Craftsman cordless drill - batter replacement

Since I don't know what a soft charge is, and not wanting to be without a bettery, I went online looking for a battery. Sears doesn't even have a battery pack number that is close to what's on the battery, and the model number on the drill is conveniently on the plastic housing, on the side that is in contacat with anything it is layed down on. Naturally, that means it's worn off. The worklight that came with it uses the same battery, so that means I'll have at least one that is working, but it's model number is in the same 980... series as the battery, and it specifically says to not use any other battery.

I've gone out online to some of the battery houses and haven't found anything helpful.

Help! Any suggestions? This was an 18 volt 3/8" variable speed "special edition". The number on the battery is 982027-001.

Thanks!
Chuck, WA

PS...Based on the replacement batteries I did see in the Sears web page, can a replacement battery actually cost over half of the cost of the tool itself? Am I that out of touch with reality?

If I am working the drill hard in hot weather it will not go onto fast charge if I bring it inside and put it on the charger immediately. In fact, it will never seem to charge to full strength.

But if I let the battery cool for 30 minutes or so before I put it on the charger, then it's fine. Goes to fast charge and charges back up.

I don't know if this has any connection to your situation, but thought I would let you know.

Larry

Thanks!
Chuck, WA

I can't say for sure if yours is like this but most cordless tool battery packs are just typical individual rechargeable batteries connected in series to obtain the required voltage. These are then put into a special case to fit the tool and allow the manufacturer to charge a fortune.

If the battery pack is dead, you might try opening it very carefully (so that it can be fastened back together) and see if you can get some replacements. You'll save a lot of money!

I had it on charge, and this time, only the red light came on and it took a charge. Will see how it lasts.

Thanks again!
Chuck, WA

Hay...yeah...I guess I knew that...just wanted to hear somebody else say it. :(

Jay...just made my first eBay buy and haven't received merchandise yet, so still a little gunshy, but will take a look.

Thanks, Both!

Chuck, WA

I have been buying things on eBay since Nov '04, and my wife started buying things there about a year later. We have yet to have a bad experience with it. Very few problems and those have been simple mistakes, easily straightened out. I've met a number of good and interesting people through eBay (going to pick up items) and corresponded with several others. My wife even got me a Soviet Air Force watch from the Ukraine which I thought was a risky purchase, but it came off fine. I had an awful time getting an explanation of how to set the watch because it used a different method than any watch I'd ever seen, but the seller was finally able to explain it to me (his English was only marginally better than my Ukrainian.)

I don't think that eBay is the site it used to be (before I was using it, I mean.) It's getting to be less and less like an auction site, more and more like an online store. It's safer than it used to be, but less interesting in both good and bad ways. Paypal used to be worthless verging on criminal, but it's gotten quite reliable since eBay bought it. My guess is that it's only a matter of time until another site comes along to serve as the real auction place that eBay is letting slip away.

The place you WILL get scammed if you aren't on guard is the fake e-mail messages you'll get which purport to be from eBay, Paypal, and angry buyers who are going to report you to Ebay if you don't send them the widget they bought from you Right Now! Every week I get several bogus security alerts (not) from Paypal about why my account has been reduced to limited use status after several third parties have attempted to access it. I'm looking for a quick way to forward these alerts directly to that government minister in Nigeria who keeps offering me vast sums of money just to let him deposit his purloined funds in my bank account. What a world, huh?

All the best, Stan

Chuck, WA