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+--- Thread: cordless powertool batteries (/showthread.php?tid=5339)
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cordless powertool batteries - bystander - 03-13-2009
A friend of mine gave me some 18v cordless powertools. The batteries are dead and won't accept a charge. I came across this website which shows how to "shock" the batteries back into life using a higher voltage source. Has anyone tried this or similar and had good results?
RE: cordless powertool batteries - Seeb - 03-13-2009
let us know if this works ( without going bang ), i just spent $80 on a new 18v. and i have 7 dead ones i would like to salvage
RE: cordless powertool batteries - DickWilson - 03-13-2009
Ive tried shocking them, freezing them and totally discharging them. Best answer Ive come up with is to buy Ridgid battery powered as they have a lifetime replacement warranty, even on the batteries, as long as you register them on line. Their LI batteries seem to last forever on a charge. I just cut all the lumber for a 4' by 6' chicken coup on one charge for a cordless circular saw. I had a dewalt before this and it would barely make 6 cuts on a charge. Ive since gotten rid of all my other battery powered stuff asthe cost a new battery just about replaces the tool.
dick wilson
"Nothing is idiot proof,because idiots are so ingenious!"
RE: cordless powertool batteries - bystander - 03-13-2009
quote:
Originally posted by DickWilson
Ive since gotten rid of all my other battery powered stuff asthe cost a new battery just about replaces the tool.
Yeah that's why my friend gave me all these tools, two drills and a circular saw. He was going to throw them away.
RE: cordless powertool batteries - Dennis - 03-13-2009
Nothing like a long extension cord and full power!
RE: cordless powertool batteries - hooligal - 03-13-2009
I've wanted to 'make' an adapter that plugs into a cordless & makes it corded...exactly because of this situation. Sadly I don't know squat about electricity.
* I'd rather fail at happiness than succeed at misery *
RE: cordless powertool batteries - bystander - 03-13-2009
Well I just got done "shocking" the four NiCad batteries I inherited. Now when I plug them into the chargers, the LED indicator goes on showing that they are being charged. Before it indicated that the batteries were defective. I tried using one after a few minutes on the charger and it worked! I used two car batteries hooked together in series as the website says but I did it while the batteries were still in two cars I have. No ill effects on either car. I don't know how long these batteries will last but I'm happy I got them to work at all.
RE: cordless powertool batteries - Guest - 03-13-2009
I am totally off nicad or nmhd. I had 4 12v porter cable magna-quench drills lay down on me all at once, that is eight batteries.
The new LiIon drills are much better.
If you will take the battery pack apart, you'll find that it is made of an array of smaller cells.
You can buy the individual cells and rebuild them yourself if you are handy with a soldering iron.
I have one black & Decker Li-Ion drill (so far so good)but have resigned myself to use real drills and extention cords.
Ryobi makes a real nice little 3/8 reversible drill w/ Keyless chuck that has a 10 foot cord, but what is great about it is it has 10 clutch settings which I have never seen on any other corded drill.
RE: cordless powertool batteries - kaptkimo - 03-14-2009
To quote from the website Bystander linked to, "small transformers won't work because they don't have enough amps" Duh!! How about because transformers are AC devices, Not DC. (except some wall wart types-which have diodes in them) The article is interesting and obviously the author took apart a few battery packs and most of the information is semi-correct.
I have been trained for (by the US Coast Guard - keeper of bouys and remote located navigation systems) and have been working on Marine and other off-the-grid systems since the late 1950's and have restored many battery packs to useful levels. Mainly using Maha Battery chargers (they're great - google them) and the time consuming method of charging-discharging-charging-discharging-charging-discharging charging-discharging-charging-discharging-charging-discharging until they either prove their demise or restore themselves.
Because a lot of our equipment is old but still good I have made numerous cell replacements in the packs (if you have multiple battery packs just sacrifice one bad pack, which probably has several good cells in it to get the replacement cells to repair your other packs - you can also buy good quality replacement cells from Maha) getting the packs open is the hardest part. A Dremel tool works well.
With a set of long leads to clip on a car battery (or cigarette lighter adapter) and the contacts from an old battery pack you can make a reliable portable tool for field work. You can also fasten your leads to a home-built battery and carry it in a fanny-pack. This battery can be made up of just regular non-rechargeable cells or even a small lead-acid motorcycle battery or borrow the battery from your UPS computer system.
If any of you have old tools/battery packs/chargers laying around gathering dust contact me - there may be life hidden in them yet.
especially if it's an unusual type project.
Even in retirement I can be hired if the wages are high enough
or the project challenging enough.
Jim & Carol -- KC7OKZ & KC7TSX
RE: cordless powertool batteries - Kahunascott - 03-14-2009
Before we moved I was going to buy one of those big box set of battery tools.
(I forget which brand) I think it was about $400 and it even had a small chainsaw.
I asked by buddy who is a professional carpenter what’s best, battery or the old cord and plug?
In his opinion since most of the work will be done on or near the house he said to go with the old extension cord. He said with little use even the best batteries won’t last and they are big bucks for replacements.
I do like the easy of using battery tools but I took his advice and I’m glad I did.
Remember I had many plug in tools already and these would duplicate mostly what I had. Outside the battery drill I’m a plug-in-man.
"Many dreams come true and some have silver linings, I look for my dreams and a pocket full of gold" Led Zeppelin