Probably like many of you, I have a flock of cordless drills/impact drivers — mainly because when the batteries go, it usually doesn’t cost that much more to buy a whole new drill, just to get two extra batteries.
So now I have six Panasonic drills and one impact driver — all with 15.6 v, 3.5 Ah batteries.
That’s enough to last me into my next life.
A new Panasonic battery costs about $100.
I stopped by a Batteries Plus place today, and they said they could rebuild such a battery for $69.95 — and claimed it would be every bit as good as a brand new battery from Panasonic.
Is that true? Have any of you tried it? (BTW, I have neither the skill nor the temperament to rebuild them myself, so a BP rebuild or a new battery from Panasonic are my only options).
Thanks.
“It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts.”
John Wooden 1910-
Replies
I've had a couple of drill batteries rebuilt by them. Still going strong.
I have a bunch of batteries too, and I gave in to having them rebuit - although the price difference is much closer.
A new 14.4 Milwalkee costs 89.00 and a rebuild is about 70.00. I had 2 batteries rebuilt.
One died after 14 months. When I asked to have it checked under warrentee, they told me "too bad". The other one, an 18 Volt Milwalkee as well cost 98.00 vs 113.00 new, and it lasted 9 months before a connection burned out. They repaired it, but my confidence level is not so high.
Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR Construction
Vancouver, Canada
Who did the rebuild on those batteries?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
It was Battery World, here in Vancouver.
They told me they use Panasonic batteries, but in my mind they have Ruanda service.Quality repairs for your home.
AaronR ConstructionVancouver, Canada
here is one trick for batteries plus.... i occasionally, but not often, buy batts for backup lighting systems. when you go in, ask about being a "reseller" for them. They'll give you an application you can fill out and send back in. But, they'll go ahead and give you the resell discount (still pay sales tax). Next time in, ask for another app and do it again....
Wow. Cool way to rip off a retailer who's just trying to make a living! (Not).
I just sent one to these people.
I should get it back in about a week.
http://primecell.com/pctools.htm
Thanks Bill for the link--I have two 18 volt DW batteries for a circular saw that will charge and work--just wont hold it for more than a day or two--been thinking of having at least one rebuilt--Let me know how things go--I would be interested in how things work out for you--Mike" I reject your reality and substitute my own"
Adam Savage---Mythbusters
I just sent one to these people.
I should get it back in about a week.
http://primecell.com/pctools.htm
Please post back and let us know how it worked out. I've got several old batteries that could use new cells.
Their services look good, but, I must say, that is one crappy web site. I know it ain't necessarily so, but a web site can reflect on attention to detail in general.
-Don
Rebuild my own DeWalt and Makita batteries, use Chinese NiCd 1.2 A-hr sub c cells that only cost 60 cents each, so can rebuild a 12V batt for $6 or an 18 V for $9. Only been using the Chinese NiCds for about a year, rebuilds have been good for over a year with 2-3 times a week usage. Takes about 20 minutes for a rebuild after the first one. The older DeWalt batts with screw together construction are a snap. I'll take $50 tax free for 20 min of work almost any day.
A lot of the batteries have spot-welded connections, and it helps to have the equipment for that.
Would you share information on where you buy these cells?
Edited 9/17/2005 9:21 am ET by Shoeman
OK, figured somebody would ask, so did not supply that info right off as it is a source many here despise and riduiclule, Harbor Freight. Buy the 18 V or the 12 V batteries for their tools and you get 10 or fifteen cells for a low price. Sometimes the 1/2 off specials on the 12 V cells packs is as low as $3.99. The cells inside are sub-C 1.2 mAhr cells, made in China.
As Dan did not say right out, but knows and implied, is that it does damage NiCds to solder directely to the cells 'cause of the heat*. You want to disconnect as FEW of the existing stack as possible, and CUT the connecting spot welded strip on the other cells in the middle (NEVER tear the strip off the cell) so that you have a solder tab. Solder to the tab (with a damp rag on the battery) with ACID flux (only very specialized rosin fluxes work on stainless steel) and clean throughly with alcohol. Those proceedures is why it takes 20 min vs. 5 minutes.
Good luck.
*FWIW -- if you have a few of the cheapo HF drills sitting around for convienience, cut the low voltage wire off their charger and tack solder the HF charge adapter to a Makita or Dewalt or other good charger of the same voltage. Many HF chargers WILL destroy or degrade a battery pack if left connected overnight.
JH, I have a 15w and 40w solder irons, is a 40w too hot? I use a 15 for most guitar jobs, but the 40 comes out for the back of some POTS when I get a cold joint from the 15.
Any help? Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
15 w or 150 w?Possibly you could solder a gutter on a doll house with a 15w.
