dead DeWalt battery

[gordon stephenson]

One of my 18volt Dewalt batteries has been poor on performance for quite a while. I decided to give try and revive it a little by giving a series of higher voltage DC jolts to the terminals as recommended on numerous web searches.After recharging it was even worse than before,Half of the battery pack got very warm and the other half stayed cold.Checking the battery voltage after charging shows 20volt but it won't even turn the chuck with no load,
Any idea's anybody, just curious as to what has gone wrong with a battery that has not done a lot of work but always kept an eye on the charging,never letting it get really flat,can anybody recommend a place that will refurbish with new cells at a reasonable price?

 

[madkayaker]

It's a sad situation but a new drill is less than the cost of the battery. Have tried a copy one once and found it hopeless.

 

[hotrodder]

NiCd, NiMh, Li-ion? Presumably NiCd if you were zapping 'em? I wouldn't have thought replacing cells would be economical unless you do it yourself, even then depending on Ah flavour the cells for some of 'em aint cheap

 

[Sean]

found the same as above - cheaper to buy a new Makita with 3Ah Li-on battery than get the 14v dewalts replaced its a real "scunner"

"flashing" the battery pack works best if you open the pack find out which cells arent holding and flash that cell with 12v but you only buy a couple of months.

S

 

[ford34/2]

supplier

Gordon, the last ones I did for my son i used 24 volt Hilti 3.00 Amp hr, only cause they were available- same size cells,dissmantle-- solder in new. however I have used company below and just bought the cells off them or they refurbish, but you`ll know, price to refurbish a couple of batteries and you could buy a whole new kit drill charger batteries-crazy-or consider a new 18 volt original, ours came in from America and were 3.0Ah as original equipment. Company is in South Shields--I`m sure there was one in North Shields as well- maybe same one moved to South Shields

https://cellpacksolutions.com/contactus.asp

0191 427 4577
Telephone (International):

Monday to Friday: 8:00AM - 5:00PM
Address:
Cell Pack Solutions
Unit 218, TEDCO Business Works
Henry Robson Way
South Shields
Tyne and Wear
NE33 1RF
United Kingdom

 

[gordon stephenson]

The battery in question is a Li-ion 2.6 amp/hr. I still have 2 good batteries so will just soldier on with them,thanks for the replies everyone,

 

[hotrodder]

The zapping thing is for Nicads, Li-ion is totally different animal and more likely to explode from overheating/overvoltage

 

[hareng]

You can now get the 3ah Lithium for £55 delivered.
Changed over two years ago from 2.6ah NiMh. Not worth while changing the caps, they cost more than a complete new battery. Zapping didnt cure both of mine.
Will need a new charger approx £15.

Doubt a battery is more expensive than the drill even if its the cheapest in the line up, theyre dropped to £75 shopping around bare bones.

 

[Psymon]

Had that happen to me recently on a garden trimmer. Battery was 12v NiCd. After trying to charge at higher voltage it melted the battery pack. New one was £19 so I decided to break the battery to bits and solder on a cable to a 12v lead acid. Works wonderful now and lasts for ages rather than the 15 or so mins of charge the battery pack gave. I know it won't help for anyone with 18v but worth doing if you have a tool of 12v. Saves paying a ridiculous amount for a battery pack and gives a decent amount of use per charge.

 

[500e]

Have run 2 Hitachi 7.2volt drills on 12 volt for 18 months both drills were early battery units, (hard use on CAT machines) bought new Hitachi batteries when the originals died, think it was 3\4 years, the new were a disappointment short use life & died in 13 months or so.
Could not bare to throw away they lived in cupboard for years till I thought what the H**l if they burn out no loss.
Never had any luck with Maketa half inch hammer drill 110 v not a patch on the Hitachi 240 equivalent.
Not tried an 18 volt on 24 YET