Craftsman 19.2V tools - battery nightmare

[kthelen]

Seeking the wisdom of those who've faced the C3 dilemma in past years.

So I've got a pretty acceptable set of Craftsman 19.2 cordless power tools. Couple of drills, angle grinder, reciprocating saw, 1/2" impact wrench, etc., all in good shape.

Two years back I finally exhausted the handful of Ni-Cad batteries I'd been using. So I bought a new charger, and a couple of aftermarket Li-Ion batteries. They worked great - until the first time they were exposed to winter (<50°) temperatures. After that they would not charge, charger claimed they were defective.

So I bought a couple more aftermarket Li-Ion batteries, which by that time were all you could get (no more OEM ones that I could find). This time I opted to keep them indoors. Still, the first one failed to charge after a couple weeks/uses. The second failed likewise after a month or so. Same issue as above... put it in the charger, watch it start charging, move on to other things, few days later it's flat-dead in the charger and reinserting gets you the "defective battery" blink.

Am I really that unlucky, or is this just the state of most/all cheap repro C3 batteries today?

What are other people doing to keep their old Craftsman rechargeables in service? (I hear about adapters for other battery types... any worth messing with?)

Would definitely like to avoid replacing these tools...



--Keith

 

[merkyworks]

In kind of similar position myself. Inherited my Dad’s basically new C3 19.2V drill with Li-Ion batteries & charger, 99% sure drill works but batteries wouldn’t hold a charge. I’m on DeWalt 20V platform with drill and other tools so it’s not like I really need this C3 drill. Used market for C3 tools is pennies on the dollar so figure better off making it a backup drill.

So my plan is to ditch the C3 batteries/charger and purchase a battery adapter that will let me use my DeWalt 20V batteries/charger with the C3 drill. X-Adapters makes a $20 adapter and I have used this brand/type unit with good results in past.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwjblsi-sIfyAhXJVc0KHfh0D-sQFjAAegQIDxAD&url=https://www.amazon.com/Adapter-Craftsman-Cordless-DeWalt-Battery/dp/B08D796SX5&usg=AOvVaw20uWyfOxHkgyb4TOUbs8hZ

Pic with DeWalt battery was Taken from Amazon customer review.

 

[Shiftless]

I too had a few Craftsman C3 tools that worked fine but the batteries just wouldn’t hold a charge even overnight.
As you might know, there are more than a few C3 collectors so I sold my set of tools and 5 batteries to another GJ guy after I detailed all of the problems. He was very happy.
I used the money toward a set of Milwaukee M12 fuel tools and never looked back.

 

[Levaughn]

I was given a Craftsman C3 19.2V drill about four years. It had the NiCad batteries but wouldn't hold a charge. I bought a craftsman Lithium battery and charger for it and haven't had any issues with it. I also remove all the batteries from the devices when not in use.

 

[bargainhuntingking]

You solution is here:

And here:

Get some adapters and use whatever battery platform you prefer.

 

[zendriver]

I have some li-on both size is over 10 years now.

throw them in the chargers every now and then. The rest of the time they just sit wherever

No problems, but then i’ve never really use them or left him in bitter cold

 

[M635_Guy]

This is why I switched over to Milwaukee when I hit the wall with C3 batteries. I was really disappointed to lose my C3 tools, but I know there will be M18 and M12 batteries available for at least another decade, and I just don't have time for adapters and the stuff you have to deal with when it comes to 3rd-party.

FWIW, the Milwaukee stuff blows my C3 stuff out of the water - don't miss any of it.

Edit - some pix of what I had and what replaced it:



^That's the 2767 Hi Torque (with a laughable battery) that I never actually used because the Stubby was (A) so good at everything I was dealing with at the time (easily more powerful than the C3) and (B) really light. I've sold it and that slot is now filled by a FUEL Mid-torque that even with a nearly-as-laughable battery (CP 3.0 HO) is a powerhouse for everything I've asked of it.



The M12 Surge has been the star of this new generation of tools in my kit.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

My dad had a big lot of the C3 family and was down to one battery that worked for about 5 minutes of use. He was already on at least his second round of new batteries. For the price of two batteries on just about any platform I got him the Ryobi set. Before you scoff at the Ryobi brand keep in mind that these are better than ALL of the C3 tools. Dad was happy as can be and has the option of many more tools now. It might not be what you were looking for but as Shiftless said, you can sell your C3 stuff. My dad got over a hundred for his stuff at a garage sale without working batteries. The six tool Ryobi set is $199 right now at HD fyi.

 

[Russtred]

Were the Craftsman C3, not made by Ryobi? I am just basing this on the fact that the Ryobi share very similar characteristics to the C3s, much more so than any other manufacturer, based on my casual observations. I have never had any proof...

