Mini-Milwaukee Rant - bad batteries common?

[joseywales]

I believe Techtronic owns both Ryobi and Milwaukee so you probably won't impress them if you tell them you are switching over.

I haven't had any issues with my Milwaukee batteries and have also had mostly good luck with my aftermarket Milwaukee batteries.

I guess you’re right about that on Ryobi, but I’m sure their margin is better.

I’ve never had an issue with any battery. In fact, my B&D Firestorm batteries held their charge on seasonal tools that were stored.

 

[joseywales]

I believe Techtronic owns both Ryobi and Milwaukee so you probably won't impress them if you tell them you are switching over.

I haven't had any issues with my Milwaukee batteries and have also had mostly good luck with my aftermarket Milwaukee batteries.

So this won't get their attention?

 

[toyotadriver]

Impressive. I'm sure they will be happy to sell you all those same tools (if they make one) for Ryobi too!

Everyone makes a lemon every once in while including Milwaukee.

 

[joseywales]

Impressive. I'm sure they will be happy to sell you all those same tools (if they make one) for Ryobi too!

Everyone makes a lemon every once in while including Milwaukee.

Haha…they’re not mine. A local CL sale ad, which I think is BS.

No doubt that anything man made can fail out of the box. For the price, i just hoped for better support. I guess to many scammers though. You can tell these batteries have never touched a tool. Mostly, I’m bummed because I prefer these smaller profile batteries. Maybe I have to find another tool I “need” that comes with the same batteries, but will still see if HD Corp can provide the receipt and i get these two warrantied.

 

[visionguru]

My frustration exists on several levels:

- any battery over 2 years, you absolutely need proof of purchase. Well, I entered the serial #, and they knew there was no POP before I sent them in. Now they have my batteries, so I'm screwed.
- I do show that i have a purchase for $279 and change from HD, in 2020 and I believe that was the combo, with these batteries. But it's CC statement only, so unless HD can provide a receipt for that transaction, I'm SOL. I'll try that.

Both batts tested at 2V. Is it worth the $11 to have them sent back to me and I see if I can shock them back to life?

Low charge (below 20%) is bad for Li-Ion batteries.

I learned my lesson early on, when I first acquired a $3000 IBM ThinkPad 20 years ago. I bought a brand new OEM battery for about $200 but never needed the extra because I seemed to be able to plug in everywhere, even on airplanes. A few years later, when I took out the "new" battery, it's dead and not charging. The old battery lasted 10+ years.

Ever since, I don't keep too many extras around because of the hassle of periodically check and charge them.

I think your batteries were dead because of low charge. In the future, periodically check and charge them, also don't stress the battery when there is only 1 bar. With proper care, Li-Ion batteries can last 10 years. This applies to all li-ion batteries, not particular to Milwaukee.

 

[joseywales]

Low charge (below 20%) is bad for Li-Ion batteries.

I learned my lesson early on, when I first acquired a $3000 IBM ThinkPad 20 years ago. I bought a brand new OEM battery for about $200 but never needed the extra because I seemed to be able to plug in everywhere, even on airplanes. A few years later, when I took out the "new" battery, it's dead and not charging. The old battery lasted 10+ years.

Ever since, I don't keep too many extras around because of the hassle of periodically check and charge them.

I think your batteries were dead because of low charge. In the future, periodically check and charge them, also don't stress the battery when there is only 1 bar. With proper care, Li-Ion batteries can last 10 years. This applies to all li-ion batteries, not particular to Milwaukee.

Then only way to prevent that is to rip open every new package and charge the batteries, which I’ll do this weekend.

 

[dnschmidt]

Dude, if your man enough to "rip open" a Milwaukee battery package you should be king. I use aviation shears, my scroll saw, Hacksaw and on occasion dynamite to open Milwaukee battery packages. They are not just "theft proof" they are damn near customer proof.

 

[johnu]

So this won't get their attention?

I wonder how many have receipts for them? Thiefs loading carts and running out the front door into awaiting vehicles are legendary in Phoenix.

 

[PoorUB]

With proper care, Li-Ion batteries can last 10 years. This applies to all li-ion batteries, not particular to Milwaukee.