15w
.02mfd capacitors can't take much heat. The 40 can cook them lickity split. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Duh!I read guitar as gutter thinking of what you have been working on recently.You are right, but there is a lot more to it than wattage.The mass of the iron, temp, and mass of what is being solder.So small an iron can cause more problems because you need to heat soak the device being soldered.Where a larger one can get the "terminal" up to temp quickly and you can remove the iron and let it start cooling.
LOL.
My GUTTER solderer is a propane powered beauty. 7oo degrees I guess.
Good points on the electrical irons. Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
use the 40w. Often tin the ss strap first with slightly acid flux, clean, then solder on the jumper wire with 63/37 rosin core.
Cool..I can do that. THNX Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
Thanks for the post.
Last time I looked around for cells it seemed like they were a few bucks apiece - was curious where you found them so cheap.
As for Harbor Freight - there isn't much there I would want. However, I did buy one of their big wet saws on the advice of posts here, and have been very happy with it. Glad to hear the cell swapping thing is working for you. It is amazing what batteries from the tool manufacturers cost.
Solder on,
Shoe
CARE TO SHARE THE TRICK FOR DIS-ASSEMBLING MAKITA BATTERIES?
JR
Just drop them on a concrete floor, they always open.
Believe it or not, this was taught to me by a Maxon repair technician years ago.
Jeff
Since you are really good at this rebuilding, did I hear you say you are opening a side business?
Bet the people here could keep you locked up in the shop for at least a month.
Have a great night.
Don
---- would have to charge more than the regular shops to give up day job with health care, etc factored in -- one of DIY biggest advantage is still the tax free labor, cant do that for hire
I was hoping for something a bit more sophisticated.......
JR
Sorry, but that was a true story.
I really got a laugh when he showed it to me. (He said something like "this is the official company approved technique" for opening the battery pack and then dropped it onto the floor.)
It causes the pack to break along the weld line.
I might add that some batteries can be opened with a hot cutting knife. Others have screws closing them.
A company called "Digi-Key" sell Panasonic battery cells already welded up into different packs, just pick the right one.
Jeff
What I have is 12 Volt Makita, so I converted the first battery to croak into an adapter from XLR 4 pin to Makita. With a 12 ft. XLR extension cord, I can run off any standard motion picture camera battery all day long.The tools are much lighter, and can still go anywhere. Particularly as cordless tools get bigger and more powerful, an offboard block battery and short cord make more sense.
-- J.S.
I know that it is a difficult web site.But I just got it back.Seems to work. Won't really know for a few weeks and the real test is for a few years.Someplace there is an "order form", but I can't find it. It IS NOT the email for a quote.But here is the info.http://primecell.com/howto.htmI just sent in the battery with a check (or you can use CC or Paypal) with the old battery to them along with my address/phone/email.
My question is: with Ebay, why bother rebuilding?
You can find Dewalt or Bosch or Makita or Milwaukee batteries for as low as $55 each if you buy two.
Panasonic's a bit harder to find, but call up Panasonic and see if any of them are part of the battery recall they've had (been a couple).
I had one 15.6 NIMH 3.5 amp that was and they asked of I had any other batteries and I gave them the serial numbers off of my old NiCd "F" 15.6 volt batteries and they said they'd replace them as well, even though I know for a fact they were not part of the recall at the time. Cool thing was - they are from 1998 and 1999. So now they are sending me 4 brand new batteries! Check it out.
Julian
I worked my way through the battery recall thing -- but in my case they were real fussy, and took only the exact models that were on the recall list. But this was a year or two ago. Has there been another battery recall since then?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
I picked up the newer battery on Ebay with a NIMH charger for about $50 -- as it turned out, the battery wasn't that great and I checked into the recall angle, and the battery I had was part of it.I know they had one a few years back for the NiCd "F" batteries, but I had previously checked and they were not part of it.Perhaps it was because I had one that was recalled.., but I think the lady I got on the phone really didn't know what was what.They had me send them in to them, and the new ones are on the way.Haven't really used the drill or saw lately cause I use the Bosch 18 kit these days, but with 4 brand new free batteries, I'll probably put it to use in the trailer or on the job.You might check again - I was able to find the serial number listing with a bit of googling, couldn't hurt to even call and play dumb and give them the info and see if it flies.JT
Thanks for info.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
HD...2- 18V battery package for $90.
Excellent!The secret of Zen in two words is, "Not always so"!
When we meet, we say, Namaste'..it means..
I honor the place in you where the entire universe resides,
I honor the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace.
I honor the place within you where if you are in that place in you
and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.
Lowe's - About a month and a half ago- Two DW 18v double packs for the price of one. That's FOUR batteries for $99.
MOST excellent!
Our local Sunn Battery outlet will rebuild 18v for $54 each.