fix for dewalt 18 volt batteries

[wheats71]

does anybody know how to ressurect 18 volt batteries that wont hold a charge or are very weak i have 4 of them that have gone south over the winter and even a pair at $126.00 is expensive.
i have found a bunch of fixes on the internet but i really dont want to send money for an unknowen fix
has anybody had any luck with these fixes or should the money be spent on batteries ?
any help would be appreciated
thanks

 

[shanker]

the local interstate battery rebuilds them here for 45 each and makes them more powerful &last longer than new

 

[scott37300]

I buy sub-c cells by the 100 and rebuild my batteries. Here is were I get mine. It comes out to 25 bucks for an 18 volt battery. You just solder the tabs together. Pretty easy to do.

Some of those "jump starting" methods work but they don't last long, not worth it from what I have read.

Forgot the link! http://cgi.ebay.com/100-NiCd-Sub-C-...043060769?pt=US_Batteries&hash=item5ad060ca21

 

[OldHarley]

Probably the best way is to have them rebuilt by a rebuilder as suggested. It will take 15 of the 1.2 volt rechargables to do it, but Voltman or others can do it for about $50. if you send them your battery.

There are a lot of what I would call scams out there, including buying a DVD that tells how to 'rejuvenate' these old batteries. Usually that consists of inducing a larger charge into the batteries to fry the whiskers that these cells build up causing them to not take a charge. Most folks that have done this (I myself have not since I was forewarned) say it is only a temporary band aid fix.

As I look into my crystal ball, I predict that once these hybrid automobile batteries begin to go bad like your DeWalt units, you will find some real hybrid car deals, since those batteries will make the DeWalt look like chump change by comparison.

 

[cglasgow]

There's this, but I'm not sure I'm man enough to try it....
http://www.instructables.com/id/Revive-Nicad-Batteries-by-Zapping-with-a-Welder/

 

[srupp]

go to HF pick up a cheap 18v drill take the battery put in your battery pack

 

[rwhite692]

As I look into my crystal ball, I predict that once these hybrid automobile batteries begin to go bad like your DeWalt units, you will find some real hybrid car deals, since those batteries will make the DeWalt look like chump change by comparison.

There is already a cottage industry of small shops that fix battery packs for hybrids. Local sales rep we deal with here (drives a lot) has an 06 Civic with 175K on it, and got two cells replaced in his for $125. That was 30K miles ago. He gets a steady 42MPG and drives it like a maniac.

 

[Red Green]

There's this, but I'm not sure I'm man enough to try it....
http://www.instructables.com/id/Revive-Nicad-Batteries-by-Zapping-with-a-Welder/

I made a cord so I wasn't near the battery. It worked for a month or two then the batteries went south again.

 

[cglasgow]

I made a cord so I wasn't near the battery. It worked for a month or two then the batteries went south again.

I do like the disclaimers on that page:
"If you get killed by a poisonous explosion it means you did something wrong.
Electrocution is a real possibility also.
Ask your parents how to not electrocute yourself with a welder."

 

[wheats71]

yeah the welder thing doesnt seem like its worth the 50 or 60 dollars
i know that usually if it sounds to good to be true it usually is
i haxe seen the ads for the interstate rebuilders but at 51.00$ as opposed to $62 for new ones ....
thanks for all the input

 

[emeraldcoupe]

sent you a pm.