for all those interested, i have 2 x 9.6v drills and i finally got down to 1 and a bit batteries out of four not to bad for around 6-7 years work. qoute on new festo batteries around $220 ea !!!!!!!!!! 2 bateries will almost get you a new complete drill. Anyway back to the point, my local electronics shop sells stuff out of the jaycar catalogue and I have just purchased and fitted new batteries in the battery pack 8 x 1.2v sub C liquid metal hydride 2200ma at around $6ea and so far so good, we will have to see if they last now. Very simple job to fit if you have a soldering iron.