NiCad to lithium-ion

[Snowballz]

I have an older craftsmen drill and impact driver set with NiCad 19.2 diehard batteries.

Is it worth buying new lithium-ion batteries? And if so are the new c3 19.2 XCP High Capacity Lithium-Ion a drecit swap? Unless they make a better battery?

Also can I use the same charger?

 

[Stuey]

Yes, Li-ion is worth the upgrade.

The XCP batteries are the best that Craftsman currently offer.

No, you can NOT use the same charger. You'll need a Li-ion charger.

 

[stikman56]

Waste of money IMO.

 

[elguappo]

I got a big set of the C3 tools years ago, and was always disappointed in the nicads. As soon as I got a li-ion it was like a new set of tools. Especially with high drain tools like my 1/2" impact. Taking that to the wrecking yard now is a pleasure.

 

[Snowballz]

Waste of money IMO.

Any resson?

 

[burke753]

I had a NiCad 3/8" impact. Worked great. I always thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. Until I got a whole line of Li-Ion impacts. They have more power, last longer and don't gradually die as noticeably as a NiCad. They just have power until they stop. Now that I have them I'll never go back.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[stikman56]

Any resson?

More expensive, can't rebuild them, special charger needed. (Most likely if your impact is older the charger is only for ni-cads) They have electronics inside that can and do fail at times. More fragile than Ni-cads for this reason. Shouldn't be fully charged or stored fully charged , because it lessens their life. I would never spend that kind of money for an older lower torque impact wrench, I would go late model if I were to do the switch. Just not needed for cordless tools, if the tools are good tools to start with. Again, this is JMO.

 

[kctyphoon]

Don't know if this is true for craftsman - but for dewalt = each new lithium battery cost about $80-$90.. So say it even cost you $150 for two, new charger is another $50-$70. You are already $200-$250 into it for 2, 1.5 amp hr batteries, for an old set of tools..

U can buy a new dewalt or milwaukee drill / driver set with batteries equivalent to what would be 4 or more of those for another $100 or less.. You can go brushless for a bit more..

I bought a refurb m18 fuel ($367 new)from Cpo outlets for $209 shipped at the time..

 

[Snowballz]

Don't know if this is true for craftsman - but for dewalt = each new lithium battery cost about $80-$90.. So say it even cost you $150 for two, new charger is another $50-$70. You are already $200-$250 into it for 2, 1.5 amp hr batteries, for an old set of tools..

U can buy a new dewalt or milwaukee drill / driver set with batteries equivalent to what would be 4 or more of those for another $100 or less.. You can go brushless for a bit more..

I bought a refurb m18 fuel ($367 new)from Cpo outlets for $209 shipped at the time..

Yea that's why I didn't know if it was worth it. One battery is $90 and the charger is $40

 

[GSteg]

Do you really need the 4.0AH battery? Mind you, the compact 2.0AH and even the slightly older lithium 1.5AH already exceeds the nicad 1.3AH capacity and performance.


The cheapest way to get the lithium battery is to buy a C3 drill kit. There are many drill kits that comes with a single compact lithium and a charger for $70-80.

If you really want the 4.0AH battery, get this kit:

http://www.sears.com/craftsman-c3-189-8221-heavy-duty-impact-wrench-kit/p-00945195000P?prdNo=21

Same price as buying the battery/charger separately, but you got a new (capable) impact gun.

 

[pattenp]

The Craftsman lithium/ni-cad charger and lithium compact battery is $69.99. I switched to lithium on my 19.2V stuff and think it was well worth it.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...CMDFx20140801x001&KPID=00935710000&kpid=35710

 

[uart]

The Craftsman lithium/ni-cad charger and lithium compact battery is $69.99. I switched to lithium on my 19.2V stuff and think it was well worth it.

http://www.craftsman.com/shc/s/p_10...CMDFx20140801x001&KPID=00935710000&kpid=35710

I agree that's not bad value. But on the same site you can get a kit with two 19.2 volt "diehard" Li-Ion batteries, and a drill/driver, and an impact driver, and what looks like a better "multi-chemistry" charger and a tool bag $109.99. That's a heck of a lot more kit for just $40 extra!

