Voltage Sensor Problem?
 

Hi,

This query refers to a Uniden Bearcat BC-235xlt scanner. I suspect that the
radio has a defective voltage sensor.

Charged overnight, even a new battery sets off the low battery signal after
only a couple of hours. Yet, by slapping the bottom of the unit once or
twice, the voltage sensor turns off, thereby giving me extra hours of
battery use.

So, is it worthwhile to open the radio? Am I able to adjust the voltage
sensor easily at the board?

Short of returning the unit to Uniden, is there anything I can do to repair
the unit?

TIA

"V65MagnaFan" wrote in message
. cable.rogers.com...
Hi,

This query refers to a Uniden Bearcat BC-235xlt scanner. I suspect that
the
radio has a defective voltage sensor.

Charged overnight, even a new battery sets off the low battery signal
after
only a couple of hours. Yet, by slapping the bottom of the unit once or
twice, the voltage sensor turns off, thereby giving me extra hours of
battery use.

So, is it worthwhile to open the radio? Am I able to adjust the voltage
sensor easily at the board?

Short of returning the unit to Uniden, is there anything I can do to
repair
the unit?

TIA

Sounds like an intermittent connection, if all the battery contacts are
clean it would probably be inside. If you continue the "Slap" routine you
may well damage something else.

--
Regards ............... Rheilly Phoull

Right. I understand that.

I was hoping that someone familiar with the unit could guide me through the
circuit board, perhaps to find a pot that regulates the V sensitivity.

I opened the unit today and saw no such pot. I also saw no cracks, splits,
or defects.

Then again, I'm not an expert.

Any ideas?

In article
,
says...
An easy thing to do is to clean the
battery contacts with some light abrasive (fingernail file or emery cloth).

I suggest extreme caution using this method, and using this
method only when corrosion or foreign matter is clearly
visible.

The use of any sort of abrasive may result in the removal of
the plating from the battery contacts. Once the plating is
gone, the pot metal underneath does a Very poor job of
conducting. The only fix is to put a layer of solder on the
pot metal, and gently file It down to a flat surface.

Cleaning terminals that don't show significant crud can be
performed with an electronics cleaner or alcohol and a
cotton swab or rag, or perhaps the eraser of a #2 pencil,
which does have a light abrasive quality to it, but would
take serious effort to remove the plating.

--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

Good points, Mark. Better to go easy on the contacts at first.


"Mark" wrote in message
h.net...
In article
,
says...
An easy thing to do is to clean the
battery contacts with some light abrasive (fingernail file or emery
cloth).

I suggest extreme caution using this method, and using this
method only when corrosion or foreign matter is clearly
visible.

The use of any sort of abrasive may result in the removal of
the plating from the battery contacts. Once the plating is
gone, the pot metal underneath does a Very poor job of
conducting. The only fix is to put a layer of solder on the
pot metal, and gently file It down to a flat surface.

Cleaning terminals that don't show significant crud can be
performed with an electronics cleaner or alcohol and a
cotton swab or rag, or perhaps the eraser of a #2 pencil,
which does have a light abrasive quality to it, but would
take serious effort to remove the plating.

--
Mark

Well, guys,

It appears, after a 36hr charge, operate, recharge, operate session, that
the unit is as good as new.

I never would have thought that a corroded/dirty contact would have been the
cause, what with years and years of good service from all sorts of radios
with rechargable power supplies.

The toothbrush was very, very soft, btw, :)

Live and learn.

Thanks for all the help.