Some tips are here:
http://woodworking.homeip.net/wood/ and look under Tuning Tools - Battery
Care
Greg
"Ksu93dlv" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a 14v drill and an 18v trim saw from DeWalt. Both are great tools,
but I
> frequently get caught off guard with dead batteries when I go a long time
> without using them. Is it OK to just leave the batteries in the chargers
all
> the time so I always have a fresh charge?
On 16 Dec 2003 21:43:38 GMT, [email protected] (Ksu93dlv)
wrote:
>I have a 14v drill and an 18v trim saw from DeWalt. Both are great tools, but I
>frequently get caught off guard with dead batteries when I go a long time
>without using them. Is it OK to just leave the batteries in the chargers all
>the time so I always have a fresh charge?
I leave DeWalt batteries in the DeWalt fast/trickle chargers all the
time without worries.
Barry
I've heard of some kind of "super" battery available (aftermarket) from
DeWalt---anyone know about them? My batteries don't last worth a damn--
I'll probably never buy a DeWalt battery-powered anything from them
again. My old Makita lasted much longer between charges than the DW.
You'd think that at such a premium price they could have beaten the
competition hands down. DeWalt planers are worth the inflated prices,
their table saws, while innovative, are not!
Roger
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
"Groggy" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Some tips are here:
>
> http://woodworking.homeip.net/wood/ and look under Tuning Tools - Battery
> Care
>
> Greg
>
> "Ksu93dlv" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I have a 14v drill and an 18v trim saw from DeWalt. Both are great tools,
> but I
> > frequently get caught off guard with dead batteries when I go a long time
> > without using them. Is it OK to just leave the batteries in the chargers
> all
> > the time so I always have a fresh charge?
Thanks!
That does it. I'm getting rid of the DeWalt forthwith. I'll go back
to Makita for battery-powered stuff. Can't stand having tools with
poor performance characteristics.
Roger
"P©WÉ®T©©LMAN ²ºº3" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> "roger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I've heard of some kind of "super" battery available (aftermarket) from
> > DeWalt---anyone know about them? My batteries don't last worth a damn--
> > I'll probably never buy a DeWalt battery-powered anything from them
> > again. My old Makita lasted much longer between charges than the DW.
> > You'd think that at such a premium price they could have beaten the
> > competition hands down. DeWalt planers are worth the inflated prices,
> > their table saws, while innovative, are not!
> > Roger
>
> We sell DeWalt batteries here (as well as many other brands) & even the
> DeWalt XR+ series battery does not perform as well as Makita's top or even
> regular batteries....we get more DeWalt prematurely dead batteries bought in
> than any other except perhaps the crappy firestorm & regular B&D batteries
> of course. It is a common problem with DeWalt (B&D) batteries to break or
> become loose at the top of the stack, also poor design makes them easily
> drop out of the tool or become loose at the terminal connection.
www.primecell.com ... your DeWally's will be better than new, and last
longer, for about half the price of replacing them with new ones.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 9/21/03
"Rico" wrote in message
> The two batteries that came with my 1.5 year old Dewalt 12V
> are about 25% of original capacity. It's past time to
> replace them
>
> OTOH, my good old Makita 12V got over 6 years off its one
> battery.
P©WÉ®T©©LMAN ²ºº3 wrote:
> Wise move....we just this morning sold 8- $115 (Reg $129) Canadian + tax 18V
> DeWalt batteries to a local Ski club (nice sale but unrewarding) they had
> six out of eight from last year not make it through a year of harsh use,
> knowing they also have four Makita 14.4V Cordless kits from two years ago I
> asked the maintenance guy how they were doing, he said all 8 batteries that
> came with the kits are all working great & due to their reliability they get
> used even more than the DeWalts.....Proof from the front line...just to let
> you know these drills are used under extreme conditions to make large auger
> holes in the ice & snow for the ski race marker poles.
> They also had to replace 1 DeWalt charger already & rebuild 1 gear & clutch
> assembly & replace 2 chucks.
>
> No doubt in my mind & the Ni-MH technology also beats Ni-Cad anyday.
>
>
>
The two batteries that came with my 1.5 year old Dewalt 12V
are about 25% of original capacity. It's past time to
replace them
OTOH, my good old Makita 12V got over 6 years off its one
battery.
Dick
-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
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Wise move....we just this morning sold 8- $115 (Reg $129) Canadian + tax 18V
DeWalt batteries to a local Ski club (nice sale but unrewarding) they had
six out of eight from last year not make it through a year of harsh use,
knowing they also have four Makita 14.4V Cordless kits from two years ago I
asked the maintenance guy how they were doing, he said all 8 batteries that
came with the kits are all working great & due to their reliability they get
used even more than the DeWalts.....Proof from the front line...just to let
you know these drills are used under extreme conditions to make large auger
holes in the ice & snow for the ski race marker poles.
They also had to replace 1 DeWalt charger already & rebuild 1 gear & clutch
assembly & replace 2 chucks.
No doubt in my mind & the Ni-MH technology also beats Ni-Cad anyday.
