On 2/25/18 4:18 PM, wrote:
On Sun, 25 Feb 2018 08:35:33 -0700, Brewster wrote:



I have rebuilt battery packs on my own, but a RPITA since the cells are
really crammed in tight.

For rebuilding, I was referring to shops that do it (based on cell count)

i.e. http://freedombatteryrebuilds.com and others.

I had a set of old Milwaukee 14.4v NiCad packs rebuilt with NMH for
about 70% of new price (bonus extra power/run time with the chemistry
change)




I've had NiCd battery packs rebuilt, as well but haven't had good luck
with them. Another six or twelve months, for 70% of the original
price isn't worth the bother. Li batteries changed the whole game.



It really depends on the quality of the cells used. My rebuilds are
still running fine, I expect to get about the same service life as the
originals.

A LI rebuild would have been nice, but then you need the LI compatible
charger which I don't have. At that point, it would have made more sense
to just get a new drill kit

My first "self" rebuild was a battery pack for a 1990's vintage Makita
drill with a 9.6v NiCad pack.
I bought a HF replacement pack on sale for next to nothing and dutifully
rebuilt the Mikita with the HF cells. It died after maybe three charges.
Turned out, the HF batteries were for a wall-wart style trickle charger
and my 1-hour Makita charger fried them. A lot of "sub" classes under
the NiCad, NMHyd, and LI street names 8^)


The second attempt was with RC car batteries, designed for abuse and
fast charging rates. Worked like a champ, but the cost and effort was a
wash.

=BR