Uniden batteries

[pathalogical]

The batteries included with the BC 246 T seem to need charging every other day. My radio is not on constantly. I get longer battery life with the NiCads in my Pro 46, 4-5 days before charging. Can anyone recommend batteries that hold their charge longer ? Do I need something greater than 1800 mAh (Ni-MH) ?

 

[jpm]

I myself use the energizer 2500 mAh Ni-MN batteries.

 

[MarkWestin]

Hello,

The GP1800 batteries that came with my BC246T are still in the box. I use the Energizer 2500s also. The Powerex/Maha 2500s also have a good reputation. I would recommend using an external battery charger such as the Maha MH-C401FS. If you are considering buying a BCD396T or BR330T in the future, make sure whatever charger you are looking at can charge an odd number of batteries at once (as opposed to charging in pairs).

Mark

 

[oregontreehugger]

Another vote for the Energizer 2500's. I've been using them since I bought my 246 over a year ago, with great results. My bundle of 4 x 2500 AA's came with an Energizer 8 hour travel charger for about $20.

Best $20 I ever spent.

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

I also use the Energizer 2500's and they're very good. For a charger, though, I recommend the ACCUMANAGER 20 because it does all battery sizes and has a separate charging circuit for each battery.

I use this charger and it has been flawless. It also conditions your batteries. You can't see it in the picture, but it has nice bright green LED's that let you know when each battery is charged.

For the ultimate in battery sexyness, go to this forum.

 

[dimab]

I myself use the energizer 2500 mAh Ni-MN batteries.

did you experience any conditioning period with these batteries?
I have a set, and after 2nd charge, they lose their power about 2x faster than initial charge.
Got me a bit worried.

 

[pathalogical]

Thanks for all the replies ! Energizer it is. I'll check them out next time I go shopping. The Accumanager 20 sounds like a good unit to have, but I'm not using any other item other than my 246 that uses rechargable batts. Thanks again. Oh, by the way, I'm a CPF'er too !!!

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

did you experience any conditioning period with these batteries?
I have a set, and after 2nd charge, they lose their power about 2x faster than initial charge.
Got me a bit worried.

Hmm...that's not the norm. Most rechargeable batteries do have a conditioning or break-in period of around 3-4 complete charge cycles, I believe. But the capacity of the battery usually gets better with each charge, not worse.

 

[MysticalOS]

I would also recommend a very good battery charger. I myself have an excellent Alpha Power Battery Charger BC-900. It is able to charge on several different settings from battery life extending 16 hour charges to a rapid 1-2 hour full charge. Single cell charger too so it doesn't require pairing which is really good for us scanner users that have 3 batteries. It's able to also discharge, and refresh battery automatically to renew it's life. Or even test actual mAh rating. All with full display. I highly recommend it anyways.

 

[JohnnyGalaga]

Is that the La Crosse BC-900 that you have? I believe some people have reported problems with that particular unit. I would read up on it on Candlepower Forums first before I'd buy it.

 

[safetyobc]

did you experience any conditioning period with these batteries?
I have a set, and after 2nd charge, they lose their power about 2x faster than initial charge.
Got me a bit worried.

I have bought multiple sets of the Energizer 2500's for my scanners and other things. I bought one pack that didn't last like the others. They would only work for a couple hours in the scanner. I got a battery tester, volt meter thing (craftsman I think) for less than $20. And one by one found the dead cells. They didn't all go at once but all the ones in that pack eventually went bad. I know they were all the same because I mark all my batteries by set when I get them. I mark them either with color (permenant marker) or with scratching the date I purchased them.

In other words, maybe you got a bad pack of batteries.

Edit: I do have to say though that all of my other sets work great. I have a 15 minute Energizer charger and a slow charger, energizer also. From time to time, I'll stick 4 of the 2500's in the slow charger. Don't know if this does anything? But I still do it.

 

[MysticalOS]

The fast chargers just wear the batteries out faster, they will last less recharges over prolonged use like that. That's why i go with a slow charge unless I have a real reason to be in a hurry.

 

[MysticalOS]

Is that the La Crosse BC-900 that you have? I believe some people have reported problems with that particular unit. I would read up on it on Candlepower Forums first before I'd buy it.

Yes. The only problems I've seen with it are already mentioned pretty well in the amazon.com reviews. Interface untuitiveness is pretty much where it hurts everywhere, bulky AC adapter, inability to take middle batteries out without a good finger nail or tool since the outside batteries get in way. Buttons have a certain timing to them. You press it too fast or too slow and charger will begin charging cycle and thus lock you out from changing settings once charging as commensed. So first couple times you eject and reinsert battery. But once you get hang of those small quirks, feature and functionality wise does perfect job. It's automatic refresh setting alone has managed to bring back batteries that would last such a short charge because of memory effect I think they call it? Cells constantly charged up without being drained completely over a long period of time. Causing battery itself to actually go dead when it get's to that point again since that's where it usually ended up being recharged from over and over again. Anyway saves me a lot of work of having to babysit and do all this fooling around myself with batteries. I want to play with my scanner, not pain in the butt batteries. heh.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/customer-reviews/B00077AA5Q/002-3994903-9859220