--
© Jon Down ®
My eBay items currently listed:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=lamblies&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=25
"roger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Thanks!
> That does it. I'm getting rid of the DeWalt forthwith. I'll go back
> to Makita for battery-powered stuff. Can't stand having tools with
> poor performance characteristics.
>
> Roger
> "P©WÉ®T©©LMAN ²ºº3"
<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:<[email protected]>...
> > "roger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> > > I've heard of some kind of "super" battery available (aftermarket)
from
> > > DeWalt---anyone know about them? My batteries don't last worth a
damn--
> > > I'll probably never buy a DeWalt battery-powered anything from them
> > > again. My old Makita lasted much longer between charges than the DW.
> > > You'd think that at such a premium price they could have beaten the
> > > competition hands down. DeWalt planers are worth the inflated prices,
> > > their table saws, while innovative, are not!
> > > Roger
> >
> > We sell DeWalt batteries here (as well as many other brands) & even the
> > DeWalt XR+ series battery does not perform as well as Makita's top or
even
> > regular batteries....we get more DeWalt prematurely dead batteries
bought in
> > than any other except perhaps the crappy firestorm & regular B&D
batteries
> > of course. It is a common problem with DeWalt (B&D) batteries to break
or
> > become loose at the top of the stack, also poor design makes them easily
> > drop out of the tool or become loose at the terminal connection.
I also have about 5 of the Dewalt 14.4 battery drills with 10 batteries and
they are always either in a drill or in a charger.
When the Battery is fully charged they shut off they have a little lite on
them to tell you when they are charging or not.
George
"B a r r y B u r k e J r ." <[email protected]> wrote
in message news:[email protected]...
> On 16 Dec 2003 21:43:38 GMT, [email protected] (Ksu93dlv)
> wrote:
>
> >I have a 14v drill and an 18v trim saw from DeWalt. Both are great tools,
but I
> >frequently get caught off guard with dead batteries when I go a long time
> >without using them. Is it OK to just leave the batteries in the chargers
all
> >the time so I always have a fresh charge?
>
> I leave DeWalt batteries in the DeWalt fast/trickle chargers all the
> time without worries.
>
> Barry
"roger" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've heard of some kind of "super" battery available (aftermarket) from
> DeWalt---anyone know about them? My batteries don't last worth a damn--
> I'll probably never buy a DeWalt battery-powered anything from them
> again. My old Makita lasted much longer between charges than the DW.
> You'd think that at such a premium price they could have beaten the
> competition hands down. DeWalt planers are worth the inflated prices,
> their table saws, while innovative, are not!
> Roger
We sell DeWalt batteries here (as well as many other brands) & even the
DeWalt XR+ series battery does not perform as well as Makita's top or even
regular batteries....we get more DeWalt prematurely dead batteries bought in
than any other except perhaps the crappy firestorm & regular B&D batteries
of course. It is a common problem with DeWalt (B&D) batteries to break or
become loose at the top of the stack, also poor design makes them easily
drop out of the tool or become loose at the terminal connection.
--
© Jon Down ®
http://www.stores.ebay.com/jdpowertoolcanada
On 16 Dec 2003 19:20:11 -0800, [email protected] (brian roth)
brought forth from the murky depths:
>Don't use them all the way to exaustion, just till you sense it getting
>weak. Don't worry about 'memory' effect, it's a myth (ducking for cover_.
No, not a myth, but newer NiCads don't have the problem.
--
Remember: Every silver lining has a cloud.
----
http://diversify.com Comprehensive Website Development
Yes !.....................The batteries are supposed to go dead after a
while of no charge
"Ksu93dlv" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have a 14v drill and an 18v trim saw from DeWalt. Both are great tools,
but I
> frequently get caught off guard with dead batteries when I go a long time
> without using them. Is it OK to just leave the batteries in the chargers
all
> the time so I always have a fresh charge?
DJ Delorie <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>
NiCds
> want to be used until dead, then fully charged, but never overcharged
> or overheated.
Don't use them all the way to exaustion, just till you sense it getting
weak. Don't worry about 'memory' effect, it's a myth (ducking for cover_.
"Michael Daly" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:yS1Eb.71212$ea%[email protected]...
> On 17-Dec-2003, Larry Jaques <jake@di\/ersify.com> wrote:
>
> > >Don't use them all the way to exaustion, just till you sense it getting
> > >weak. Don't worry about 'memory' effect, it's a myth (ducking for
cover_.
> >
> > No, not a myth, but newer NiCads don't have the problem.
>
> Not a myth, but almost impossible to produce the effect. What most folks
> have experienced with NiCd in the past had more to do with crummy chargers
> than with the batteries themselves. I had some NiCds way back that were
> awful until I got a smart charger for them - then they were great! The
> newer NiCds come with better chargers these days.
>
> Mike
I have two 1988 Makita batteries that have been used five days a week,
charged about once a week, used in a drill that just un-does & does up
housing screws in powertools day in day out, each battery holds a charge
well & always charges in about 3/4 of an hour....other than that we've had
several others that have lasted three to five years on average in other
applications.
