cordless drill batteries

powernoodle

powernoodle

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Jul 21, 2004
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I have a Sears 14.4 volt cordless drill with 2 nicad batteries. The batteries on this thing die and become unusable after a year or two, and are expensive to replace. I have read that that they can be damaged if they drop below 70% charge, and also that they need a deep discharge once a month.

How do you deep discharge a cordless drill battery other than sitting there and manually running the drill until the battery dies?

I just want a battery that lasts, or inexpensive DIY cell replacement, or maybe something else like going to lithium ion.

What are you guys using, and how do you keep your batteries alive for more than just several months? I would like to find something that is not spendy, and lasts, or be able to DIY install new nicad cells in my current batteries.

thanks
 
powernoodle said:
I have a Sears 14.4 volt cordless drill with 2 nicad batteries. The batteries on this thing die and become unusable after a year or two, and are expensive to replace. I have read that that they can be damaged if they drop below 70% charge, and also that they need a deep discharge once a month.

How do you deep discharge a cordless drill battery other than sitting there and manually running the drill until the battery dies?

I just want a battery that lasts, or inexpensive DIY cell replacement, or maybe something else like going to lithium ion.

What are you guys using, and how do you keep your batteries alive for more than just several months? I would like to find something that is not spendy, and lasts, or be able to DIY install new nicad cells in my current batteries.

thanks
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You have technology on your side! I have been through the progression of batteries since Lead-Acid, and man those are a long shelf life tool, and pretty good still, unless you want to recharge.

Ooh, remember the cadmium batteries in the drills, where you would discharge them as not to build up a "crystal" then the battery would only hold so much, and it got less and less any way.

Now that we are at NiCad technology, the things work great(they wont build a cristal and you can mid-way charge them((half use em and set em' on the charger (((this is luxory)))! but don't forget to plan to replace your items before they wear out.

If your .308 rifle fires about .75 cent to $1.00 dollar bullets, I would keep it lubed, and it should last you a life time (now were back to usage).

Check out Chilton's or Hayne's car manuals for your car. There is a time frame to replace things... nobody does it though, that's why your used to hear about things breaking down.

Cheers, my man, and no offence, I don't want to make you feel like I laughed at you!

The point of this is that rarely do manufactures tell you your replacement times.. so you got to hire a repairman, but then were not talking number of South West jet landings, or even tack- time (where the engine has been running)

Peace bro, just replace your batteries, there fire and forget items!
 
I'm not real hip on paying $50 for a pair of replacement batteries every year. That eats into my knife money. Maybe its time for me to go back to some good 1940's corded drill technology. My little way of saying screw you to the replacement battery industry. [<< pun, get it?]
 
I feel your pain. Now that I am older, most of my projects are over and my power tools don't get used much, so I am facing the same dilemma.

I get a newspaper called Farm Show and I have read several articles about a couple of small companies that will rebuild those batteries for less then the cost of replacements. If I can find the paper, I will post the info. Otherwise, a web search might find them.
 
powernoodle said:
I'm not real hip on paying $50 for a pair of replacement batteries every year. That eats into my knife money. Maybe its time for me to go back to some good 1940's corded drill technology. My little way of saying screw you to the replacement battery industry. [<< pun, get it?]
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lol, yeah I got it. I wasn't meaning to say wrong things.

I'm an FAA aircraft inspector, and you wouldn't believe pilot/owners of aircraft. I gigged this one plane on the dry rot on tires, I had to end up showing the pilot that "the cord was showing" statement in the books.

Brother, I am out of that field.

I like your cool pics of knives on EDC thread.
 
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The battery shop in the strip mall by my house will rebuild them for you. Not sure of the cost, but it does mean that they are available.

I also saw someone who put SAE 12V connectors on the tools and ran them off a deep cycle boat battery. It was clunky, but he said it would run a long time and made using deck screws instead of nails possible. (I think he also picked up the tools for very cheap since the batteries were dead.)

I've replaced the internal batteries in a few things instead of upgrading. Google and instructables are the key to initial success.
 
Milwaukee Li-Ion. I've got batteries that are 3-4 years old that work like they are new. Granted they are not cheap.
 
It seems like any decent rechargeable stuff is litium-ion, and has been for years.
I don't buy any of the stuff myself (I prefer corded tools), but our Makita tools at work have been going and going for years, and with no special maintenance or battery treatment.

Maybe its time for me to go back to some good 1940's corded drill technology. My little way of saying screw you to the replacement battery industry.
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Do you really need the portability of cordless tools? They cost more to purchase, performance is lower, recharging is a PITA, and even the best batteries need replacing eventually.
 
Bob W said:
It seems like any decent rechargeable stuff is litium-ion, and has been for years.
I don't buy any of the stuff myself (I prefer corded tools), but our Makita tools at work have been going and going for years, and with no special maintenance or battery treatment.



