Makita Lithium-ion batteries

[doan]

I have a Makita 18V drill/driver set that has the "compact" 1.5AH batteries. thay gotten to where they don't last very long. I'm torn between buying a couple of the 3.0AH batteries or just getting a new dewault set.

The Makita brand batteries run about $100 each at the store or $75ish on ebay. Knock off generic batteries are about half price.

Anyone have experience with the non-makita branded batteries? if they are decent, I might save my Makita stuff, otherwise I think it makes more sense to buy a new kit drill/driver kit.

 

[N.I.]

I'm in a similar position. My 3AH batteries are getting a bit tired and ready for a replace.

I have looked into it and am definitely going to give the knock offs a go.

However be careful of what you buy. I wouldn't trust the chinese ones. Some companies are upfront and tell you what cells they use, give you a full years warranty and are happy to stand behind them. These knock offs get great reviews, and considering the trouble Makita had in the past with their batteries, I don't see how they could be any worse.

Flog the old ones off on eBay while they still work and they will go a fair bit towards the new ones.

If your drill/drivers are still fine then I don't see any reason why you would replace them.

 

[doan]

thanks, any idea which non-makita brands are good?

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Anyone have experience with the non-makita branded batteries? if they are decent, I might save my Makita stuff, otherwise I think it makes more sense to buy a new kit drill/driver kit.

Not specifically Li-Ion, but I did buy 3 of the 12v NiMH knock offs on eBay a while back. Great batteries...no better or worse then the originals. No clue on a MFG...they came in plain unmarked packages, and the batteries themselves didnt have a brand that I recall.

 

[shockwave]

I would get a new kit as I saw home depot had the lxdt01 kit with 2 batteries and charger for 200 around Christmas

 

[domain]

May I ask how long they lasted? I would also recommend buying a new LXT kit, such as hammer drill/impact in the blueish teal color. Usually around $280 in store, you will get two 3.0 batteries, extra charger, new tool of choice, and case if applicable. I heart my LXT 3.0. IT GETS THINGS DONE!

 

[doan]

Mine are about 2 years old with pretty casual use, but when I'm doing a big project, I use the hell out of them. The little 1.5 AH batteries were OK when new and they fully charge in 15 min. Now they seem annoyingly small. I know the capacity is down because when I charge them, it doesn't even take 15 min. Ifii have to buy new, I'm not sure i want to stay with Makita.

If I can get 2 good generic 3 AH batteries for under $100 , I'd be happy. Otherwise I'm going to buy new - either Milwaukee or Dewault.

 

[N.I.]

thanks, any idea which non-makita brands are good?

Unfortunately I am on a different continent so anything I suggest is irrelevent. If you have a search, I am sure there are quality alternative in the states.

However as others have suggested, if there are some decent deals on it may be more cost effective to buy a package and update everything or keep the batteries and sell the extras if your drill and drivers are fine.

 

[cookefab]

Have you thought about rebuilding the 1.5ah batteries that you have? Inside the snazzy Makita battery case are a series of Li-ion 18650 cells, or equivalent....which are cheap, especially when bought in bulk...

 

[skoronesa]

Greetings from the future.
The generic batteries work well, or at least the 4.5ah I got does. I haven't done any formal testing on it but it does last longer than my buddies makita oem 3.0ah. 37$ for one or 3 for 101$. Has good amazon reviews too. I got mine off of yebay. I just ordered a second and cant wait for it to get here. The lower capacities are a bit less but I don't see it worth it to not get the big one. Mind you it is about 4.5" tall and you may want a more compact one depending on where you are. I also have an angle impact drill so being too big is easily circumvented.
Yebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/361019269115?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Triple pack:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/380980133359?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
A good deal more $ on amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EKZR3TW/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I use an older blue makita charger, Don't know how the new black would like the battery, probably fine. sometimes it shows the battery fix light for a couple mins and then keeps charging as normal. I believe it is balancing the cells when it does this.

Don't buy the makita 4 port charger. It only charges 2 at once and then charges the next two. for the same or a little less $ you could buy 4 individual chargers and screw them to a board. I also think 4 individuals would be handier or at least redundant.

