Experience rebuilding Dewalt 18V battery packs?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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Should I buy new or rebuild? What is your experience?

My 18V Dewalt packs are dead so, looking for recommendations that make financial sense?

TIA,
Sid
 
If you know the cells going into the rebuild packs, then go for it. LG and Panasonic cells have the best rep as far as I'm aware. Otherwise, recycle, and replace. If you are planning a DIY then price out the LG cells and see what you can get, but I suspect that you might not save much.
 
Thanks.

I found 3,000mah replacement NIMH batteries for ~$60 installed. I'm not sure who makes the cells yet.
 
The maker will be important. A lot of the cheaper cells just won't give you the draw and cycles that you want.
 
The 18V Dewalt batteries, I believe, are 18650 Panasonic batteries. You just take it apart, determine which 18650 cell is bad, remove, solder in the new battery, then you're g2g.

It's pretty easy if you're decently handy with a multimeter and can solder. Follow this guide: http://imgur.com/a/v9Kl7
 
Sid Post said:
My 18V Dewalt packs are dead so, looking for recommendations that make financial sense?
Click to expand...

They'll only go dead again at some point in the future. So avoiding cordless tools makes the most financial sense, unless you're working in places with absolutely no AC power like an underground coal mine. :D
 
Chances are that only 1 or 2 cells are bad, but replacing them is a PITA. I have an old Milwaukee 14V drill. Both battery packs are dead. I found it cheaper to just buy new aftermarket packs. They are Chinese, but so is everything else these days.*

By the way, I looked into buying cells and also rebuild services. Both cost more than a new battery pack.



* On a trip to Truevalue I was just looking at the power tools to see where they were made. Except for a Bosch drill motor, they were all made in China, including Makita and Milwaukee.
 
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