Rich M.
Well-known member
Has anyone replaced the cells in their C3 ion batteries? My understanding the local Batteries Plus store will do it.
Is it tought to do?
Is it tought to do?
Craftsman C3 Batteries
- Thread starter Rich M.
- Start date
NiCad the black ones or the LiIon the red ones?
Both are not tough, I have 0 success
The Nicad is subC Cell batteries with tab...just be careful on buying from ebay..
The Li-ion are 18650 cells... and it's a 5 cell battery means they are 5 batteries stack in series... and if additional capacity like the 4AH 2x of the battery are parallel, then they are hook in series...in pairs
not sure if it is worth it, those batteries are not cheap to source individually..
Both are not tough, I have 0 success
The Nicad is subC Cell batteries with tab...just be careful on buying from ebay..
The Li-ion are 18650 cells... and it's a 5 cell battery means they are 5 batteries stack in series... and if additional capacity like the 4AH 2x of the battery are parallel, then they are hook in series...in pairs
not sure if it is worth it, those batteries are not cheap to source individually..
I have to be honest, My C3 battery was garbage when I took it out of the box, rather than wasting time replacing battery cells I'll just replace the tool. What Milwauke makes now is far superior to anything the C3 tools have or can probably ever offer.
Very true. However, this late in life, I don't wish to start over buying tools that will get little use. Plus, I have a number of the C3 tools, which has worked well for me as a home DIYer.
Sorry your C3 stuff did not work out. But sounds like the Milwauke did, so life is good again.
Farmall 1066
Well-known member
Been wondering about this also, since it appears the C3 stuff has hit the end of the line.
I'm interested to see what Stanley does with the Craftsman brand and their potential for home tools but I was in a situation where I had one 1/2 impact that was a C3. I tried to use it for taking off lug nuts on my Frontier and it wouldn't and then I was trying to use it to break down the accessory drive bolts on my LS motor, as well as pop off the exhaust manifold and motor mount bolts and it would not. It seemed to me that it just couldn't do anything that I had expectations of for a 1/2 cordless and even after loosening the bolts by hand the battery died after about 12 bolts after previously being charged the day before. I had initially looked at buying their cordless cut off wheel tool for taking to the wrecking yard but after experiencing the poor battery life and performance of the 1/2 impact I decided to move on.
I figure maybe I will just sell it for a used price on CL or offerup and then just pick up a Milwauke high torque unit. I already have a couple of other Milwauke tools and have yet to experience any buyers remorse from them.
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
was the with the ni cad batteries or the li ion ?
Not sure to be honest. I just know if I do not leave the battery on the charger all the time it will lose its charge in a week. Only bought it about 2 years ago but it was on clearance so no telling what year model it was.
emeraldcoupe
Well-known member
sounds like the ni cads, they **** in those tools. the li ion work nice and have good power.
For me the Ni Cads were terrible. Now the Ions worked much better and had a lasting charge.
I got on board when C3 first they came out, so I had a good run. Plus, they are still working today, so all is good. My guess is that some day the batteries could be an issue finding new, so I guess I should get the discarded C3 batteries that others are throwing out and have them rebuilt. Just a thought.
To me it is sad, I grew up with Sears/Craftsman and to see the stores closing and the tool quality drop is terrible. The changing of the guard.
EOC_Jason
Well-known member
Sears had some crazy cheap pricing on C3 batteries not too long ago. I don't know what their website pricing will do now they are going Chapter 11, but it's worth watching as you can get some brand new batteries for pretty darn cheap.
Well, new Craftsman power tools are Made in USA with global materials now, thanks to Stanley Black & Decker
Make Lowes your go-to now and avoid Sears at all cost; Sears is defunct
That won't help his current battery issues..... change to new craftsman is like changing to a new line of power tools... scrap everything and start over kind of... if that is the case, there are better choices like "deWalt"
. Same price, same manufacture probably the exact same tools EOC_Jason
Well-known member
So the parts are still made in China, just assembled by a chinese american?
This.
WWheeler
Well-known member
A little more than that involved. Here's a tour of Stanley's 'Made in USA with Global materials' facility in Charlotte NC, 3 years ago before they expanded / incorporated some of the Craftsman cordless line into them.
Say what you want, but it's a hell of a lot better than whatever Milwaukee is doing.
Note: None of the new Stanley Craftsman cordless tools will use the Sears C3 line of batteries. Perhaps the Dewalt batteries are compatible?