If you have older 18v makita tools made for nicads and nihms you should get an adapter to use the Li-Ion cells. I got one for a hammer drill I got from my step father and it works great. He had almost never used it so it was well worth the 35$ for the adapter.
Yebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/111475624873?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK:MEBIDX:IT
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005S6Y4A8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

The Li-Ion cells are only made in 3 different factories so chances are they are the same as makita genuines. I have seen generic batteries with built in voltmeters and I may do this to mine once one dies and I feel ok opening it. I will update on the second one in a couple months. I use my drills every day, I drive a lot of sheet metal and wood screws.

 

[woodstockva]

FYI.....knockoff Makita batteries will automatically void your warranty if you plug them into your tool one time.

I would not suggest trying this with any tool that still has a warranty.

 

[VersionOne]

Guys. Amazon.com has the 2-pack/3.0AH batteries for $119. The 2-pack/4.0AH batteries are going for $189. Go get em.

 

[skoronesa]

@woodstockva
You really think they would know?
FYI....I buy used not new anyway.
Warrantees are meant to be broken.

 

[woodstockva]

@woodstockva
You really think they would know?
FYI....I buy used not new anyway.
Warrantees are meant to be broken.

Yes.

The Makita STAR protection.....just like the Milwaukee Redlink technology.....is an internal computer inside the tool, that not only regulates power/heat/etc, it also keeps track of battery serial #s, how much usage is on the tool, temps, etc. If you send it in for a warranty claim & they plug it in to read the data, your claim WILL be denied.

Read this ---- http://www.makitatools.com/en-us/Modules/Company/PressReleases.aspx?ID=312724

 

[skoronesa]

Well I have had my drill apart. lxfd01cw, no circuit board or anything. The only connections coming from the battery were positive and negative. When you can show me real evidence, like pictures I will believe you. Of course makita will imply that they will know, it's a crock.

 

[rice rocket]

I think the LXFD01 predates the Star protection.

 

[sam.coll]

Why not buy a new Makita kit? Just wondering why the switch to Dewalt?

 

[skoronesa]

I don't know what the original posters reasoning was but one of the guys at work still only has dewalt nicd tools. He prefers the old batteries, they are cheaper. At this sign shop I worked at we had 4 dewalt nicd drills and the newest one was amazing. I do have an affinity for them myself, they can still keep up for the most part.
Right now I am buying some older makita tools that take the nicds so I can use the adapter with the lithiums. So many cheap nicd tools since Li-Ion came out.

 

[skoronesa]

@rice rocket, It has the yellow star on the bottom. I may not have the gotten the model number quite right, but there is definitely a star impressed in the plastic.
Honestly with the savings in batteries I could buy another drill for 45$ and still cost less than the original battery.

 

[iahawk]

I was in the same boat, 9 yr old 1.5 AH batteries that were getting weak. I just bought another kit with drill driver and 2 new batteries at HD for $169..problem solved.

 

[skoronesa]

at one point I looked into replacing the cells in my barely used makita nicds but it would have cost me 28$. Getting the adapter and generic Li-Ions has worked out great.

 

[doan]

Homedepot has the 2 pack of Makita 3Ah batteries for $120

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Makita-18-Volt-3-Ah-LXT-Lithium-Ion-Battery-2-Pack-BL1830-2/100653596

I went in to buy these but found the drill/circular saw combo on sale for $200...

 

[skoronesa]

That's alot when I can get two generic 4.5ah for 74$. Iknow some of you prefer the oem stuff and would never void warranties but we aren't all in the same boat. I don't think it's right to to try and knock the generics when they perform the same or better and don't leave evidence of voiding the warranty. I love makita, the quality over the years has been pretty good. At this point though china has come a long way and buying items semi-directly from the chinese manufacturers saves the consumer a lot of money.
This is compunded by the fact that makita decided to run their battery control boards off of one cell. That means when you let it sit one cell gets drained more than the others and it bricks itself for not be properly balanced. That's a big design flaw that could have been easily avoided. For you guys who use them everyday and keep them charged its no big deal but to someone who buys a kit for the house and lets it sit a month or two in between uses they are screwed. In that aspect the nicds are better. I ask why even bother with any of it? Makita has already redone them once with the "star protection" and it helped but hasn't eliminated the problem. Either way 37$ is less than 60$.

I guess it's like putting repro bumpers on an other wise all original muscle car, some guys couldn't fathom the idea.

 

[skoronesa]

Update, generic batteries have worked out great. Out of the original 5 4.5ah batteries for 150$ only one has died, others work great.