 

[Big Bob]

Wow, did not know there was a market for this stuff. I got mine as a promo with my purchase of a Ranger in '04. Big *** plastic suitcase with a drill, circ saw, recip saw, flashlight, two batteries and a charger. I was delighted at first, but the tools were weak, the batteries kept dying, and I gave the whole thing to Goodwill. Replace with Dewalt 20V, which is more than adequate for my needs.

 

[Kaervak]

Buy yourself any Milwaukee M18 or DeWalt 20V battery/charger and pickup a DM18GL battery adapter. You get to keep your C3 tools that have plenty of life left in them and a battery platform that will be supported for years. My string trimmer and leaf blower are C3 and the XCP 4ah pack I have isn't long for this world. I have M18 gear and have used my M18 XC 8.0 pack with the DM18GL adapter without issue many times.

 

[Shiftless]

My dad had a big lot of the C3 family and was down to one battery that worked for about 5 minutes of use. He was already on at least his second round of new batteries. For the price of two batteries on just about any platform I got him the Ryobi set. Before you scoff at the Ryobi brand keep in mind that these are better than ALL of the C3 tools. Dad was happy as can be and has the option of many more tools now. It might not be what you were looking for but as Shiftless said, you can sell your C3 stuff. My dad got over a hundred for his stuff at a garage sale without working batteries. The six tool Ryobi set is $199 right now at HD fyi.

Sounds a lot like my story about the C3 tools. The short life of the old failing batteries is maddening.

 

[crerus75]

I have family out of town, and whenever I visit I end up doing repairs. I wanted to avoid lugging power tools on the off chance I'd need them-- the tool bag I take when I visit already weighs 43 lbs. and is full, so taking power tools would've meant a second bag and even more weight.

They have an almost-new set of Craftsman 19.2V tools. They're elderly and not very handy so the tools have hardly been touched, but the batteries were stone dead and wouldn't charge.

I went on Amazon and bought a pair of batteries for about $30. I bought the cheapest batteries that had decent reviews, knowing full well it would be a gamble. It was a last-ditch effort so that I wouldn't be tempted to buy a set of newer cordless tools to keep at their place.

Well, imagine my surprise. Both batteries arrived fully charged, both worked in the drill and the circular saw, and both of them tested OK on the charger.

I throw the batteries on the charger every time I visit (at least 3-4 times now). They always test good and they always retain most of their charge, even though my visits are 1-2 months apart. They still run the drill fine, though I use it very little. I don't know how long they'll hold up or if they'll stand up to an afternoon driving deck screws, but for $30 they brought a mothballed drill back to life.

 

[Sumboodie]

This is why I switched over to Milwaukee when I hit the wall with C3 batteries. I was really disappointed to lose my C3 tools, but I know there will be M18 and M12 batteries available for at least another decade, and I just don't have time for adapters and the stuff you have to deal with when it comes to 3rd-party.

FWIW, the Milwaukee stuff blows my C3 stuff out of the water - don't miss any of it.

Edit - some pix of what I had and what replaced it:



^That's the 2767 Hi Torque (with a laughable battery) that I never actually used because the Stubby was (A) so good at everything I was dealing with at the time (easily more powerful than the C3) and (B) really light. I've sold it and that slot is now filled by a FUEL Mid-torque that even with a nearly-as-laughable battery (CP 3.0 HO) is a powerhouse for everything I've asked of it.



The M12 Surge has been the star of this new generation of tools in my kit.

I use the 2767 impact all the time. I don't think it's really 700 ft lbs or whatever. Have had lugs it wouldn't remove that my IR 2135 took off.
Would like to get the 1" gun, just can't afford it.

 

[Bacon!]

Were the Craftsman C3, not made by Ryobi? I am just basing this on the fact that the Ryobi share very similar characteristics to the C3s, much more so than any other manufacturer, based on my casual observations. I have never had any proof...

This Craftsman line is made by TTI who also makes Ryobi but Ryobi kept the same battery format while Craftsman made by TTI used to have a VERY similar battery (you could interchange them by trimming a plastic tab off), but at some point several years ago, either with the C3 line or prior to it, Craftsman switched the battery design to become a non-interchangeable battery... maybe it was when they switched from 18V to 19.2V packs.

In other words TTI never made a Ryobi battery that will fit the C3 and if using an adapter, you're better off starting with another battery brand that doesn't have a stalk at the top, though since most are 18V, (nominal even if claiming 20V) instead of 19.2V, they will lose a little performance, but you're losing far more performance than that to continue using the C3 tools instead of something modern.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

Lithium batteries need to be completely discharged periodically. If your battery does not take a charge, try discharging it completely. I use the C3 flashlight to do this.

I also noticed that some of the C3 chargers are better at handling cold batteries than others. The charger built into the C3 radio charges batteries that the little charger the tools come with cannot.

