Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

[Used_Cars]

The set includes two batteries, a screw gun and a drill. I left it outside and it got rained on. One battery works in both the screw gun and the drill, and the other battery will not work in either.

Both batteries test at 24 VDC, but the damaged one one run either the drill or the screw gun. I disassembled the damaged one (see pics), but don't want to go any further.

These cells still hold voltage, and so I don't understand why it won't power anything. It looks like at least one cell is leaking, and I wonder if I can replace only it. You can buy a whole replacement cell kit (pre assembled) on eBay for $35, but you can buy a brand new battery for that price also. I wonder if you can buy these cells in pairs.

Anyways, I'm looking for repair options. I can solder and have the tools. Is this repairable, or should I trash it and just buy another battery?

[joshnz]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

Scratch the straps with flat blade screwdriver if broken you will need to rejoin it.

[Used_Cars]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

Scratch the straps with flat blade screwdriver if broken you will need to rejoin it.

They are not broken. Now what?

Why am I reading 24 volts on both batteries, but one will not power a drill?

[vinceroger69]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

can you measure the amps each battery is outputting im just wondering if the faulty one is low

[joshnz]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

They are not broken. Now what?

Why am I reading 24 volts on both batteries, but one will not power a drill?

There is high resistance somewhere I was thinking a strap but now looks like a cell that is bad.

If you have a 1.5v torch bulb and wire you can test each cell.

[Used_Cars]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

If you have a 1.5v torch bulb and wire you can test each cell.

can you measure the amps each battery is outputting im just wondering if the faulty one is low

I'd have to disassemble and isolate each cell to do this, right?

Any source for these cells? I think I saw a YouTube video about a year ago and the guy said he got them from Ali Baba and they were standard "C" cell rechargeable batteries. I only have a small soldering iron and I don't know if it's got the watts to desolder and resolder these batteries.

I don't want to take this thing apart without knowing I have replacement cells. If I can't get individual cells then the only two options are replace the whole assembly or trash the battery and buy a new one, and both of those options cost about the same.

[joshnz]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

no to do test you just put lamp across each cell one by one.
you will find the battery's are welded not soldered.

[Used_Cars]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

no to do test you just put lamp across each cell one by one.
you will find the battery's are welded not soldered.

Well if they are welded then how can they be de-welded and re-welded? If the individual cells cannot be replaced then there's no point in troubleshooting down to the individual cells.

Can I use a propane torch?

[stj]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

those cells are done,
are they NI-CAD?

[R_J]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

If one cell is bad you can cut the strap between two cells, buy new cells with tabs and solder the new tab to the other tab on the existing cell in the pack. most likely the other cells are weak and when you price out new cells (not cheep ones) it could be more than a new replacement battery pack.

[stj]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

you shouldnt be able to buy Ni-Cad cells anymore - hey have been banned for about 10years now.
that's why i wondered, it would indicate the age.

[budm]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

http://www.all-battery.com/subcsizen...eryseries.aspx

http://www.homedepot.com/s/dewalt+18v+battery?NCNI-5

[stj]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

LOL

looks like nobody told them Cadmium is a RoHS listed substance!
they should be using NiMH now.

[budm]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

Yep, looks like nobody told them Cadmium is a RoHS listed substance!
http://batteriesplus.co.uk/acatalog/...Batteries.html



http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/e...m-button-cells

A law banning the toxic substance cadmium from portable batteries and accumulators used in cordless power tools such as drills, screwdrivers or saws, was voted by Parliament on Thursday. This ban, already agreed with EU ministers, will apply from 31 December 2016. MEPs also inserted a clause banning mercury from button cells from autumn 2015.

http://www.batteryrecycling.org.au/e...or-power-tools

' The Council of the European Union and the European Parliament have agreed to amend Directive 2006/66/EC on batteries and accumulators in order to gradually reduce the amount of cadmium and mercury released into the environment as substitutes become available (PE-CONS 55/13).
To enable the recycling industry and consumers to adapt to the substitute technologies, this ban will apply from 31 December 2016. This ban will apply 21 months after the directive enters into force. '

https://cdn.badcaps-static.com/pdfs/...1e61b859f6.pdf

[budm]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

https://www.amazon.co.uk/DeWalt-DE90.../dp/B000297T26

How does AMAZON UK get around selling Ni-Cad in UK?

[stj]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

the answer to that question, is the enforcers are small in number - but they will grow as they start to see the money they can fine company's

[vinceroger69]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0ENDuW71_Y

[dmill89]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

you shouldnt be able to buy Ni-Cad cells anymore - hey have been banned for about 10years now.
that's why i wondered, it would indicate the age.

...

LOL

looks like nobody told them Cadmium is a RoHS listed substance!
they should be using NiMH now.

...

the answer to that question, is the enforcers are small in number - but they will grow as they start to see the money they can fine company's

In the US RoHS is irrelevant anyhow (from a legal standpoint), that is an EU standard which the US has not signed on to, many products sold in the US are RoHS compliant simply because manufactures don't want to make 2 versions of a product, but there is no requirement that products be RoHS compliant in the US and Cadmium has not been banned in the US. In the US Ni-Cad battery packs are still very common in power tools.

[stj]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

yes, but even china has a version of RoHS (that is even more strict!),
so it makes sense for the reason you stated for manufacturers to target the world with a single product version.

and NiMH is better than NiCad anyway - no memory effect problems.


that said, the world is clearly using the u.s. as a dumping ground for old stock while they can still sell it.
you can see this on ebay with chinese company's exporting lead solder they cant legally even use at home while it still has export value.
if they get stuck with it, they will have to smelt it and seperate the lead & tin.
that costs money and will be dangerous and messy with all the flux in it!

[R_J]

Re: Dewalt 18 Volt Battery Repair

Buy the new batttery pack from Dewalt , I suspect it will also come with a (possible 3 year) warranty. look around they may even be on sale.
The cheap ebay ones are most likely crap and won't last