Do you really need the portability of cordless tools? They cost more to purchase, performance is lower, recharging is a PITA, and even the best batteries need replacing eventually.
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Yes Sir, technology is working to replace corded, but in my experience, it's not even close
 
I was faced with the same problem awhile back. Gave it some thought and ran some numbers. The drill I was having problems with was a Makita. A great drill and I got a lot of service out of it until the batteries died. Looked into replacement batteries and the cost was nearly what I paid for the drill originally. So, I thought since I don't use the drill for my livelihood, why not just get a replaceable drill. Went to Harbor Freight and got a (I think) 14v cordless drill for under $20.00 and have been using it without problem for at least two years. At that rate, I can replace the drill several times before I hit the mark where the Makita placed me. On the other hand, I would have taken a different attitude if I was using the drill daily, especially heavy use in my job. Normally, I have followed the course of buying the absolute best (subjective) tool I can afford, but this appears to be the exception that proves the rule.

Hope this sheds a little light for you.

Bob
 
I have a lot of Bosch tools replacing my corded and battery Craftsman tools. My Bosch screw gun /drill is six years old and still works as well as ever with the original batteries. In many applications in my work, I cannot used corded tools. The Craftsman tools just had lousy battery life as far I am concerned. With Bosch, no problems so far. I don't know who makes either battery or what their differences are, but no more Craftsman power tools for me. Not even corded tools. Their hand tools are still top notch though.
 
I own DeWalt and Makita 18V drills, both had Li Ion cells, they lasted me about 2.5-3 years in each device before replacing them. As for a deep decharging, make something like this:
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-simple-battery-discharger-for-NiCad-or-NiMH/

At times, it's cheaper to buy an all new drill than just the batteries. That is the cost of modern conveniences, spendy upkeep. You could always buy a corded drill and a very long extension cord.
 
This the the reason I prefer corded drills. I find that 9 out of 10 times I use my drill I'm reasonally close to an outlet. I recently got a Hitachi DV20VB2 3/4" Hammer Drill and I couldn't be happier with it. It has all the features I think are important and it's be go-to drill for all my projects. I don't see myself having to replace this drill for a very long time.
 
Bob W said:
Do you really need the portability of cordless tools?
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Not really. Not only do I not "need" cordless tools, I really don't actually "need" power tools. Its just a convenience thing for occasional usage. So I have this sliding scale of no power tools on one end, and high end Makita tools with lithium ion batteries on the other end of the scale. I'm just trying to figure out where to position myself. Since I'm a laptop jockey and not a workin' man, my cordless drill probably gets used 3 times a year. So thats $15 per usage in disposable NiCad batteries. I think that corded, or even the old-timey hand crank is the way to go, unless I can get a cheapy "disposable" cordless drill like Mr. Coffey does.

I'm sorta having an epiphany here. Maybe Powernoodle doesn't need a cordless drill. Thats a paradigm shift. Cool.

Here is what I need: link.
 
How do you deep discharge a cordless drill battery other than sitting there and manually running the drill until the battery dies?
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The majority of homeowners would be better off with a corded drill. Yes, cords are inconvenient. But you can do a lot of inconvenience for the cost of new batteries... assuming you can still get them. For the average home user, a good corded drill will last you for the rest of your life.
 
I don't believe that a corded drill motor replaces a screw gun. I use my screw gun for work and around the house. But I don't use it all day every day. It once sat for 18-24 months unused. But sometimes I'll use it for 10 hours a day every day for a week. The batteries still last longer than the new lithium ion ryobi's.
My drill is a 4 year old Mikita 18v compact. It's the best that I've found. It came with two batteries a charger and a case. The batteries charge in about 20-30 minutes and I have had no issues with them holding a charge. Buy quality and cry once.
 
Since I'm a laptop jockey and not a workin' man, my cordless drill probably gets used 3 times a year. So thats $15 per usage in disposable NiCad batteries...
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In that case, instead of wasting money on batteries or 'disposable' drills, why not dish out the cash once for a mid-range corded drill that could very well last for decades? Nothing fancy, nothing too heavy, nothing too expensive. A decent 3/8" DeWalt is under $60, and $80 buys a Makita.

Replacement 18 Volt batteries can cost more than that. :thumbdn:

Just my 2 cents, since you seem to be still on the fence.

----------------

My personal drill is a basic 3/8" DeWalt that cost less than sixty dollars and still runs like new after ten+ years of home restoration. My other power tools are DeWalt (compound miter saw, biscuit joiner, reciprocating saw), Craftsman (belt sander, table saw, router), and Makita (angle grinder, planer). I'm happy with all of them except the belt sander.
 
Gollnick said:
The majority of homeowners would be better off with a corded drill. Yes, cords are inconvenient. But you can do a lot of inconvenience for the cost of new batteries... assuming you can still get them. For the average home user, a good corded drill will last you for the rest of your life.
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^ couldn't agree more. :thumbup:
 
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