M18 battery diagnostics hacked

[5ubtle]

The "Tool Scientist" has a new video on YouTube reporting that the internet has made major progress in it's effort to reverse engineer the Milwaukee M18's diagnostic information.

 

[Brazen Bull]

I watched this video and all of them leading up to this. This is remarkable work by gifted people around the globe.
Apparently the chip in the Fuel series that runs the show, supports cell balancing but is disabled.
The next logical step for the gifted hackers is to firmware hack it to activate what is all ready there.
May not help tired batteries with one cell undercharged, but it would help fresh out of the box batteries to live as long as they can.

 

[5ubtle]

The next logical step for the gifted hackers is to firmware hack it to activate what is all ready there.

By "firmware hack", I assume that you mean to extract the firmware from the battery uP, modify it, and then reinstall the modified firmware? I expect that would be, a least, an order of magnitude more difficult as the uP probably is "read protected". I would love to see it, but I don't think that it will happen.

 

[KnurledNut]

@5ubtle
I have mentioned on here before about the hundreds of bricked Milwaukee batteries I have personally seen that have been returned.
Not one bit surprised this thread has been crickets with the large fanboy base here.

 

[Brazen Bull]

By "firmware hack", I assume that you mean to extract the firmware from the battery uP, modify it, and then reinstall the modified firmware? I expect that would be, a least, an order of magnitude more difficult as the uP probably is "read protected". I would love to see it, but I don't think that it will happen.

I never say never anymore, the skill and persistence of hackers around the world is startling and they keep doing the "impossible" all the time.

 

[Brazen Bull]

By "firmware hack", I assume that you mean to extract the firmware from the battery uP, modify it, and then reinstall the modified firmware? I expect that would be, a least, an order of magnitude more difficult as the uP probably is "read protected". I would love to see it, but I don't think that it will happen.

I am not familiar with the right terms. But I think I got my point across.

 

[Nobody-named-Olli]

Watched the video last night, I think it is very interesting and provides great insight - being not “invested” in Milwaukee’s M18 platform I’m merely a spectator.

And while, like I said, it’s interesting - it is not a solution and far from “plug and play” for the average M18 user that might, or might not, have a bricked battery or was declined a replacement under warranty. It’s apparently another step and there are more needed for this to be useful for the average M18 user.

So I’m not surprised there is not much feedback/ a lengthy discussion evolving from it.

Thank you for posting the video, I would have missed it if not for this thread!

Kind regards,
Olli

 

[danski0224]

I never say never anymore, the skill and persistence of hackers around the world is startling and they keep doing the "impossible" all the time.

If anyone can spearhead this, it would be Louis Rossman.

This came out a few days ago:

 

[My Old Tools]

@5ubtle
I have mentioned on here before about the hundreds of bricked Milwaukee batteries I have personally seen that have been returned.
Not one bit surprised this thread has been crickets with the large fanboy base here.

I dumped Makita for this very issue, bricked batteries when nearly new, just because they sat a while. By the way, a non-Makita charger with clips would charge them just fine.

 

[KnurledNut]

I dumped Makita for this very issue, bricked batteries when nearly new, just because they sat a while. By the way, a non-Makita charger with clips would charge them just fine.

How long ago was this? We killed over two dozen of the old original non-star batteries. Once Makita fixed their over-discharge problem, I haven't bricked one since, which has been over a decade now. I have some really old ones showing their age, but not due to any issue, just high charge cycles as expected. The only ones I have seen have a problem were a couple brand new 2ah that had sat for around 10 years. I had bought four in a NIB unused lot and the other two the same age are performing well. I use them every week.
Makita cell balancing is excellent and safety protocols are stringent without losing much functionality.
I own and use red yellow teal and other rainbow colors.

 

[My Old Tools]

It was years ago. I switched to Milwaukee, and they have been perfect.

 

[YesIHaveAHammer]

Apparently the chip in the Fuel series that runs the show, supports cell balancing but is disabled.

Which battery brand/type does have cell balancing? Specifically on their latest product versions, because we know some elements of many companies are working to make their products worse than they used to be.

I have M12 drill and impact, and M18 lighting and fan. I chose the ecosystems with future tools in mind, but I'm not deep in yet so open to alternatives.

Their recent actions are eroding my trust, although I'm happy with my own tools and batteries to date. They released a new M18 Surge version with the same model number that is less powerful and reliable than the older one. Earlier, they replaced a planetary gear cage with some pins and removed a bearing in an impact driver design, and had to withdraw it. So it appears they weren't put off, and are still trying to make their tools worse if they can get away with it.

 

[Rinspeed]

@5ubtle
I have mentioned on here before about the hundreds of bricked Milwaukee batteries I have personally seen that have been returned.
Not one bit surprised this thread has been crickets with the large fanboy base here.

Lol.