Battery rebuilders>

[marnav1]

This kinda fits in with the cordless tool thread. Any of you guys try those battery rebuilder services for your cordless tools? I need new cells for my DeWalt drill and was considering trying one out. Voltman or PrimeCell were the ones I was considering..............

 

[crewchief888]

ive heard that batteries plus does rebuilds. the prices ive seen dont seem too bad, considering the price of some batteries.


theres not one around me locally, so i dont know.

ive got a buttload of batteries that need some work.

 

[crewchief888]

oh btw

nice avatar

 

[chadster1]

Any brand of rebuilder should be able to rebuild your batteries.

 

[marnav1]

oh btw

nice avatar

Thanks.........classic album.

 

[GeorgiaHybrid]

Just had two Snap-on 18V batteries done for $52 each where all 15 cells in the pack were changed. There is a local guy here running an ad for $20 to fix them but I think he only replaces the bad cell or two that is in the pack and leaves the rest.

 

[marnav1]

I was wondering how the rebuilt battery performed. They are a good bit cheaper if you can wait till they are done.

 

[slip knot]

Interstate batteries rebuild battery packs but they are pricy. I've found them to be on par with replacement batts from the tool suppliers.

 

[t100]

I have a bad Snap On 18v NiCd, Batteries Plus quoted me $59+tax to rebuild. Voltman is cheaper. http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/servlet/StoreFront

but, before I could send it in, I snagged a pair off CL.

 

[scott37300]

I did a LOT of research on this because I have a bunch of cordless tools that don't get used to much anymore so the batteries end up going bad. I ended up buying 100 sub-C cells off ebay and rebuilding them myself. It costs me about 23 dollars to do an 18 volt battery. I bought a nice Hakko soldering station which I wanted anyway, bought the cells with soldering tabs already welded on. Pretty easy to do. Personally I would not pay 50 bucks a battery for someone to rebuild them when you can find them new for right around there.

 

[marnav1]

Is that the size they use, sub C?

 

[GDA]

I've had two Makita 14.4 NiCads that were 1.3 a/h. I got them rebuilt by the local Batteries Plus and also upgraded to the 2.6 a/h. It took all of a week as they ordered in the extra capacity ones for me and it was totally worth it.

They were rebuilt about a year ago and are still going strong today.

 

[chadster1]

Is that the size they use, sub C?

I think most cordless tools use sub-c cells in their batteries

 

[scott37300]

There are two sizes but the most common is sub-c. All my dewalt from 7.2 to 18 volt took sub C. My milwaukee, makita, dewalt, panasonic, bosch, porter cable all took sub C cells. I just looked on ebay and they are going pretty cheap right now. Low 20's for 15 cells for an 18 volt, when I bought mine I had to buy 100 at a time to get that deal.

 

[mikevango]

What type of battery for an 18v lithium ion?

 

[wafrederick]

Here is another one: www.voltmanbatteries.com I have sent a few in to this place and have done a great job.This place replaces all the cells insideBeats paying full price for a new battery.If anyone tells you this is good,taping the trigger down to drain the battery and don't do this.Anyone taping the trigger down is full of BS.Reverses the cells inside and kills them.Also do not leave in the tool when not in use,the batteries last longer removed the tool.Read this in an article on power tool batteries.If anyone wants a copy of this article,let me know

 

[scott37300]

What type of battery for an 18v lithium ion?

I'm not sure since I don't have any lith ion tools since it's cheaper for me to just keep rebuilding my ni cad battery packs than buy new tools. I know that the lithium ion cells are out there but they are pretty expensive and harder to find. You can google something like rebuilding lithium ion cordless battery tools and you should find some results for cells.

I will tell anyone that wants to rebuild a battery pack that you need a GOOD soldering station. You have to buy the cells with tabs already welded onto them. I have a good weller soldering gun that wouldn't solder the tabs good. Also have a butane weller soldering iron that wouldn't work. Had to buy a Hakko soldering station and it worked great. So much easier and nicer to use. Good solder and flux also make a difference, tin each tab and then solder them together. The first battery pack is a learning curve to get all the cells lined up right and fit together. There is lots of info online, I spent hours googling about rebuilding battery packs. But anyone with a little knowledge can rebuild their own batteries.

 

[evintho]

I used these guys. It was about $90 to have a pair of 14.4 DeWalts rebuilt. They upgraded them too. That was 1-1/2 years ago. They get used quite a bit and they're still going strong!

http://www.battery-tek.com/WHAT-WE-DO-12.html