End of an Era

[KubotainNH]

Just so you know you can lithium replacement batteries for not much for that 14.4V DeWalt from Battery Ship Battery Replacement for Dewalt, Makita, Garmin, Milwaukee, Magellan, Hitachi, TomTom. I did and it's great having my 14.4V tools in use again. Be sure to ask for the free charger if you get one or two. I got two since I'm using them with several tools including the hammer drill, a trim saw and a sawzall. I was just not going to buy anymore NiCd batteries since they just won't last and won't hold a charge worth a hoot.

My Milwaukee drill batteries are almost done, or at least one is. I may go this route. Cool that you got a free charger out of the deal.

 

[Thomas]

Indeed you got your money worth,to bad more makers products would last longer like they use to.

 

[k0ua]

Indeed you got your money worth,to bad more makers products would last longer like they use to.

Indeed I was surprised it lasted so long, especially as Ryobi is not exactly know as the "top notch" brand anyway. But that old drill doesn't owe me a thing. I know it is at least 25 years old, and may be closer to 30.

 

[dickfoster]

Well I looked it up $65. If you want this Dewalt drill and will send me a prepaid shipping box, I will put the drill in it and send it to you. I am too far gone down Ryobi road and their One Plus 18volt system to turn back now. Like you I will never buy another NiCad battery or have another pack rebuilt. Not since I have started down the Lithium Ion path. For one thing their shelf life is much longer as they don't self discharge just sitting around. When you pick them up you can expect them to work. And when they are discharged the circuitry inside just cuts them off. No gradual loss of power.. Just goes dead when it is time to charge them. No memory effect like NiCads either. Just better to use in so many ways, not to mention it makes the whole tool lighter too.

Again if you want that 14.4v Dewalt you are welcome to it. It is in good shape, or it was the last time I used it, but I am just not investing in any more NiCad or NiMH batteries and that LiOn battery is too expensive to have just a one-of When I have 3 18 volt Ryobi batteries.

Thanks but I don't really need it. I too have jumped on the lithium bandwagon and won't be looking back. I already have the 14.4V DeWalt drill and have also gotten into DeWalt's 20Vmax lithium ion brushless tools with a hammer drill, impact screwdriver and a grease gun so far. I got the lithium replacement batteries to extend the life of my old DeWalt 14.4V NiCd tools. Now I have another drill, a trim saw and sawzall and everything is running on lithium batteries. The lithium replacements were cheaper than new tools plus they gave me the charger to use with them into the bargain. I thought it was a pretty good deal considering the choice of either buying more NiCd batteries to keep using the tools for the same money DeWalt want's for another NiCd battery or just tossing the tools. Now I have some time before I need to replace the saws and I can keep a drill in both the upstairs and down stairs shops. I have a hard time throwing perfectly good stuff away.

I had an an old Ryobi 12V NiCd drill that I modified to run from the 12V in a car or truck. I just tore an old battery pack apart and put a cigarette lighter socket in it. With a cigarette lighter plug on each end of an extension cord I made up, I just plug the drill into a car or truck and I'm good to go with pretty much unlimited power. I suppose I could run it off the tractor now too. Maybe I'll adapt my screwdriver it to run off of a 12VDC vehicle source too. You might even want to do that with your 14.4V drill. With the car running it should be running at right about 14.4Volts, it'll just run a bit slower with the engine off. Use a decent wire gauge and keep the extension cord length as short as practical.

If they'd had a replacement lithium battery for my 9.6V screwdriver I'd have bought that too. However all they have as far as NiCad to lithium replacements is for the 14.4V DeWalt stuff I think.

 

[dickfoster]

My Milwaukee drill batteries are almost done, or at least one is. I may go this route. Cool that you got a free charger out of the deal.

I don't know if they have anything for Milwaukee NiCad tools. All I've seen is the 14.4V DeWalt stuff.

 

[k0ua]

I had an an old Ryobi 12V NiCd drill that I modified to run from the 12V in a car or truck. I just tore an old battery pack apart and put a cigarette lighter socket in it. With a cigarette lighter plug on each end of an extension cord I made up, I just plug the drill into a car or truck and I'm good to go with pretty much unlimited power. I suppose I could run it off the tractor now too.

That is not a bad idea.. Or a repair benchtop drill running off your benchtop power supply. Always on, always "charged" and tied to the benchtop so you don't misplace it..

 

[dickfoster]

That is not a bad idea.. Or a repair benchtop drill running off your benchtop power supply. Always on, always "charged" and tied to the benchtop so you don't misplace it..

I know it's converting a cordless tool to corded but it's at least better than nothing. Plus it's the green thing to do. LOL

 

[KubotainNH]

I don't know if they have anything for Milwaukee NiCad tools. All I've seen is the 14.4V DeWalt stuff.

They do, it's $40 for the 12v one that fits my drill. They also have a charger for it. I'll have to look at my charger, it does multiple batteries so maybe already does Ni-Mh. As for the wiring a cig lighter, that's what I was trying to get across earlier in the thread. I have a 12v Ryobi I think that I will be butchering up, original plan was to be able to plug it into my 7 wire trailer plug on my tow vehicle so I could quickly drop the levelers on my camper. I have yet to do that and just use my milwaukee cordless. I like the idea of unlimited power though.

 

[dickfoster]

They do, it's $40 for the 12v one that fits my drill. They also have a charger for it. I'll have to look at my charger, it does multiple batteries so maybe already does Ni-Mh. As for the wiring a cig lighter, that's what I was trying to get across earlier in the thread. I have a 12v Ryobi I think that I will be butchering up, original plan was to be able to plug it into my 7 wire trailer plug on my tow vehicle so I could quickly drop the levelers on my camper. I have yet to do that and just use my milwaukee cordless. I like the idea of unlimited power though.

Oh they have replacement batteries for most stuff like many do. It's just the NiCad to Lithium conversion that they don't for anything but the DeWalt 14.4V that I've seen.
Remember the drill wants to pull a lot of current when it loads up so watch the wire gauge and length or it won't work very well. Some clips to the battery posts along with some decent gauge wire and not overly long cord will work well.

 

[k0ua]

Oh they have replacement batteries for most stuff like many do. It's just the NiCad to Lithium conversion that they don't for anything but the DeWalt 14.4V that I've seen.
Remember the drill wants to pull a lot of current when it loads up so watch the wire gauge and length or it won't work very well. Some clips to the battery posts along with some decent gauge wire and not overly long cord will work well.

I wonder what a fully loaded 12 or 14 volt drill would pull current wise? maybe 5 or 6 amps? More? Enquiring minds want to know