Milwaukee M-12 batteries

[G_P]

I have 6 of them to go with the drill/driver/hackzall I have.

They are approx 1.5yrs old and now 2 of the batteries refuse to charge. When I put them on the charger the green and red lights flash at the same time indicating a bad battery! They still have enough juice in them to spin the tools but thats it.

Anybody else have this problem? They are not used commercially. I find it pathetic that these batteries last less than 2 years

 

[lametec]

I've barely used mine over the last year or so, but so far no issues.

They do have a 2 year warranty.

 

[G_P]

I've barely used mine over the last year or so, but so far no issues.

They do have a 2 year warranty.

Really? That would be great if I can get the bad ones swapped out. I dont have the reciept anymore though and even if I did it would have faded away to a blank sheet of paper by now anyways.

there is a code stamped on the batteries. Is there any way to determine their manufacturing date by it? Hopefully they werent sitting on the shelf for too long before I bought them.

EDIT: Just checked their website and a receipt is required to warranty batteries. Guess I'm screwed.

 

[Monte]

Maybe the batteries were not charged often enough ?

 

[G_P]

Maybe the batteries were not charged often enough ?

They were charged pretty often. Plus they are Lithium Ion.

I have found cell phones with lithium batteries that have been sitting unused for years and they charge right back up and hold a charge normally.

Ill have to ask around localy and see if I can find someone with these tools and try my bad batteries on their charger. Maybe my charger is failing?

 

[Terra Nova]

I don't think that's entirely accurate. To determine age they put the batteries on a scanner and it'll tell them the date they were first charged (# of charges, max temp, etc). The warranty starts from the date of first charge. I just went through this recently with an older Li V18 set. The service center was great to work with and actually cut me a break to upgrade to a new M18 tool and batteries for not a lot more than replacement V18s. V18 batteries were prorated, would have been $100 for two new batteries or $150 for the M18 upgrade. They never once asked for a receipt. I had my Milwaukee compound miter saw fixed under warrantee and the never asked about a receipt either.

M batteries are warranted fully for 3 years I think. Call the local service center and ask, couldn't hurt.

I too was disappointed that they died basically sitting on the shelf.

 

[toolmaker1]

The only two I have are the same way. Flash defective on the charger and they have seen very little use. That has kept me from buying any more m12 tools. On the other hand my m18 tools and batteries have been bulletproof.

 

[bobcatdan]

Find a Milwaukee tool dealer in your area, take the batteries there and have them sent in. As stated before, the batteries have a chip that records when they are first charged and warranty is based of of that. I had some 28v batteries go **** up and it was that simple, just be prepard to wait three weeks for replacements. This is just me, but keeping the batteries in cold does not seem to be good for them. I moved my charger in the house since the shop is not heated around the clock.

 

[G_P]

Guess Ill toss em in the car and bring them to the service center next time I am out that way.

I love the M12 tools but am afraid to buy anymore not knowing if the batteries are going to last. I dont want to be spending a fortune replacing expensive batteries constantly.

 

[TonyCH]

Wasn't there a problem with the M12 batteries? I think I've read many threads about them lately? They very commonly fail to state where they do not take charge anymore. And Milwaukee came up with the new "Redlithium" -batteries to fix this known problem.

The new ones say Redlithium and they are not supposed to fail like the old ones.

 

[bobcatdan]

Personally I'm not sold on lin-ion. Sure their run time when new is great, but hey **** in the cold which is a problem for me. I have milwaukee 28 volt back from when they came out and they kicked ***. The both batteries gave up the ghost about the same time and where too old to warranty. I just about put them on craiglist when I found the drill on super clearance for less then the cost of two batteries. So I have two batteries for three tools, but they are at home and that is fine for me. At work I went all SO nicads. I don't know hat is so speical about them, but the run time is very close to my 28 volts. One goes to hell, it can be rebuilt. I have eight or nine batteries at work.

 

[JASTECH]

I have 6 of the M12 Li-Batteries, been having charging issues like stated above. I will bring them into the house and try charging cycle again, need to look and see if any are Redline.

 

[sargeX595]

I have had issues with both the 28V and 12V batteries. I hardly used them and took them to a local service center. At first they were good about replacing them and then started giving me reasons while they wouldn't warranty them. They also told me that I should have bought my Milwaukee tools from them because when you order them from places on line, you end up getting the older batteries. They did say the newer batteries worked better which leads me to believe they knew that had a problem. I was a die-hard Milwaukee guy and bought the biggest 28V combo kit they had, a cordless 4 1/2" grinder, 1/2" cordless impact, 12V drill driver. I was going to get the 12V impact but have held off because of all the problems I've had. I also purchased a 4 1/2" corded variable grinder which I really like. I bought these tools as I love tools but hardly use them. I'm not sure which brand to purchase in the future and by now must of my batteries are probably past the warrant period anyways. Like I said, at first the local service center was good about replacing the batteries but then started give me excuses why they no longer were covered.