 

[Bacon!]

^ Too deep a discharge can damage them which is why some chargers refuse to charge them if below a certain voltage. If you're stating this is some quirk of the C3 charger, that's a separate issue and doesn't apply to Li-Ion tool batteries or chargers in general.

Normally the only thing that deeply discharging a Li-Ion battery does is wear it out faster, if not deep enough to damage or cause charger rejection. NiCd on the other hand, after sitting unused for a long time may need a discharge and recharge cycle or two, to recover the remaining capacity they're capable of.

 

[nbpt100]

My C3 are still going strong. I keep them in the house so they never got real cold. I charge them when the indicator shows low or they run dead. I am slowly switching over to Ryobi. Mainly because of their stable battery platfom and variety of tools. Brushless when on sale. They work good enough for me and the price is right when on sale. I am not an every day or even every week user.
I may sell my Cmam stuff when I get the equivalent Ryobi.

Good to know the adaptors are available so a tool can be used now indefinitely.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

^ Too deep a discharge can damage them which is why some chargers refuse to charge them if below a certain voltage. If you're stating this is some quirk of the C3 charger, that's a separate issue and doesn't apply to Li-Ion tool batteries or chargers in general.

Normally the only thing that deeply discharging a Li-Ion battery does is wear it out faster, if not deep enough to damage or cause charger rejection. NiCd on the other hand, after sitting unused for a long time may need a discharge and recharge cycle or two, to recover the remaining capacity they're capable of.

Not all of the C3 chargers are the same, some may have trickle/boost cycles that allow it to charge completely discharged batteries. note that completely discharged does not necessarily mean 0v. Each battery has a cut-off point when at certain low voltage conditions the battery is supposedly locked and the cheap chargers indicate it is a bad battery.

For example, if I run a battery dead using the C3 weedwhacker and the charger will not charge or indicates it is a bad battery, I then put that battery in the incandescent flashlight, let it run till the light goes out and then it will charge on the C3 radio charger and one other charger I have. I do the same when a C3 battery will not hold a charge.

And FWIW, wearing out the battery a little is a whole lot better than tossing it into the garbage.

 

[Bacon!]

^ Then it's something wrong with the charger (in the design if not a component fault), that should have only made the problem worse otherwise.

However I'm wondering if it's another possibility, that the weedwhacker current is high enough to heat the battery and the charger is rejecting it till it cools down some. I've had that happen with my (not C3) leaf blower, I'd freshly charged it, wasn't so hot that it shut down during tool use, but then putting it back on the charger right after tool use, wouldn't charge.

It's a curious situation to be in, I'd be whipping out a multimeter and trying to isolate the cause. I've never encountered any tool battery charger that rejects batteries until they're deeper discharged, unless of course they were still fully charged then the charger just shows that after a few seconds.

 

[nbpt100]

For the cost this looks like a great alternative. If it works. Anybody try one.?

USB Battery Adapter For DEWALT Milwaukee Convert to CRAFTSMAN 19.2V Power Tools | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for USB Battery Adapter For DEWALT Milwaukee Convert to CRAFTSMAN 19.2V Power Tools at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[Bacon!]

^ There are a few listings of those on Amazon as well, with fairly good 4+ star review average, and at least one seller, cheaper than that one on ebay. They both have an identical looking sticker on them so probably made in the same Chinese factory:

RYG Battery Adapter for Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion and for Dewalt 18V Battery Convert to Craftsman 19.2 Volt Battery tools - - Amazon.com

RYG Battery Adapter for Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion and for Dewalt 18V Battery Convert to Craftsman 19.2 Volt Battery tools - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

RYG Battery Adapter for Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion and for Dewalt 18V Battery Convert to Craftsman 19.2 Volt Battery tools - - Amazon.com

RYG Battery Adapter for Milwaukee 18V Li-Ion and for Dewalt 18V Battery Convert to Craftsman 19.2 Volt Battery tools - - Amazon.com

www.amazon.com

 

[nbpt100]

Looks good! And you do not need to buy a charger with the USB charger bilt in. It must be a relatively slower charge time with that method. But still, as a back up it is a cheap solution.

 

[subroc]

Can the LI batteries be fixed? Are they really dead or can they be sparked? Look up "fixing LI batteries" on YouTube. Maybe it is a procedure that will work for you? Then again maybe your batteries really are junk.

 

[Bacon!]

Looks good! And you do not need to buy a charger with the USB charger bilt in. It must be a relatively slower charge time with that method. But still, as a back up it is a cheap solution.

I'm fairly certain that this product does not charge the battery using USB, is only capable of powering/charging other USB connected things like a phone, though may also do that at a fairly low rate considering they didn't bother to mention the current capability. Maybe it can do 1A, that is a fairly common spec for the little USB buck boards I see for cheap on ebay.

