[Scanner] "Free" Battery Packs

[Joe Hathaway]

[Cross posted due to general interest content]

>From TrunkCom digest, Vol 1 #77:

>Message: 3
>From: "Paul" <toaz2@earthlink.net>
>To: <trunkcom@mailman.qth.net>
>Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 17:03:07 -0700
>Subject: [TrunkCom] BC 245 Batteries

>I remember a post a while back about a company selling
>Nickel-Metal Hydride batteries for the Bearcat 245 at a
>fairly reasonable price. If anyone remembers the
>company please let me know.


I have thumped this drum before, but it bears
repeating:

WalMart has four-packs of NiMH AA cells for about
$11.00.  A few minutes with a soldering gun and some
cling wrap can yield a brand new super battery for the
BC245XLT.  The required connector can be obtained free
from Radio Shack (if you ask nicely); simply clip a
BLACK connector from a battery in their recycled NiCd
box.  Match the Uniden battery EXACTLY.  The loose
cells (which do have positive-end "bumps") will power
my PRO-31, PRO-93, and BC60XLT.

More bang for the buck:  This past weekend I bought 12
clearance cordless phone batteries (#PC901) at WalMart
(for which I keep a constant watch) at $.75 each.  Each
battery yields 5 NiCd AA cells, 650 mAh each, with
solder tabs (which assist the construction of BC245
battery packs, or which may be easily peeled off,
giving "normal" cells for use in other scanners and
devices).  This was 60 cells at 15 cents each; although
I have a home-made NiMH pack in my BC245XLT now, I
probably will not buy another package of cells, since
the convenience of a handful of charged-up replacement
batteries is wonderful.  Especially for pennies apiece!

Joe Hathaway
Midland, Texas
Hometown of Presidents