I think the key to long life is establishing a regular cycle of use & not
exposing them to extremes in cold or hot weather.
Also a decent charger is the secret, the high capacity multi voltage charger
we use for all our Makita formats is excellent & reliable.
--
© Jon Down ®
My eBay items currently listed:
http://cgi6.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewSellersOtherItems&userid=lamblies&include=0&since=-1&sort=3&rows=25
"Rico" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> P©WÉ®T©©LMAN ²ºº3 wrote:
> > Wise move....we just this morning sold 8- $115 (Reg $129) Canadian + tax
18V
> > DeWalt batteries to a local Ski club (nice sale but unrewarding) they
had
> > six out of eight from last year not make it through a year of harsh use,
> > knowing they also have four Makita 14.4V Cordless kits from two years
ago I
> > asked the maintenance guy how they were doing, he said all 8 batteries
that
> > came with the kits are all working great & due to their reliability they
get
> > used even more than the DeWalts.....Proof from the front line...just to
let
> > you know these drills are used under extreme conditions to make large
auger
> > holes in the ice & snow for the ski race marker poles.
> > They also had to replace 1 DeWalt charger already & rebuild 1 gear &
clutch
> > assembly & replace 2 chucks.
> >
> > No doubt in my mind & the Ni-MH technology also beats Ni-Cad anyday.
> >
> The two batteries that came with my 1.5 year old Dewalt 12V
> are about 25% of original capacity. It's past time to
> replace them
>
> OTOH, my good old Makita 12V got over 6 years off its one
> battery.
>
> Dick
We often see Makita batteries over 5 years old still going strong even in
the older ( what I call generation 1) 10 to 15 year old 7.2 & 9V batteries,
the old black stick type with one less terminal on them, they really gave
their moneys worth.
I have recently started carrying the Makita 9.6V stick battery in Ni-MH
recently, it requires a high capacity charger but does it ever pack a wallop
at 2.2Ah compared to the old 1.3Ah. even at $18 bucks Canadian extra I'm
being told they are worth every cent.... And they tell two friends & they
tell two friends & so on.
--
© Jon Down ®
http://www.stores.ebay.com/jdpowertoolcanada
[email protected] (brian roth) writes:
> Don't use them all the way to exaustion, just till you sense it getting
> weak.
Right. I stop when it doesn't have enough power to (1) drive the
screw all the way, and (2) activate the clutch. It usually turns out
to be quite close to the rated amp-hours of the pack (my charger's
computer has a diagnostic display :) so I know I'm doing it right.
> Don't worry about 'memory' effect, it's a myth (ducking for cover_.
It's a myth based on lots of people experiencing it. However, proper
care and charging will easily avoid such problems.
My personal theory is that people put them on the charger too soon,
but keep them on the charger for the full time, which overheats the
batteries. Smart chargers avoid most of this problem, but mine's
directions still warned about charging partially discharged NiCds. If
I could find the instructions in the pile on my desk I'd check it.
[email protected] (Ksu93dlv) writes:
> Is it OK to just leave the batteries in the chargers all the time so
> I always have a fresh charge?
Only my opinion, but...
If you have the cheap wall-wart charger (i.e. the one that takes a few
hours or more to charge), chances are leaving it plugged in all the
time will eventually overheat the battery and shorten its life. NiCds
want to be used until dead, then fully charged, but never overcharged
or overheated. NiMH can be charged regardless of stored charge, but
really want a smart charger. Lithium cells pretty much require a
smart charger designed for them.
If you have a smart charger (less than an hour), leaving it charging
all the time doesn't - eventually it stops charging. Some chargers
may detect the eventual discharge and re-charge automatically. My car
battery charger does this but I haven't seen it elsewhere.
Depending on the type of battery, there is an "ideal" storage charge.
IIRC, half a charge is best. Most rechargables self-discharge,
meaning they'll be dead when you go back to them after a while, so
it's best to have a way to charge them as needed.
I got a fast charger for mine, it fast charges my 18v pack in about 20
minutes, then trickle charges it to top it off, then stops. I have
two packs, so I usually pop one on the charger when I start working,
and the other one usually only lasts 20 minutes or so - but by then
the other one is ready to go, so I swap them. After that I always
have a fresh pack when I need it.
However, I spent twice as much for the [good] charger than I did for
the [cheap] drill.
On 17-Dec-2003, Larry Jaques <jake@di\/ersify.com> wrote:
> >Don't use them all the way to exaustion, just till you sense it getting
> >weak. Don't worry about 'memory' effect, it's a myth (ducking for cover_.
>
> No, not a myth, but newer NiCads don't have the problem.
Not a myth, but almost impossible to produce the effect. What most folks
have experienced with NiCd in the past had more to do with crummy chargers
than with the batteries themselves. I had some NiCds way back that were
awful until I got a smart charger for them - then they were great! The
newer NiCds come with better chargers these days.
Mike