Rejuvenating drill batteries

[DrNik]

Well after finding this info on the net thought I'd give it a go, got the most knackered 24v nicad battery and th charger keeps saying the battery is damaged,using my MIG, i connected the earth to the negative side of the nicad, and pulled off the shroud and put the tip onto the positive, well gave it a blast,well hardly a blast thought it would spark, was a small spark, but gave it 2 blasts of 10 seconds (probably better with 3 blasts),battery didn't get hot at all (thought it would be hot),well put it back on charge , and suprisingly it now charges and works great, that's my tip for 2014

 

[ford34/2]

Batteries this time of year dont like being cold and working outside, placed straight into a charger will almost always show a knackered sign, bring em indoors and warm them up, and off you go, mind if the batteries a well knackered then Dr Nik`s your man to Zap them.I have read varying thoughts on zapping them with varying results, but given its knackered anyway you got nowt to loose.
Stan

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ni-Cd seems to respond quite well to that trick but Ni-Mh don't, I've got loads of AA that won't take a charge and no amount of zapping has worked.
My own fault for not using them in order.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

As far as I know it shocks all of the rubbish off the plates inside the cell and can the carry on running with clean plates if you like.

 

[Bsmith]

Well after finding this info on the net thought I'd give it a go, got the most knackered 24v nicad battery and th charger keeps saying the battery is damaged,using my MIG, i connected the earth to the negative side of the nicad, and pulled off the shroud and put the tip onto the positive, well gave it a blast,well hardly a blast thought it would spark, was a small spark, but gave it 2 blasts of 10 seconds (probably better with 3 blasts),battery didn't get hot at all (thought it would be hot),well put it back on charge , and suprisingly it now charges and works great, that's my tip for 2014

Zapped a 18v Makita nicad when it failed to charge on charger, it works ok while it holds the mig charge, still won't charge with charger.

 

[Sean]

Tried it with Dewalt 14v niCad they dont last long after that treatment quickly going off again. Gave in and bought Makita LXT 18v LiIon 20 min charge and nearly a full day rattling screws in

 

[Wallace]

I tried this with four Ryobi NiCads and extended the life of a couple of them but there's no getting round the fact the batteries need replacing.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've just had the strangest eureka moment.
Though about warming those AA batteries up then trying to charge them.
Put them in a bag, poured boiling water into a pot and placed the batteries in for a few mins...............all the ones I've tried so far are now taking a charge!!

 

[AndyStobbs]

Probably works best if you isolate the duff cell rather than shocking the whole battery

 

[Sean]

Probably works best if you isolate the duff cell rather than shocking the whole battery

yup the individual cells only need 12v to kill the whiskers inside

 

[Robotstar5]

I've just had the strangest eureka moment.
Though about warming those AA batteries up then trying to charge them.
Put them in a bag, poured boiling water into a pot and placed the batteries in for a few mins...............all the ones I've tried so far are now taking a charge!!

And if they don't charge, serve them with rice?

 

[DrNik]

yup the individual cells only need 12v to kill the whiskers inside

Whiskers??? Are they made from small kittens. ??

 

[Robotstar5]

Whiskers??? Are they made from small kittens. ??

The maufacturers will never admit that

 

[graffian]

Whiskers??? Are they made from small kittens. ??

Only the old feline cells.

 

[Sean]

Whiskers??? Are they made from small kittens. ??

they are Lion batteries now, bigger cat more power

 

[MrFluffy]

Whiskers??? Are they made from small kittens. ??

I know your being whimsical but...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whisker_(metallurgy)

 

[Robotstar5]

Then when the kittens grow up, you get cats whiskers

 

[steviec_lj]

So you just "weld" onto the positive terminal? I've 3 or 4 Ryobi 18v battery packs that are the best part of knackered.

Probably clamp a couple of bolts to the terminals so there's a little more material to come into contact with.

Mind you, thinking about it.. What setting would you use?

 

[MattF]

If you're having to flash a battery, it's on it's last legs. Some life from it will only be temporary, and it's capacity will be lower.

 

[DrNik]

So you just "weld" onto the positive terminal? I've 3 or 4 Ryobi 18v battery packs that are the best part of knackered.

Probably clamp a couple of bolts to the terminals so there's a little more material to come into contact with.

Mind you, thinking about it.. What setting would you use?

I put my welder flat out at 180amps, it only sparks a little, wire speed on nil, and give it the beans, could do with 10 second bursts maybe 3 or 4, need to keep them cool though ,so not too much too soon