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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

cordless drill batteries

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Chris Jones

01-10-2006 20:00:16




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A week ago I wrote here about my decision to get a new cordless drill. I"ve got the new Craftsman now and it seems quite nice.

Now I"ve been reading about fixing the battery packs for my old one. Batteries Plus wants over $40 to rebuild it and that"s about what the new pack costs. I have two old packs. I opened them tonight and tested each cell with a volt meter tonight. 5 bad batteries in one and 6 bad in the other. Bad ones actually read 0 volts. The good ones 1.18 to 1.30. Why not take them apart and put the good ones in one pack and the bad ones in the other.

I"m taking recommendations and tips on soldering the straps back onto the batteries. Do you think a small strip of low temp solder placed between the strap and battery then with a soldering gun heat the strap till it melts will work?

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Byron Sellers

01-12-2006 07:29:29




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Chris Jones, 01-10-2006 20:00:16  
The best way to make a cordless battery work is to always run the battery completely down before recharging. Use your tool til it quits or will no longer drive a screw, etc. Then put in the charger. When charged do not place in charger until it is completely discharged again. You will need a second battery so you won't be stopped when it quits. I have batteries that are almost 10 years old on a old Porter Cable 12volt mega-quench. Also batteries 4 years old on a newer drill. I hope this a help. I have a best friend that puts the battery in the charger after every use and his batteries only last about a year.

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Chris Jones

01-12-2006 17:01:25




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Byron Sellers, 01-12-2006 07:29:29  
You know, I hear with the same passion just the opposite--that letting them go all the way down will ruin them. Everyone has a story or research or some "official" source to back up their opinion. I've done a lot of reading on the web recently and I see both sides stated over and over. I don't know what to believe any more. I usually try to run them down but now I'm not sure they should be allowed to get too low either. Like I said, I just don't know.

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Kevin (FL)

01-11-2006 05:35:59




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Chris Jones, 01-10-2006 20:00:16  
Chris,

I first got a 12V Craftsman driver and I think the batteries lasted a little over a year. Went back to buy new batteries and I could buy the 19V driver with two batteries for about $100. Now my 19V unit is acting strange--battery charger LED always shows battery is fully charged (green light). I don't know if the battery charger is bad or is it both batteries? Unit is a little over a year old and hasn't been used very much. Basically I'm very disappointed in the Craftsman driver's battery life but then again maybe all brands have the same issue. Reminds of the cheap printer syndrome--they give away the printer but wait 'til you go buy some ink for it....

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Chris Jones

01-11-2006 06:35:02




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Kevin (FL) , 01-11-2006 05:35:59  
At a year old with little use, I wouldn't think you'd have a problem telling them you are unsatisfied and you want another or at least new battery packs. They are supposed to be satisfaction guarenteed. I tried it after 3 years but it had been too long. If my new one dies in a year, I'm certainly going to try to get my money back.



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jack12345

01-10-2006 20:42:51




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Chris Jones, 01-10-2006 20:00:16  
Its best to replace all the batteries in your battery pack at same time. Sometimes you can hit the low cell with a higher voltage. Both of my 14.4 coreless drill packs were dead when I went to use them today- charger would not even turn on. took apart and hit ea cell with 5-6vdc for FEW seconds.They began to read voltage again and was able to charge but my batteries will have to be replaced. Getting ready to order nickel cadmium rapid charge cells with solder tabs about $55.00 for two batt packs mine has 12 - 1.2vdc cells in ea pack. Batteries get hot but not hot enough to melt solder .GET BATTERIES WITH SOLDER TABS makes job much easier and it will fit into case when you finish

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ChrisJones

01-11-2006 05:19:52




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to jack12345, 01-10-2006 20:42:51  
At $5 each for the 12 in mine replacing w/new costs $60. Even if I get them less than $5 each don"t forget I didn"t add tax and I have to do all that work. It isn"t worth replacing the batteries. I can get a new pack from Sears for around $45 and even that isn"t worth it. That"s why I got a new, much nicer drill set with 2 battery packs and a quick charger for $99.

Now I don"t mind doing some work to keep the old drill working if I don"t have to spend any money. If I have two old packs and some batteries are good in each pack then making one pack with the good cells from both is a time only investment. Hey with 1 working pack I can even sell the drill. Maybe get $20.

Now I don"t know, perhaps it would be better to try to get the ones reading 0 volts to take a charge by hitting them with 6 volts off my tractor battery charger. Saves soldering time and perhaps both packs can be rejuvinated. I don"t know how likely it is that the 0 volt cells will return to working condition equal to those that still work. So I"m not sure, hit the with 6 volts or replace with good from the other pack?

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jack12345

01-11-2006 09:02:22




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to ChrisJones, 01-11-2006 05:19:52  
Batteries for coreless tools are a rip off when you compare cost of a good car battery but I still like useing the old coreless drill. When I put higher voltage into each cell I use a bench power supply that has several vdc outputs.I connect the power supply to my Volt meter and then use the probes of volt meter to touch each cell +to+, -to- with my setup I can see voltage dip on meter and then rise as cell takes charge.NICD,s have a prblem with getting a set memory and with the higher voltage it allows cell to charge again. I have never used a 6vdc car battery to hit cells ,to be on safe side I would try a lower amp battery like those 6vdc lite batterys the kind with two spring type connectors they have the voltage you need and not the high amps

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Chris Jones

01-11-2006 16:23:21




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to jack12345, 01-11-2006 09:02:22  
Best I can do is my battery charger that charges my 6 volt cub battery. It puts out 10 amps but I guess that is quite a bit less than that 6 volt battery is capable of. I"ll have to check but since it charges a 6 volt battery it might actually put out 8 which might not be good. Perhaps I can put a light bulb inline as a current restrictor?



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jack12345

01-11-2006 19:32:11




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Chris Jones, 01-11-2006 16:23:21  
Go ahead and try it with your 6volt battery,few seconds less than 5, check with volt meter,repeat if needed. What you want to do is to get a cell that was reading zero to read voltage.Once you get them off zero put on your charger and they should charge up in about one hr or what ever is normal for your coreless setup.



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Chris Jones

01-15-2006 11:46:59




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to jack12345, 01-11-2006 19:32:11  
I did as you suggested with the first pack. About 5 seconds with the cub battery. Afterwards they registered 1.3?? volts. I put the pack in the charger a few minutes ago. My charger says to recharge 10-12 hours. Do you think they need that long? should I use them a bit then recharge? Just wondering what you'd suggest to "recondition" the cells.



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jack12345

01-15-2006 20:08:34




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 Re: cordless drill batteries in reply to Chris Jones, 01-15-2006 11:46:59  
recharge on your charger until they are fully charged. Once charged use as normal. Good luck.



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