Makita Drill Batteries

[Snowy90]

My batteries have both failed, wont hold charge for any length of time.
Anyone tried the ones of Amazon about £22.00 They are the 18v PA18 ones old red ones.

VANON 18V 3.0Ah Ni-MH Replacement Battery for Makita PA18 1822 1823 1834 1835 192826-5 192827-3 192829-9 193159-1 193140-2 193102-0 194105-7 for Makita Battery 2Pack: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

at £44.00 for a pair, i may just get a bare new drill as i have a charger and battery for my cordless circular which uses the xtc ones but seems a shame to ditch the drill body.

 

[frank horton]

I bought 2 Hitachi batts, because of post via Amazon... abso c*arp.....cant get em back from here so a total waste....
guess it's the electronics in the batt.....
Amazon, never ever again......would do better by ebay I guess.....
thats not to say all are no good....

 

[500e]

The genuine Hitachi batteries I replaced original with were junk in comparison

 

[hunter27]

I have had 2 Makita compatible batteries bought at different times but they both worked for around a year then refused to charge.
I am still using some of my original Makita batteries from several years ago without any problems.

 

[Ross365]

I have an ancient Bosch 12V drill, which is in perfect condition, but the NiMH cells you buy now are junk. I opened up the battery pack and installed three Li ion 18650 cells (~£5 ea) and they are most wonderful , but... you do need a charger suited to them, i.e. not your existing NiMH one. There are pics of people doing this on You Tube.

 

[Gareth J]

Have bought some of those (maybe the same, maybe not) generic ones for the same machines from eBay. Were about £60 at the time iirc.

Have lasted ok. Over a year I'd say but can't be sure of time.

It gets used semi regularly, not my trade but not hobby/DIY either. Fully charged immediately when the go flat, switched to the other and repeat.

I'd buy another set if they die before the old drill gives up. It's lasted well and taken some abuse - although the chuck did die recently.....hmmm, maybe it's actually a triggers broom situation.

 

[jordhandson]

My brother bought me one of them 18volt Makita corless griders for Christmas not cheap by all acounts only problem with it it only the grinder a bare one when i spoke with him on the phone I asked how he decided on what to get me, he said he buys the things he would like, he said let me know what they are like as he wouldnt mine getting himself one.
His birtday is the end of February I said if they are any good I would get him one. Yes you gused it he can have to one I got its still box with no battery.

 

[Mark 2]

Well, In the interest of balance, I bought a faux Hitachi battery from ebay - star performer.

 

[Onoff]

Bought 2 NiMH 12V batteries from eBay for my beloved old 12V Makita drills. They're rubbish. Ditto one I bought for a 12V Ryobi.

The clone Li-ions for my Makita though absolutely brilliant though I won't leave them charging unattended!

 

[Snowy90]

Bought 2 NiMH 12V batteries from eBay for my beloved old 12V Makita drills. They're rubbish. Ditto one I bought for a 12V Ryobi.

The clone Li-ions for my Makita though absolutely brilliant though I won't leave them charging unattended!

My current batteries must be 10 years old and only just started giving up late last year.
Which clone ones did you go for?
Thanks for all the replies, sounds a bit hit and miss with the clone batteries, i may look at the 18650 route replacement i have those for my vape, but they always say they are a bit unstable if abused?? I suppose that goes for all high power batteries.

 

[Munkul]

Get a ni-cad to li-ion adapter from Wish/wherevever, and buy some modern i-ion batteries? Even a 3ah li-ion would do the job, they're far, far superior to the ni-cads.

Even buy off ebay second hand... generally if they die it's just the circuit boards to replace, at less than £5/pop.

Whatever you do, buying more old-tech ni-cads isn't a forward solution.

 

[Snowy90]

Get a ni-cad to li-ion adapter from Wish/wherevever, and buy some modern i-ion batteries? Even a 3ah li-ion would do the job, they're far, far superior to the ni-cads.

Even buy off ebay second hand... generally if they die it's just the circuit boards to replace, at less than £5/pop.

Whatever you do, buying more old-tech ni-cads isn't a forward solution.

Genius, i already have Li-ion batteries for the makita circula saw, didnt know an adapter existed or would work!

 

[Munkul]

Genius, i already have Li-ion batteries for the makita circula saw, didnt know an adapter existed or would work!

Aye to be fair I only learned about them recently too.

They're generally made in china as a specific aftermarket solution, hopefully you can find one for a reasonable price already here in the UK (or you'll be waiting a while!)

 

[Nick DV]

Non genuine batteries are a bit of a lottery unfortunately. A mate of mine had the same Bocsh drill as mine (NiMh type), we both purchased a couple of non genuine batteries and both of mine we fine but one of his would only last about five mins. It's just a case of getting what you pay for

 

[gerrymoore]

I've got a non-genuine Makita battery and, so far, it's been fine. I bought a genuine Makita Impact gun (without battery) and a non genuine Makita impact driver and have used the non genuine battery with both...no problems. It is made by VANON (ebay) 18volt 4ah ML: BL1840B and manufacturer: SZYDZS ...think it was around £18.00.

 

[500e]

Got some DeWalt after market ones they are ok. As said the Hitachi OEM batt lasted a long time the OEM replacements were junk. Tried after market ones they were marginally better than the replacement OEM.

 

[Onoff]

Genius, i already have Li-ion batteries for the makita circula saw, didnt know an adapter existed or would work!

Also try Banggood for the adaptors.

 

[drjim]

I got some 5Ah makita clones off eBay. Lasted 30 seconds then died, not charging. Seller refunded immediately no quibble, which I did find a bit odd, as though they knew something wrong with them. I undid the 4 torx screws holding them together and found the wires that connect to the batteries had been dabbed on with a bit of solder which had broken off. Soldering iron for a couple of minutes and they now work fine and hold charge well. I would say they still don't last as well as the genuine 3Ah makita ones that came with my original drill/driver kit, but that may just be psychological cos I know they are knock off. I have some eBay 4Ah ones as well that are definitely weaker. The circular saw kills them very quick, but all last well in drills even the SDS, multi cutter, hedgecutter, bang good angle grinder, biscuit jointer, impact driver and wrench etc. I do have 6 batteries and am just a DIY user though. Planning to see how long they last in a chainsaw next! This Makita tool stuff is addictive.

 

[Turbo]

The clone Li-ions for my Makita though absolutely brilliant though I won't leave them charging unattended!

I got some 5Ah makita clones off eBay.

Could you tell me which ones you went for?

 

[drjim]

It was this item...

eBay linky!

I did have to open one up again a month or two ago because the soldered joint came apart again, but they work fine and were of course free!