SDS100/SDS200: **SAFETY ALERT** SDS100 battery severely swelled

[N-L-M]

Found this thread while looking to purchase the SDS100. I have the 436 and had battery issues - but nothing like this. Is the SDS100 Internal battery compartment sealed where I am unable to swap individual batteries (Like in the BC100XLT), or can I use non rechargeable batteries in place of the supplied rechargeable batteries (436)

 

[buddrousa]

It uses a PROPRIETARY BATTERY made only for the SDS100 not everybody has this problem JMO but it may be how the battery is used and treated.

 

[RandyKuff]

Found this thread while looking to purchase the SDS100. I have the 436 and had battery issues - but nothing like this. Is the SDS100 Internal battery compartment sealed where I am unable to swap individual batteries (Like in the BC100XLT), or can I use non rechargeable batteries in place of the supplied rechargeable batteries (436)

The SDS100 uses a proprietary Lithium Ion battery pack... You can't use regular batterys...
You can swap them out if you have two or more batterys...

 

[RandyKuff]

It uses a PROPRIETARY BATTERY made only for the SDS100 not everybody has this problem JMO but it may be how the battery is used and treated.

One thing I do with mine is when running from USB power is I don't leave the scanner in battery charge mode... It's turned off...
But then again I use Unidens external battery charger... Once the battery is charged it's pulled from the charger...
I have never had a battery swell like that...
My two batt's are like 4 years old now and running fine...

 

[buddrousa]

Plugged up in a car and charging in the hot sun is bad.
Storing a fully charged battery is bad also. It is recommended to store the battery at 1/2 charge if I remember correctly.

 

[N-L-M]

Thank you for the information.

 

[RandyKuff]

Plugged up in a car and charging in the hot sun is bad.
Storing a fully charged battery is bad also. It is recommended to store the battery at 1/2 charge if I remember correctly.

My batt's sit with a full charge from my external charger all the time... No problem at all...
But not stored for very long... A month at the most maybe... Before they get used again...

 

[N-L-M]

What does UNIDEN recommend for the SDS100 battery as for as storage / charge / etc? Was the larger battery used for longer runtime between charges rather than the original battery?

 

[Wackyracer]

My sds100 is plugged in, on 24/7 no issue yet and I use a aftermarket power strip, with usb ports, but I have also seen laptop batteries do the same thing.

Some good info here that explains the causes. Understanding Battery Swelling: Causes, Risks, and Prevention

 

[GadgetGeek]

My sds100 is plugged in, on 24/7 no issue yet and I use a aftermarket power strip, with usb ports, but I have also seen laptop batteries do the same thing.

Some good info here that explains the causes. Understanding Battery Swelling: Causes, Risks, and Prevention

Same. My original large battery is from 2018. Always plugged in. No swelling to date.

 

[tvengr]

Lucky if SDS100 breaks squelch once an hour . Programmed attempts with both postal code and GPS coordinates . even set the range out to 50 miles hoping to hear something .

To avoid going off topic in this thread, hover over my red T and click on Start Conversation. I will see if I can help you with reception problems.

 

[fxdscon]

Was the larger battery used for longer runtime between charges rather than the original battery?

During the final production stages of the SDS100, it was realized that the original design battery would only last around 5 hrs. The larger battery was necessary to achieve ~8 hrs of run time. Check this thread here:

SDS100/SDS200: - Nip it In the Bud

Ok, one disappointment on the final units with final battery. I really don't like battery life (max 320 minutes). So, we'll change to a high-capacity battery (entails a new battery door and making the unit about 8mm thicker at the base...which should actually relieve those of you worried about...

forums.radioreference.com

 

[Ensnared]

Battery on my SDS100 did the same thing , bloated like a tick . The radio was left abandoned for five months , unplugged on the back of the table. As the p.o.s. had gone deaf for the second time . Happened to pickup the radio and with difficulty removed the battery pack . The pack expanded open like an accordion . Radio was sent to Uniden repair last November , was just billed for it last week . Will have to test if the radio will pickup any signals this time . Have to wonder why my RS96 goes blah blah blah every minute or two . Lucky if SDS100 breaks squelch once an hour . Programmed attempts with both postal code and GPS coordinates . even set the range out to 50 miles hoping to hear something .

Was the battery stored in a hot environment?

What do you monitor and where if you don't mind?