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redm18
Well-known member
As an owner of a fair number of C3 tools I will say there is a huge difference between the Nicad and Lithium batteries. With the lithium batteries the tools are pretty serviceable but like others have said I see the end coming for the platform and new tools I buy are Milwaukee more expense for sure but you can tell where the money goes. I imagine though that batteries for the C3 stuff will be around for at least a couple of more years somewhere online so I'm not dumping by C3 stuff now.
LB-1911
ALLIANCE MEMBER
^
You'll be fine - As you have mentioned the C3 system works for you - Picking up Lithium-Ion batteries that people are discarding and having them rebuilt it a good plan. Yes https://www.batteriesplus.com/ offers a rebuild service. Store Locator lower left corner of page at link above.Good Luck
Wait what ? they sure dress like Mexicans in that WWheeler linked video posted.
....
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Farmall 1066
Well-known member
I would agree. Wasn't impressed at all with the Ni-Cad batteries or their performance. L-ion was a major improvement.
^
Good Luck
Fortunately, I have a store less than a mile away. Now to put the feelers out to get a couple of old Ion batteries.
VinceG
Well-known member
Just look here for battery replacement Lithium Amazon has Nicads also Remember Google is your friend. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077VK7TZR/?tag=atomicindus08-20
CJ7VFR
Well-known member
I also have an extensive collection of C3 tools, so I can't just turn around and start replacing them with some other brand....just yet.
I always get the Lion C3 batteries when they go on sale. I also try to get the larger 4aH Lion versions because they are bigger, provide more power to the tools, their run times are great, and they will hold a charge for a very long time in storage.
Normally, the 4aH C3 Lion batteries are $99.00. I would never pay that much for one. A few weeks ago, during the sale you mentioned, I got one for $53.00, and that included NJ sales tax and free shipping.
If you use the Sears clipped coupons, wait for a sale like fathers day or whatever, when they take 10 to 20 percent off power tools, you can get a good deal like I did.
I have only had one NiCad C3 battery in all the tools I have purchased, and that battery sucked big time. At first it worked good, but over time it would not hold a charge very long, it would only last a few minutes in any tool, and even in the C3 radio I have, it will only last a few hours just playing music.
Jim
I was in the same boat with the NiCad. Would not hold a charge. The only NiCad batteries I had usually came with the tool. It is a shame that Lowes will not carry them. So easy to pop in and pick one up.
I will keep an eye out for a good sale and pick a couple more up. Black Friday is almost upon us.
By the way, the radio was one of my favorite add ons.
I was able to check now that I am home and I do have one of the Ni-Cad batteries so I might give one of the Lithium batteries a try if it helps allow for using it but does it provide a more stronger impact use or just longer use? Just hate to spend the money and have ho-hum results...
If you want a reliable sub C NiCd the Tenergy 2000mah are available with and without tabs. They are made in China but Tenergy is US based. They may be higher capacity than the original cells. Tenergy makes all kinds of cells and chargers. I have built packs with them with no problems. They are on ebay, Amazon and where I got mine, Battery Junction. Bear in mind that if you switch to lithium 18650's, you will need a new charger. I have heard of cells charged in series with no cell monitoring but the best setups have a control board that monitors the charge of each cell in the series string. Lithium is a lot fussier than NiMH or NiCd. I had a battery rebuilt at Batteries + a long time ago but they were not using cells I would use, the last time I checked.NiCad the black ones or the LiIon the red ones?
Both are not tough, I have 0 success
The Nicad is subC Cell batteries with tab...just be careful on buying from ebay..
The Li-ion are 18650 cells... and it's a 5 cell battery means they are 5 batteries stack in series... and if additional capacity like the 4AH 2x of the battery are parallel, then they are hook in series...in pairs
not sure if it is worth it, those batteries are not cheap to source individually..
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Yup but problem is No matter how reliable SubC niCad is, still not as good as Li-Ion... except the potential of exploding in fire part ..There are very few reasons to go back to Ni-Cad...
and above all the problems I can't buy parts cheaper than just the whole battery especially during some sales... I got 6x 4AH last time for $50 each... that is pretty good... Definitely can't re-build one for about that price... at least now they have nickle strips at amazon for the tabs..
..There are very few reasons to go back to Ni-Cad... and above all the problems I can't buy parts cheaper than just the whole battery especially during some sales... I got 6x 4AH last time for $50 each... that is pretty good... Definitely can't re-build one for about that price... at least now they have nickle strips at amazon for the tabs..
fordgasm
Well-known member
this.
mudflap
Well-known member
Call them and check before you collect up a bunch of junk batteries. My local Batteries Plus store will rebuild NiCad packs..but not LiIon.
