Thread: Cordless drill batteries

Try Akupak out at Dural ask for Quintin can't say they'll be cheep but quality and service is there.

Try Ebay

If you're handy with a soldering iron you can repack them yourself - using sub-c batteries form Jaycar. From memory, the 1.2v cells are about $6 each. I did a Ryobi 12V battery, and it cost me about $65, which wasn't cheap but I now have a 2.7Ah Ryobi drill - it goes for ever... You need to make sure the batteries are the right type - you can't charge nimh batteries in a ni-cad charger.

I repacked the batteries by careful dissasembly and noting how the batteries all sat together, then soldering the tabs together on the batteries (be careful not to heat the cells themselves up).

Cheers,
Dave

I have used Akkupak 02 9651 3404 Akkupak | Cordless Power Tool Batteries Shop On Line to repack batteries for Festool & Panasonic gear excellent service and good pricing.

Those prices are really pretty good. obviously more than doing it yourself, but you'd expect that.

If I was going to do it again, I'd use them... waaay less hassle

Thanks for the tip!

Hi Sheetmetal,
Like Dave ( Ozk ) said, Jaycar. The way to go for me. Metabo lost its power, asked around, was told Jaycar, 6 batteries $42, soldered them myself, repacked them,
B/ Marvelous. the hardest part was getting those Security Screws out, & back in again.
Made my own Screwdriver, Beaudy. A few years ago, this was.
Regards,
issatree.
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Hi, I just bought a 12 volt cordless drill (AEG) with two batteries (Ni Cad). Both have a small bit of power in them. I dont know if I should run them flat then charge them or charge them full and then use them until flat? I asked the people in Bunnings and got three different answers the last was "Read the Instructions" The instructions are all visual and very poor. You cannot read them. So I would appreciate a bit of help in how to treat these two new batteries.
Thanks
CP

Hi Claude
You hear so many differing opinions about charging batteries, but for what its worth, in my experience over probably 20 years, just charge the batteries as they are but only charge them for the time that the paperwork says. I have been doing that with my 2 lots of Ryobi 12V and they have performed and lasted well. I recharge them when they lose their grunt so they are not fully dead. But I make sure that I don't over cook them. I bring them inside and set the stove timer to tell me to change them or turn them off. I hope this makes sense
Kind regards for the festive season to you and all the readers....Rod

Claude

You will find good advice at the following

Akkupak | Battery Care

Thank you one and alll who replied to my query. I emailed Accupak & they replied that they can supply replacement 12v 200A batteries @ $75.00 ea or they can repack my 12v 150A batteries @ $69.00 ea.
Alternatively I could repack myself for less or I could just go to Bunnings and buy a Makita 14v cordless drill for $ 150.00. I spoiled for choices.
Thanks again to all who replied.
Gerard

I may be a bit late on this but Global Batteries in Sydney sell after market batteries for just about every cordless tool, rough rule of thumb is just under half OEM price.
I've been using then for a few years now and find their batteries at least as good as originals and in some cases better.
$10 delivery Australia wide.
As far as charging batteries go a definate no no is charging them at high temperatures, so if you're ever working and it's 35deg+ and your battery runs flat then wait till nightime or find somewhere cool to charge them, either that or you'll kill them stone dead.

Just thought I'd post a caution to anyone considering packing their own Li-ion batteries. It's not a simply process of soldering them together as you may do with other battery technologies. Don't forget that Li-Ion will blow up/start a fire if... they get too hot, they charge too fast, they have too much current drawn from them, they are overcharged etc. All commercial packs will have a protection circuit built into the pack to stop any of these eventualities. On top of that, before you connect the batteries together, you need to make sure they're all at the exact same charge, otherwise you'll never realize the full potential of the batteries. So unless you have the expertise and gear, forget the DIY route with Li-Ion.