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-c3-19.2-volt-drill-impact-combo-kit/p-00955233000P?prdNo=1

This is like the perennial problem with buying batteries and upgrades for older stuff, there's nearly always much better deals to be had on new kits.

 

[pattenp]

I agree that's not bad value. But on the same site you can get a kit with two 19.2 volt "diehard" Li-Ion batteries, and a drill/driver, and an impact driver, and what looks like a better "multi-chemistry" charger and a tool bag $109.99. That's a heck of a lot more kit for just $40 extra!

http://www.craftsman.com/craftsman-c3-19.2-volt-drill-impact-combo-kit/p-00955233000P?prdNo=1

This is like the perennial problem with buying batteries and upgrades for older stuff, there's nearly always much better deals to be had on new kits.

The charger in the $69 package is a lot better charger than the charger in the $109 package, so that's some of the $. I purchased the $69 package and the charger charges all the different voltage Craftsman batteries and is also a battery maintainer. I didn't need another drill & driver. I already have 2 of each.

 

[matty d]

I have an XCP battery - I also have the C3 blower, string trimmer, hedge trimmer, shop vac....the XCP battery is awesome and lasts a lot longer than NiCad. I am thinking of not even having the NiCads around for 'backup'...compared to my full size XCP the NiCads are worthless.

Wait around for some sales (around the holidays) and the battery price will drop to $80 or less if you use your SYWR points. Some posters in this thread cite the voltage comparisons, power, Mhz etc.etc. etc. The bottom line is that the XCP battery lasts about 5+ times longer, holds the charge well. It will give you new life to your existing C3 tools and make you contemplate adding to your collection.

 

[Buckgnarly]

When I got my Li, I gave away my NiCads. They last longer, WAY lighter, and seem stronger. I also like the batt life check on the C3 batts. Wait for package deals coming up for the holidays, can't say I have ever bought batteries alone.

 

[Dick in Wisconsin]

I've had the Sears/Craftsman C3 cordless tools (variable speed drill, right angle drill, light, two circular saws, hedge trimmer, reciprocating saw, jib saw, 1/2" impact wrench, etc.) since 2006. LOVE THEM. I'm still using my Ni-Cad batteries, but this year I noticed they are starting to get a little soft. A friend started out with the Li-Ion batts and is very happy with them. I'll move to them shortly. None of the Ni-Cads (some are from 2006, some from 2010) have completely died yet.

I'm not a 40 hour a week professional mechanic ... just a hobbyist with a race car. I can bust the 1" lug nuts off and back on all day long at the track. I torgue to 90ft/lbs and rarely tighten more than what the impact does.

I really like the C3 series and plan to buy the angle grinder next. One type of battery which is interchangable across all the various tools. The multi-chem charger is the way to go. The Ni-Cads see to fully charger in about an hour. The hedge trimmer really turned out great. The only disappointment in all the tools so far is the leaf blower.

I think the prices are very reasonable for the value allowing you to build quite the collection of cordless tools for a modest cost. One of the things that drove me to the C3 was a "single charger". I didn't want to have seven tools, four different sizes of batteries, and three different chargers to manage.

 

[hackwelder]

The other BIG plus is that lithium batteries have a very low self discharge rates, unlike nicad...I sometimes don't use a nicad tool for a month or two and the battery is dead when I need it, a royal PITA....have switched to lithium battery tools mainly for that reason.

 

[GSteg]

The only disappointment in all the tools so far is the leaf blower.

It's definitely on the weak side, but it's great for car washes! I use mine to blow water out from crevices and it works wonder. I hate nothing more than water dripping from the side moldings after I 'dry' my car.

 

[Snowballz]

The other BIG plus is that lithium batteries have a very low self discharge rates, unlike nicad...I sometimes don't use a nicad tool for a month or two and the battery is dead when I need it, a royal PITA....have switched to lithium battery tools mainly for that reason.

Yea my nicads die fast when sitting. Biggest problem I have and like you said a pita.