I have been impressed with Li-ion batteries. I bought a Rigid drill impact driver set 10 years ago. Some years they barely got used, some years I thought I would kill them, like the summer I built a deck. Still running the original batteries. Twenty five years ago with Ni-cads I would have replaced the batteries a couple times and the tools once in the same time period!

 

[mopar4u]

Sorry you’re dealing with this. Had a ebay used purchased milw circular saw fixed under warranty no receipt, process was smooth. I only use my milw stuff for shadetree diy activities and I have only ever bought my batteries used off ebay. Probably about 8 batteries total so far with no issues. Some have to be approaching the 4-5 year mark.

 

[joseywales]

I wonder how many have receipts for them? Thiefs loading carts and running out the front door into awaiting vehicles are legendary in Phoenix.

No doubt. Says he’s “downsizing”

 

[johnu]

Home Depot is fighting back! https://www.businessinsider.com/home-depot-fights-shoplifters-special-power-tools-2021-7

 

[Rated ///M]

Have you done the connect to a good battery trick yet? Literally run a jumper + -> + and - -> - from a good battery to a bad battery for about 2 seconds, then place on the charger. It will give the battery enough residual juice for the charger to recognize it and start charging.

I thought I had multiple bad batteries laying around, and this worked on every single one of them.

 

[joseywales]

Have you done the connect to a good battery trick yet? Literally run a jumper + -> + and - -> - from a good battery to a bad battery for about 2 seconds, then place on the charger. It will give the battery enough residual juice for the charger to recognize it and start charging.

I thought I had multiple bad batteries laying around, and this worked on every single one of them.

Thanks. This is now the plan. I've searched every online statement, spoke with HD, who were very patient, as we searched. Thinking about it, my CC was compromised a while back, so when the card was replaced, the number changed, blah, blah. I'm still a bit mystified as to why I can't see this on any of my accounts. I even confirmed that it wasn't on my Amazon account. I just don't buy tools anywhere but HD, Lowes, Amazon, and now KC tool. I know folks scam companies all the time, but these are clearly new batteries and verified as Milwaukee brand. And, if I wanted to scam someone, I'd simply buy another tool combo, swap out the batteries, and return the combo.

Anyway, I told them to return the batteries to me, charge me shipping as well I believe, just to add salt. I'll see if I can revive the batteries, or entertain the neighbors with a nice fireworks display

EDIT: I've now taken out every battery I own and fully charged them. Interestingly, the last one showed defective, but I rammed it into the charger and it's now charging, or burning my garage down, not sure because I'm sitting down to dinner.

 

[joseywales]

HOLD THE PHONE. In a bizarre turn of events, I found the receipt! I'm trying to clean up, since the influx of the few tools my FIL gave, the many tools I've been hauling back/forth to his house to ready it for sale, etc. Low and behold, I had some manuals, as well as receipts. Man, it's a good thing I didn't ask my wife to help search. I might have gone a little crazy on a HD 4th July sale in 2019

So, I just call Milwaukee and sent the receipt to them. Should be good to go.

 

[Vwpower]

I had two makita batteries fail and one was fairly new.
I supose this will happen to electric cars too.

 

[joseywales]

I had two makita batteries fail and one was fairly new.
I supose this will happen to electric cars too.

Don’t get me started on EVs. The delusion is real.

 

[dacan23]

I just had a second M18 12.0 die, coincidently I received the replacement for the first one, it tooks months cause of supply issues.

I have friends who have had M12 6.0s die, which concerns me as I have a **** ton of those, but believe all mine are fine.

I have to call them for the next 12.0 replacement, I had no issues with date receipt etc on the first, maybe because I am "known" to them?.... The date stamp on the 2nd is July 2018, if needed I can produce a receipt. I would expect them not to hassle people on M18 12.0 & M12 6.0 failures as obviously there are issues/defects with them. Back with the original 9.0 failures they didnt hassle people and I think they even still warranty them (dont quote me) as it was extended good will for a faulty product.

Interesting is the date code on the replacement is April 2021, which was a fresh shipment Milwaukee just got a few weeks ago, to give you an idea how F'd the world is.