The one I linked on amazon that looks identical also mentions quote "Can not be used for power tool battery charging,".

 

[nbpt100]

I'm fairly certain that this product does not charge the battery using USB, is only capable of powering/charging other USB connected things like a phone, though may also do that at a fairly low rate considering they didn't bother to mention the current capability. Maybe it can do 1A, that is a fairly common spec for the little USB buck boards I see for cheap on ebay.

The one I linked on amazon that looks identical also mentions quote "Can not be used for power tool battery charging,".

You are correct. My error. I went back and reread the description. It does not charge the battery via the USB.

 

[samss]

Did you get a new charger with the Li on batteries? IIRC the Ni cad charger would not work correctly with the Li on batteries.

 

[M635_Guy]

I use the 2767 impact all the time. I don't think it's really 700 ft lbs or whatever. Have had lugs it wouldn't remove that my IR 2135 took off.
Would like to get the 1" gun, just can't afford it.

It shouldn't flinch at something the IR can get. If it routinely struggles, I'd warranty it. My Mid-Torque (Fuel Gen 2) has been fantastic.

 

[rlmartinson]

Can the LI batteries be fixed? Are they really dead or can they be sparked? Look up "fixing LI batteries" on YouTube. Maybe it is a procedure that will work for you? Then again maybe your batteries really are junk.

I was able to jump start my "big" Dewalt 20v last spring. It was dead and wouldn't take a charge from any of my chargers. It worked great!

 

[subroc]

I was able to jump start my "big" Dewalt 20v last spring. It was dead and wouldn't take a charge from any of my chargers. It worked great!

Good to hear. Apparently, it isn't an uncommon problem. I have used the process a few times in the last several years.

 

[JazzBlueRT]

^ Then it's something wrong with the charger (in the design if not a component fault), that should have only made the problem worse otherwise.

However I'm wondering if it's another possibility, that the weedwhacker current is high enough to heat the battery and the charger is rejecting it till it cools down some. I've had that happen with my (not C3) leaf blower, I'd freshly charged it, wasn't so hot that it shut down during tool use, but then putting it back on the charger right after tool use, wouldn't charge.

It's a curious situation to be in, I'd be whipping out a multimeter and trying to isolate the cause. I've never encountered any tool battery charger that rejects batteries until they're deeper discharged, unless of course they were still fully charged then the charger just shows that after a few seconds.

Possibly but the battery is still marked defective after cooling down.

My theory is that one of the cells drops below a certain threshold from the faster discharge rate and the lower current flow of the flashlight levels them back out.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

Sold my c3 stuff and put it towards dewalt 20v. Would have went with ryobi if they had a better 1/2in impact then. I did pretty good on them but that was probably 2-3 years ago. C3,ryobi,rigid and Milwaukee are all owened or made by the same parent company. C3 and ryobi were identical except for the batteries were a touch different

 

[nbpt100]

C3,ryobi,rigid and Milwaukee are all owened or made by the same parent company. C3 and ryobi were identical except for the batteries were a touch different

That explains why I have a Craftsman table saw that is nearly Identical to a Ridgid table saw.

 

[Mallen]

I was able to jump start my "big" Dewalt 20v last spring. It was dead and wouldn't take a charge from any of my chargers. It worked great!

Lithium ion batteries have an internal disconnect circuit. There's a very good reason for that. If the battery goes to far dead, the cell can reverse polarity. At that point when you charge it it creates hydrogen and can explode. I'm not waving my hands and screaming "OMG safety, don't do it" Far from it. But when you attempt to jump start a cell, make sure it's somewhere where it won't set your house on fire. I like to put mine in a giant metal stock pot, preferably outside. That way if it cools off a cell in the pack, I can put the lid on it and just let it burn itself out harmlessly. An appropriate fire extinguisher is a good idea too.
A quick search turns up that they require a class B extinguisher.

Obviously, the way resurrecting a battery that's gone so low as to activate the cutoff circuit is to connect a charger directly to the cells and supply a small charging current until the cell comes up to a voltage above the cutoff. At that point you can charge it normally.

Some power tool batteries however have a built in smart controller. Once the charger determines the battery is bad, the controller records that in nonvolatile memory and will henceforth refuse to take a charge. Its probably possible to figure out how to undo that, but the one I looked at had a microcontroller that had internal flash and the security bits set. I tried replacing the cells, but it refused to charge. It worked fine when I charged it off an external lithium ion charger. But that was annoying so I just have up and bought new packs.

 

[JeepYJ]

My neighbor gave my son a whole bunch of Craftsman cordless tools with bad batteries. I ordered the adapter from Amazon so he can use Dewalt batteries in them. It works great, good way to keep old tools useable.