Farmall 1066
Well-known member
My Impact was pretty gutless with Nicad batteries. Switched to L-Ion and the difference was amazing.
All my C-3 stuff works better with them, but difference was biggest with the impact.
Are you saying you stripped a lithium pack for parts or just bought a new lithium drill ?Yup but problem is No matter how reliable SubC niCad is, still not as good as Li-Ion... except the potential of exploding in fire part
and above all the problems I can't buy parts cheaper than just the whole battery especially during some sales... I got 6x 4AH last time for $50 each... that is pretty good... Definitely can't re-build one for about that price... at least now they have nickle strips at amazon for the tabs..
If you use it for parts tou are also looking at a new charger.
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Both.. I am not the OP... but I have bought 6x 4AH and have 4x 2AH Li-Ion so yes I do have the chargers that does li-ion and ni-cad... as well as the black ones that does only ni-cads..... if that is what you are asking...
And yes I do have 2 dead 4AH or 3AH older Li-Ion... I am thinking of stripping parts from one to make up the other.... I took one a part, that is how I know what they are.... they are 5 cells in series and the charge controller monitor and balance each... one of the battery "cells" was leaking that caused the whole pack the die...all other "cells" are tested fine (was tested fine).
There is no such things as a lithium drill... though... old drill is brushed motor, new drill is brushed motor, new new drill is cheap **** motor sparking every time I pull the trigger.... that is the craftsman evolution for you...none of these are burshless drills, But they are fine for my needs. DryWalls and what nots around the car. . as far as Ni-cads... except for 2 nicad still good, all other nicad are dead as door knobs... about 10x-ish of them...some where.
As far as rebuilding... like I said, it's far cheaper to just buy one even the aftermarket ones than to rebuild... not capability, it's the cost and need...
OK folks, so I am at the point of no return., Been forever since I really had a need to use the c3 1/2 impact I have. A really long time in fact. I took the battery off the charger and it was indicating it had a full charge but It's probably been well over a year since I screwed with it and I went to use it to zip off some 1/2 inch nuts of a cabinet I am rebuilding as a drill press station and this battery is toast. It got them off but after doing the last one I realized I probably could have spun them off with a pair of rusty pliers with more effort displayed. I'm going to try and recharge it one time but not going to really screw with running it down any more. I need to make a decision I guess and there are really three available options. I've seen some of the cheap reman'd c3 li-ion units on amazon and elsewhere for about 40 bucks. Then the Craftsman ones are about 90 bucks just initially looking, and the option 3 is kind of the screw craftsman approach, and I am thinking I am just going to jump on the hand grenade and get one of the new Milwaukee m12 3/8 stubbies, which I am sure will just pound the c3 into the dirt, regardless of what battery it has. Given those three options I would love some feedback.
FWIW I already have 4 of the m12 small batteries, 2 chargers for them, and the m12 impact and drill driver and they are really good, so I would just be getting the bare tool for about 180 bucks (listed on Amazon right now). The m12 units I have right now are nearly on par with my older 18 Volt Ridgid drill and impact in fact.
I think I probably will just go ahead and get the 3/8 stubby, but again, its the most expensive option. In spite of being costly I just think this time next year I won't be annoyed because of tool or battery performance, since the batteries get constant cycling between my other m12 tools.
Just curious what you guys would do.
FWIW I already have 4 of the m12 small batteries, 2 chargers for them, and the m12 impact and drill driver and they are really good, so I would just be getting the bare tool for about 180 bucks (listed on Amazon right now). The m12 units I have right now are nearly on par with my older 18 Volt Ridgid drill and impact in fact.
I think I probably will just go ahead and get the 3/8 stubby, but again, its the most expensive option. In spite of being costly I just think this time next year I won't be annoyed because of tool or battery performance, since the batteries get constant cycling between my other m12 tools.
Just curious what you guys would do.
Well seems like Craftsman is winding down on the C3 19.2 Platform especially once Sears dies... So if my tools/battery ever died, and it is something I can't replace, I would jump straight to the next platform.... Dewalt or Milwaukee or Ridgid.....
Amazon has plenty of aftermarket C3 batteries in both Ni-Mh and Li-ion at much cheaper prices than Sears would sell. I haven't tried any yet but I will when my batts die. The ratings are all very good. Because sears is giving up the tool line doesn't mean the aftermarket battery manufacturers will abandon a large established market for consumables.