PSR 800 losing power when jolted.

[tampatracker]

Hello everybody. I have had an ongoing issue with my scanner losing power, i.e. turning off spontaneously when getting bumped even slightly. This does not occur with every jolt, but about 80% of the time. There was a thread started on this topic http://forums.radioreference.com/gre-scanners/210229-psr-800-w-rechargeable-batteries.html but it digressed into a different subject. I'm just wondering if anyone has had this problem and if so what was done about it, before I open a ticket with GRE. TIA, TT.

 

[Sportster77]

Mine seems to do it more often with Rayovac rechargeables than it does with my set of Energizers.

 

[MarkWestin]

I don't have a PSR 800, but I had the same type of problem with a Garmin GPS that I was using on my mountain bike. I believe someone referred to it as "battery bounce". In my case the fix was to cut small pieces of bicycle inner tube and install them in (behind) the battery contacts. This makes the contact slightly tighter and doesn't seem to make it harder to install the batteries. If you don't have an old tube, they are available free at any bike shop.

Mark

 

[DaveIN]

I wonder if you could also add some thin foam to the battery case cover to dampen the shock?

 

[jackj]

I seem to remember a discussion of early PSR-800's having a problem with the battery compartment contacts on the PC board. If I remember correctly, GRE uses a piece of spring-steel to press against a solder land on the board that looses tension. The fix was to add a little more bend to the spring-steel contact. My 800 hasn't had this problem so I can't say if this would be a permanent fix or not.

 

[tampatracker]

Here is what GRE support replied to my ticket " I've seen cases where the springs that hold the batteries with the positive terminal towards the top of the scanner will lose some of their spring and cause the battery to lose contact momentarily. Typically this happens with a drop from a distance, not from a gentle bump. Check those springs to make sure they are fully extended."

Best Regards,
GRE Support Team

 

[mike_s104]

Mine seems to do it more often with Rayovac rechargeables than it does with my set of Energizers.

Some batteries are slightly different in size.