Mel E Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 We have quite a bit of motorhome equipment that runs from re-chargeable Ni-Cd batteries, including an 18volt battery power drill - essential for running repairs and installations. I was about to throw drill away as batteries would no longer hold any charge - despite always running them flat before recharging to avoid the well-known Ni-Cd 'memory' effect. I discovered the following solution. I shorted out the batteries with a bit of wire (gets warm at first so take care), leaving them like that for 2 days, then recharged fully. Hey presto, the drill and batteries are as good as new! Mel E ==== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Frank Wilkinson Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Mel E - 2007-03-13 1:42 PM We have quite a bit of motorhome equipment that runs from re-chargeable Ni-Cd batteries, including an 18volt battery power drill - essential for running repairs and installations. I was about to throw drill away as batteries would no longer hold any charge - despite always running them flat before recharging to avoid the well-known Ni-Cd 'memory' effect. I discovered the following solution. I shorted out the batteries with a bit of wire (gets warm at first so take care), leaving them like that for 2 days, then recharged fully. Hey presto, the drill and batteries are as good as new! Mel E ==== I don't think that they'll be as good as new as they have a limited number of charging cycles, typically 300-500, so if they've already had a large number of charges don't expect them to last very long! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basil Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 hello Mel, When your batteries do finally give up the ghost. Dont throw your drill away as you can buy the cells that fit inside the battery pack from Maplins, I have repaired two lots this way. If you unscrew the battery pack you will find a number of tagged and linked cells that can be taken appart and each cell tested individually, sometimes it is only one or two cells gone. So if all else is well with the drill don't chuck it recycle the cells in the battery pack! Bas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
enodreven Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Hi, Great idea if it gives some extra use ? I did receive a link sometime ago to a short video that showed a chap using an arc welder to re-invigorate NiCad batteries, i did watch it and it appeared to work, but i can't find the link ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest starspirit Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 An old cordless drill of 9.6 to 14.4 volts will work very well when connected to a lead with a 12v plug on t'end but do just take the old batteries out first. Ideal for odd jobs in the van and it never needs to be kept charged and never runs out! Simple, effective and cheap - jus' like me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clive Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 starspirit beat me to this one! The drill which is now corded was purchased with green shield stamps. How many years old is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest starspirit Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 My favourite is a very compact little Hitachi 7.2v drill which was my first ever cordless bought in about 1980. It works really well in the van on 12v and has done for about 10 years but I do only use it on odd jobs and light repair work for short periods to avoid overheating. The other one is a B&D 9.6v percussion drill which I use at home off an old car battery when I'm too idle to look for an extension lead for my mains hammer drill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michele Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Clive around 72 they stopped ? I thinks yes /No. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fred grant Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 that be a lot of stamp licking then clive fred Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cattwg Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 Hi Mel E, Does your trick with Ni-Cd batteries work with Ni-MH? Or does the different construction not lend itself to this? Regards Cattwg (?) :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tp002c784tp002c784tp Posted March 18, 2007 Share Posted March 18, 2007 I have replaced cells in cordless drills for a number of years and managed to purloin a good few battery packs a few years ago and use these as my stock of cells, I find that when you strip down the faulty pack you can test each indervidual cell with a meter without striping the whole pack down, and you can then replace only the faulty cell or cells. A problem that you may encounter with this method is the cells are stainless steel as is the straps in between and can be difficult to re-solder I have a paint called Frierlux solder paint and if you clean the parts to be soldered and paint on this paint you can then heat both parts with a soldering iron and they become tinned enabeling you to resolder the parts. This can be donr with both NI-CD and NI-MH batteries Terry *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.