Cordless Drills are wonderful tools. Almost everybody from professionals to home improvement DIY hobbyists use them. When this tool stops working it's a nightmare because the work is interrupted. And oftentimes the problem is that the batteries are no good anymore.
The batteries of a cordless drill will run out of charge-holding capacity sooner or later. When that happens you can recharge the battery and nothing happens. Then you will need a replacement battery, or a couple of them, to make the tool working again. The good news is it's very easy to find replacement batteries. The hardware stores sell them. Big online shopping stores also have them. You have many options to get a new one. But there are a few considerations to keep in mind when choosing a replacement battery.
Drill Battery Charger
1. Voltage and Packaging
The basic rule of getting a replacement battery is that it should have the same voltage as the original. An 18V drill cannot run on a 12V battery. It can only run on a 18V battery. The other thing is that the physical packaging of a battery can be different from company to company. A 12V Ryobi battery may not fit into a 12V Makita cordless drill unless the battery has the right physical dimensions. So make sure the replacement battery looks the same as the old one before you order it. Also, if you are looking for a replacement battery of the same voltage rating and by the same company, know that battery technology is changing rapidly. An 18V lithium-ion battery has a different physical packaging than a NiCad 18V battery.
2. Type
The battery chemistry has 3 types: NiCad, NiMH, and Lithium-ion. NiCad, or NiCd, battery is used in older cordless drill tools. They are the least expensive, so almost all inexpensive cordless tools use this type of battery. There is one problem with this battery. It's toxic to the environment. So when it's time to dispose the dead NiCd battery it's a problem.
The NiMH battery is much friendlier to the environment than the NiCd battery. It showed up in the market after the NiCd. The two types of batteries share the same physical packaging so that you can use a NiMH replacement battery for you NiCd cordless tool. NiMH battery can hold more charges and last longer than the NiCd battery so it costs more. But if you can find a NiMH replacement battery, it is a better deal despite the higher price.
3. Charger
If your cordless tools were acquired a long time ago, the battery and charger were of an older technology. The new generation batteries are more efficient and can be charged very quickly. That can be a slight problem with the older charger. The newer chargers have a smart sensing circuit that will cut down the charge rate as the battery is close to getting full. But for older chargers that do not have such smart circuits, they can overcharge the battery, making it hot when it's left on the charger for extended amount of time. So it's worth the time to investigate if a newer type of charger should be in order when getting a new replacement battery.
Some people like to repair a dead battery instead of buying a replacement. There are instructional ebooks sold online telling you how to resurrect a non-working cordless drill battery. It's wonderful that someone can be so interested as to try making a DIY repair. And it can be a very good science project for budding student scientist. Just type "repair battery" on Ebay and you will find plenty of people selling the instructions.
Cordless Drills are not cheap tools. Amazingly more than half of the cost of the tool goes to a couple of these batteries. This is understandable when you consider what these batteries can do. It is these batteries that have made the tool so highly convenient to use. You can carry it to the job site anywhere without worry about power cords or outlets. That can be a big hassle because the extension cords can easily get in the way or not being long enough.
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DEWALT DW9116 7.2-Volt to 18-Volt Pod Style 1 Hour Battery Charger Overview
This is an amazing little charger that literally breathes new life into your failing DeWalt batteries. It revitalizes everything from 9.6 volts through the big 18-volters, but what's so great about this charger is that not only can it be used as a standard quick charger, but if you leave a worn-down battery in for four to 10 hours, the charger conditions the battery with a tune-up mode, and at completion, it automatically converts to trickle charge, so you'll never damage a battery by leaving it in the charger too long. Diagnostics with LED indicators give you the battery status at a glance: charged, charging, power line problem, replace pack, and battery too hot or too cold. It's got a small footprint, which is always a plus, and the price is look-twice-and-rub-your-eyes cheap.DEWALT DW9116 7.2-Volt to 18-Volt Pod Style 1 Hour Battery Charger Specifications
This is an amazing little charger that literally breathes new life into your failing DeWalt batteries. It revitalizes everything from 9.6 volts through the big 18-volters, but what's so great about this charger is that not only can it be used as a standard quick charger, but if you leave a worn-down battery in for four to 10 hours, the charger conditions the battery with a tune-up mode, and at completion, it automatically converts to trickle charge, so you'll never damage a battery by leaving it in the charger too long.Diagnostics with LED indicators give you the battery status at a glance: charged, charging, power line problem, replace pack, and battery too hot or too cold. It's got a small footprint, which is always a plus, and the price is look-twice-and-rub-your-eyes cheap.--Kris Jensen-Van Heste
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