Rebuilding battery packs.

[Dragfluid]

Have any of you successfully rebuilt your cordless tool packs with new cells? Was wondering if it's cost effective. I see that there's a lot of packs available on Amazon, etc, but how does one know how good they are?
What I'm specifically looking for is Dewalt 18V. I've got 3 of them that need replacement.

 

[Farmall450]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-100876.html

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=239788

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=312316&showall=1

site: garagejournal.com rebuilding 18 dewalt pack

 

[dogdog]

Ni-Cad ? or Li-ion

Most but not all Ni-cad/Ni-mh are Sub-C cells ... so just price it out and see... 1.2Vx15cells... or 16 cell if you are those craftsman 19.2V , with ni-cad/ni-mh...
Most Li-ion are 18650 cells... "most" and most 19v or 20V are 5 Cells , you'll have to look at the battery controller....24V ones like the Kobalts are 6 cells

with those info, just go price them out... be wary of ebay ones... they are hit or miss... especially those deals too good to be true .... on these batteries...

you have to make sure the cells are matching capacity. otherwise your pack will die premature death...

 

[Dragfluid]

Thanks for the links, 450. Was kinda wondering if anyone has done so recently.

Dog, just the plain old Ni-Cad. Have been searching around, but usually input from here usually carries more weight on some things.

 

[PelicanPines]

The last time I did nicads... I outsourced the work to a place called BatteriesPlus ... they were local to where Mrs Pines was working... I have since abandoned all nicad tools. Except for two... sawzall and right angle drill.

 

[Dragfluid]

The last time I did nicads... I outsourced the work to a place called BatteriesPlus ... they were local to where Mrs Pines was working... I have since abandoned all nicad tools. Except for two... sawzall and right angle drill.

I've got three that I really like and would hate to have to replace them. Small circular saw, right angle drill, and right angled grinder.

 

[MattT]

I've got three that I really like and would hate to have to replace them. Small circular saw, right angle drill, and right angled grinder.

You can upgrage to Li-ion and keep your old tools. The adapter is also available seperately if you already have 20v batteries.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/acc...ax-battery-adapter-kit-for-18v-tools/dca2203c

 

[PelicanPines]

You can upgrage to Li-ion and keep your old tools. The adapter is also available seperately if you already have 20v batteries.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/acc...ax-battery-adapter-kit-for-18v-tools/dca2203c

A must be getting old thing... that's what I did... adapter... for the two hold out tools.

 

[Farmall450]

Thanks for the links, 450. Was kinda wondering if anyone has done so recently.

Dog, just the plain old Ni-Cad. Have been searching around, but usually input from here usually carries more weight on some things.

Np.

I recently came across an adapter, and gave it to my dad (he had DeWalt 18 before M18, and still doesn't have an M18 saw, etc). We used one of his hammer drills with it and it works pretty well. A slim 20v pack is probably less obtrusive than the original meh 18v was.

DCA1820

 

[mailpup]

I have four old Snap-on 9.6V ni-cad batteries that I sent out to be rebuilt and have been very satisfied with the results. They were for a cordless drill, cordless 3/8" dr. impact and a spotlight.

 

[finn]

I had the local battery store rebuild one 18v Dewalt pack.

Works fine and it wasn’t too expensive.

Also bought the adapter, and it works as advertised.

I find I don’t use the old 18v tool much, though. The newer 20v tool has better ergonomics.

Tho 18v is now a backup that I leave in the fifth wheel.

 

[Bretny]

Personaly i wouldnt bother repairing nicad battery packs. Most tools of that age are well past there prime and lithium prices have gone way down.

Im still useing a 8 or 9yr old milwaukee M18 battery.

 

[Handyandy23]

You can upgrage to Li-ion and keep your old tools. The adapter is also available seperately if you already have 20v batteries.

https://www.dewalt.com/products/acc...ax-battery-adapter-kit-for-18v-tools/dca2203c

+1 for the adapter. The lithium batteries are superior as far as lifespan, how long they hold a charge, speed to charge, etc. I'd definitely go that route versus dumping more money into an outdated battery platform.

Plus once you "invest" in the lithium batteries then it makes it that much easier to add new tools. You're not frozen in time with NiCd. But you can still use your NiCd tools.

 

[Dragfluid]

Thank you for the info guys!
I appreciate it.

 

[tym]

I used to rebuild NiCd and NIMH packs, but the time/money tradeoff isn't worth it anymore IMHO.

 

[Danglerb]

I keep everything, instead of rebuilding old packs though, I have been thinking of removing the old batteries and running a cable out with a standard plug that would connect with a generic DIY power pack.