Curt.

 

[greasemonkey44]

i have a bad m12 charger from them; worked for about 6 months then just died
swapped the battery to another one and it worked right as rain

 

[TheGrooveking]

I have 14 of the M12 batteries, one of the from new was problematic with the chargers, whenever I put in the charger the LED would flash that states it's too hot or some other problem. I would take it out of the charger, push it back in and then it would take a charge. It only happened when it was new the first few times I tried to charge it, so really I do not have anything specific that may point you in the right direction, sorry.

TheGrooveking

 

[l_bilyk]

Very common problem. Milwaukee ain't what it used to be since TTI.

 

[canuckian]

Have 8 or so m12 batteries, some older some newer and have never had an issue. They've all been kept in an unheated garage the past 3 winters as well. Maybe I got lucky?

 

[blacK20]

I actually had that same problem when I first got my m12's. I thought they were junk at that time and didn't bother to send them back in. I started using them more and more. They got better after every charge. Almost two years later now and they work great. No more double red/green flashing on the charger. Shrugs.

 

[472scout]

The 2 M-12's that I have are not charging either. I'm hoping that it's just the 100 volt power I was using that was the problem, but all these failure reports don't sound promising.

 

[G_P]

I actually had that same problem when I first got my m12's. I thought they were junk at that time and didn't bother to send them back in. I started using them more and more. They got better after every charge. Almost two years later now and they work great. No more double red/green flashing on the charger. Shrugs.

I wish that were my case but they wont charge at all. there is barely enough juice left in them to spin the drill and you can easily stop it by pinching it with your thumb and index finger.

 

[Ign]

Hmm, disappointing to hear these complaints. I've got at least 6 M12 batteries, only two of them are Red and I haven't used those hardly at all as I just got them. I've not had any problems w the old style (knock on wood). If anything I'm amazed at how long they hold a charge sitting out in the unheated shop. Leave them in the tool on the shelf for weeks, then pick up the tool to use it and they show all 4 dots. Battery life during use supports that they seem fully charged.

I haven't noticed M12 performance suffering so much in the cold, either, but I think it's just because the tools in general don't pull as many amps or I don't use them as heavily. My V28 stuff ***** in the cold, esp on my cordless drill. Definite drawback.

 

[Danglerb]

Spins but low power sounds like some of the cells are bad.

I hate to let any company slide if I am due a warranty. I would take them to a service place and lean on them. Go to the service place during a time its easy to reach Milwaukee directly if they give you any trouble.

 

[ChvyC10]

Pretty much all the guys in our shop have the kit (drill, impact, light) and we've had no problems so far. Mine has about a half a QT of ****** fluid in it and I use it everyday.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I had 3 of 6 showing green and red bad lights charging. The whole bag of tools and batteries was stolen out of my truck so now I have 6 new batteries and new tools. Hope they last longer. Just barely under the insurance deductible so it was all out of pocket. Stolen right out of my driveway. Guess I am going to get some security cameras.

 

[Mori55]

My first batch ,when they first came out didn't last long. The new red lithiums seem a lot better. I love the m12 line . Son and I worked on his bike all day using the ratchet hard and the small batteries lasted all day.
I for one love Milwaukee. I have numerous m12 tools and the heated jacket.
I got my first m12 tool when they first came out. Lithiums were fairly new then.

 

[Ign]

Different but related: I just got an XC battery thru the current rebate deal. I had read the reviews on Amazon which basically say it's the greatest thing EVER but I wasn't sold.

Now I'm a believer. Put it on my 3/8 square drive impact (2451) and this allowed it to break a series of bolts it wasn't with the standard battery. The tool has noticeably more grunt. I also really do agree it improves the balance of the tool, and I love that you can stand it on the battery now. I have to agree that ALL kits should just come with the XC battery standard, with a few exceptions; in fact the XC batt won't fit a few tools like the laser level.

 

[Greatbear]

I've had an issue with both a Bosch and a Milwaukee battery, both of which are very similar in design. In both cases, one of the three small auxiliary terminals had gotten bent slightly from either dropping the pack or mashing them together in storage. The three contacts are used by the tool and by the charger as safety and diagnostic connections for cell temperatures and individual cell voltages (for cell protection). In both cases, the charger would not charge the pack, and in the case of the Bosch, would not run in the tool. The terminal was pushed into the pack despite being somewhat recessed to prevent damage. Pulling the terminal back in line with the others fixed both cells.

Just something to check!