend quite so much, the Maha C401FS (4 cells) is also
very good at around $39. It charges each cell individually, which makes a huge difference in battery
life. With the exact same batteries, I have noticed 25-50% longer runtimes using the chargers
that charge each cell individually.

I upgraded to the 801 because it charges the batteries more quickly and can do up to 8 cells at a time.
That's important since I have two portable scanners that I use a lot.

GTO_04

 

[lbento]

Pro-106 Diagram

I just return from USA with my fantastic pro 106 but..i just burn it with a bad connection on the charger...so far with a short from - to chassis,it is working well, but a little resistor ? or a capacitor? is burn. And i do not know what it is..any ideas?.. and were can i get a schematic diagram?
Many thanks
Luis