 

[VE3THO]

Was the battery stored in a hot environment?

What do you monitor and where if you don't mind?

Bruce County Ontario Canada .
Just ordered a REM-842S antenna yesterday .
The radio is still in transit from the Texas repair shop .
It will probably be a week before a test run can be made .

Radio was in the basement where temps run 65-68F .

I have enjoyed success with scanners since the late 1980’s . In particular with the pro96 .
Not so much with the SDS100.

The BCD325P had been doing well until I was into the locked out menu too unlock a few frequencies . Somewhere along the way I botched something and the radio has not broke squelch since .

 

[Ensnared]

Bruce County Ontario Canada .
Just ordered a REM-842S antenna yesterday .
The radio is still in transit from the Texas repair shop .
It will probably be a week before a test run can be made .

Radio was in the basement where temps run 65-68F .

I have enjoyed success with scanners since the late 1980’s . In particular with the pro96 .
Not so much with the SDS100.

The BCD325P had been doing well until I was into the locked out menu too unlock a few frequencies . Somewhere along the way I botched something and the radio has not broke squelch since .

I HATE proprietary batteries. I call this piece of ca ca the Uniden Viagra Battery.

I have a 436HP as well as a SDS 100. I just bought two more batteries. I even bought those blasted, mostly cheap pieces of crap Uniden chargers with the original smaller door and battery.

In the beginning, my SDS 100 was running like a snail on Librium until I learned how to tune it up. Previously, the 436HP was kicking arse and taking names with a side-by-side comparison; however when I adjusted several things like the hold time, NAC site selection for trunked systems, stacked my talk groups instead of having multiple systems in a Favorite, set the radio up like an old banked scanner, & significantly reduced conventional digital frequencies, it is quick as lightening and locks onto signals like a pit bull.

If you like, send me a PM and I can share how I did this.

Back to topic. I cannot wait until other battery manufacturers can make a similar battery like some Nikon cameras do.

Here is how I stack. PS: That antenna will make a noticeable difference. Initially, I was using that worthless stock antenna. I could not hear much of anything with the SDS 100.

 

[a417]

Back to topic. I cannot wait until other battery manufacturers can make a similar battery like some Nikon cameras do.

I'm sorry, you can't wait for knockoff batteries?

 

[Ubbe]

Some good info here that explains the causes. Understanding Battery Swelling: Causes, Risks, and Prevention

The only cause in the list might be heat, but the scanner are only slightly above luke warm and there's not much being transferred to the battery. It's charged at a constant 500mA rate and battery capacity are 5000mAH that are 1/10 rate and very safe and a mild charge rate. Battery has a temp sense that stops charging if it goes too hot. There's a voltage sensor in the scanner that stops charging when the battery have reach its fully charged state. The only cause left are the quality of the battery.

/Ubbe

 

[radioman2008]

Battery on my SDS100 did the same thing , bloated like a tick . The radio was left abandoned for five months , unplugged on the back of the table. As the p.o.s. had gone deaf for the second time . Happened to pickup the radio and with difficulty removed the battery pack . The pack expanded open like an accordion . Radio was sent to Uniden repair last November , was just billed for it last week . Will have to test if the radio will pickup any signals this time . Have to wonder why my RS96 goes blah blah blah every minute or two . Lucky if SDS100 breaks squelch once an hour . Programmed attempts with both postal code and GPS coordinates. even set the range out to 50 miles hoping to hear something.

you mention it goes deaf. i have had that personally happen on my 436HP's when i have a ham radio transmitting too close to the antenna of the scanner, its easier to happen with mobile antennas. i send in and they replace Q2 and Q3 but not sure what the transistor equivalent is for the SDS100

 

[Wackyracer]

The only cause in the list might be heat, but the scanner are only slightly above luke warm and there's not much being transferred to the battery. It's charged at a constant 500mA rate and battery capacity are 5000mAH that are 1/10 rate and very safe and a mild charge rate. Battery has a temp sense that stops charging if it goes too hot. There's a voltage sensor in the scanner that stops charging when the battery have reach its fully charged state. The only cause left are the quality of the battery.

/Ubbe

3rd party charger? or does the scanner regulate charging?

 

[Ubbe]

3rd party charger? or does the scanner regulate charging?

I haven't seen any 3:rd party charger being available. Both scanner and Unidens external charger works in the same way.

/Ubbe