batteries

[Harry Goodwin]

Some of you know the answers. I don't have a prayer.
My batteries for my older tools are showing signs of death.
Do many of you leave them charging all the time.
Does age wear them out or recharges?
Do you rebuld, rebuy the battery or rebuy the tool.
Thanks Harry

[Matt Meiser]

Some of you know the answers. I don't have a prayer.
My batteries for my older tools are showing signs of death.
Do many of you leave them charging all the time.
Does age wear them out or recharges?
Do you rebuld, rebuy the battery or rebuy the tool.
Thanks Harry

Unfortunately it is usually cheaper to buy a new tool rather than buy a new set of batteries. There is a member here how rebuilds batteries which looks to be a viable option if the tools are in good shape.

I know virtually nothing of the chemistry batteries, but my experience has been use and disuse both factor into battery life.

[Jamie Buxton]

I leave one battery in the tool and the other charging. Most chargers (and certainly mine) go in to a float-charging mode, so there's no downside to leaving the battery in the charger.

I generally get the battery packs rebuilt. For instance, recently I got a 9.6 volt DeWalt pack rebuilt for $22.

[Dave Falkenstein]

Dying batteries provide an irresistable opportunity to add a new tool to my shop. Of course, this strategy only works well if you standardize on one brand and one voltage. I chose Dewalt 12 volt several years ago, and have managed to collect three drills and a light with a total of five working batteries and two chargers.

If I were starting a collection today, I'd be tempted to get the deal on the Makita drill/driver and impact driver, if there are any left to buy.

[Steve Clardy]

I have mine rebuilt.
Jason Abel, a member here, does a great job rebuilding them.
Steve

http://www.batteryrebuilders.com/

[Bob Noles]

I recently had my DW 9.6v batteries rebuilt for $22 and could not be happier. I loved the tool they drove for many years and now it can go another many years

I would rebuild if you are happy with the tool.

[Harry Goodwin]

Thanks for the help. Harry

[Howard Barlow]

...so there's no downside to leaving the battery in the charger.

Not necessarily so. I used to leave mine in the base. I walked in the shop one day, heard a steady, faint crackle. My Dewalt charger, with 18 volt battery, was in the process of melting very slowly.

I don't know if it was because the battery had been there so long, or the charger shorted on its own. No telling how long that was going on, or where it would have ended up.

Nowdays, I take them out after they are charged.

[Lynn Sonier]

I had a charger quit one time. Brought it to the shop - they cleaned it - and it started working again. I, personally, do my best to keep the charger as clean as possible. Naturally, you can't put it where it can't get air but I place it in a small cabinet with a Plexiglass door and no bottom.
Good luck.

[Mark Rios]

....I place it in a small cabinet with a Plexiglass door and no bottom.

Lynn, does it hover?

[Dave Malen]

great service from Jason Abel's company. BTW Jason reccommends NOT to leave the battery in the charger once it is fully charged.
Dave

[Byron Trantham]

I had mine 9.6 DeWalt rebuilt by Primecell and boy what a difference. If you are looking for instruction on how to treat batteries, go to their site. They have a ton of helpful information. Don't leave your batteries in the charger. I went to HD and bought one of those mechanical timers you use for Christmas lights, etc. I set the two on/off mechanical limits for about an hour. When my battery needs charging I plug it in and turn the timer to the "start" position and I have 23 hours to remember to remove it. If not, it gets another hour of charging. While it' not charging, it's off!

[John Shuk]

This is why I don't really invest in cordless tools. I don't use them enough to keep the batteries in top condition. While they are very nice and I have a cordless drill my future purchases will have tails. I'll only have to buy them once.