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Thread: Rebuild or buy new battery packs

  1. #1
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    Jul 2005
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    Rebuild or buy new battery packs

    I have a Ryobi 14.4 volt drill I like very much so I want to get new battery's.

    Home Depot sells the replacement packs for $30. Battery's Plus want $30 to rebuild. Are the rebuilds better or should I just buy new?
    "Remember back in the day, when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work?"
    - Rick Dale

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Home Depot sells the replacement packs for $30. Battery's Plus want $30 to rebuild. Are the rebuilds better or should I just buy new?
    I can only speak for myself and there could be contradictory experiences, but mine have been that the batteries I've had rebuilt outperform new, stock batteries. Even if the cost is the same, I'd go with rebuilds from here. No affiliation other than as a satisfied customer. Still have several 18v original batteries that are showing signs of impending failure and will be going out for rebuild shortly.
    Tom Veatch
    Wichita, KS
    USA

  3. #3
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    I agree. The quality of the cells in a rebuild is much higher than the stock pack.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
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    If you can handle a little soldering (and the cells in the ryobi pack are standard) you can buy the cells yourself and rebuild the packs. You could even buy NiMH cells and really have a high performance pack (but maybe fewer cycles than NiCads).

  5. #5
    Join Date
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    Southern Minnesota
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    I have had 2 batteries rebuilt as well and am very happy. The rebuilt batteriess last a lot longer. It did cost more than new batteries but worth it.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    Monroe, MI
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    I know from experience that Battery Builders/MTO Battery will use much better cells than Ryobi. The only drawback is that they will take longer to charge.


  7. #7
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    Anyone have experience with Battery's Plus?
    "Remember back in the day, when things were made by hand, and people took pride in their work?"
    - Rick Dale

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jerome Hanby View Post
    If you can handle a little soldering (and the cells in the ryobi pack are standard) you can buy the cells yourself and rebuild the packs. You could even buy NiMH cells and really have a high performance pack (but maybe fewer cycles than NiCads).
    Can you use the same charger for NiCad and NiMH battery packs?
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] Bill Arnold
    NRA Life Member
    Member of Mensa
    Live every day like it's your last, but don't forget to stop and smell the roses.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Arnold View Post
    Can you use the same charger for NiCad and NiMH battery packs?
    I've tried to research that exact same question and have gotten conflicting, contradictory, non-definitive results. For what it's worth, this is a quote from the MTOBattery.com listing for their 18v NiMH rebuild offering (emphasis added):

    Rebuild Service for a 18V battery taking Sub-C cells. This is the best service we offer with roughly twice the run time as standard NiCad batteries. 100% compatible with ALL NiCad and NiMH chargers.
    Personally, due to the conflicting information available, and the fact that the only chargers I have are for NiCad's, I've not had the guts to have my NiCads rebuilt as NiMH.
    Tom Veatch
    Wichita, KS
    USA

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    My MTO rebuilds are better than stock but, I opted for the better cells. There were 3 levels available for my DeWalt and Makita rebuilds. I went with one step up from stock and wish I would have gone two steps up. The rebuilds are noticably better than my remaining stock batts.
    "A hen is only an egg's way of making another egg".


    – Samuel Butler

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