For good or bad, I have bought a number of B&D 18v Firestorm power tools over the years (hedge trimmer, weedeater, chainsaw, polesaw etc) and to be honest, when you can't be bothered mixing 2 stroke or using a big petrol powered tool, thay are pretty good.
The problem is the older batteries are starting to pack in all at the same time. I now have 4 or 5 that won't hold any charge (all made in 2005) and B&D say thay are around $100 each retail. So that's 500 bucks just for a few batteries (You can by a new tool with charger and battery for just over a hundred bucks!)
Does anyone know where I can source these or similar replacements, or get them re-celled for a realistic price?
gemini kiwi;363099 wrote: For good or bad, I have bought a number of B&D 18v Firestorm power tools over the years (hedge trimmer, weedeater, chainsaw, polesaw etc) and to be honest, when you can't be bothered mixing 2 stroke or using a big petrol powered tool, thay are pretty good.
The problem is the older batteries are starting to pack in all at the same time. I now have 4 or 5 that won't hold any charge (all made in 2005) and B&D say thay are around $100 each retail. So that's 500 bucks just for a few batteries (You can by a new tool with charger and battery for just over a hundred bucks!)
Does anyone know where I can source these or similar replacements, or get them re-celled for a realistic price?
Thanks
Ian
We have the same problem Ian, so will be interested in the answer. Can't use my beloved reciprocating saw for that reason
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Organix;363105 wrote: DIY battery repair manual
. Worth risking US$3.45 for ? - feedback looks promising and if it works you might have a business opportunity []
I was looking at similar for $13, but me being a tight wad, and a sceptic decided too much of a risk:D But for $3, I bought it. Just got to wait for the pdf to arrive now
It will be brilliant if I can shock them back to life. I saw a video yesterday on You Tube of a guy zapping his with a mig welder. I would have tried, but I don't have a mig
Ruth;363110 wrote: When doing my UPS research recently, I came across this company. I know nothing more about it than is provided in their website. Any help?
This is the crazyness. They want $140 for 1 battery, yet I can buy a new hedge cutter with new charger and 2 batteries for $167.
If the "zapping" instructions don't amount to much, it looks like a new hedge cutter will be the order of the day, maybe if I wait till Mitre10 do a GST free day, I can pick 2 new batteries up for $150 with free chatger and hedge cutter thrown in
If you buy a tool with a Lithium Ion battery and not a nickel cadmium ( Ni Cd ) one, it will not develop a memory and will hold it's charge much more and for longer than the "old" Ni cd ones
I improved the life of mine by keeping them in the beer fridge.
If I leave the black case in the sun when I try to use the newly recharged battery it will be flat so decided to take it to the other extreme & chilled the bluidy thing.
So far so good.
With the 2 batteries I seem to get most jobs done.
Thank goodness for lots of builders leads & a cheap electric backup though.
Amazing what you can find out when you google. I have the same problem with some of mine so the thread sparked :cool: my interest and I found the following threads.
PalmyCol;363119 wrote: If you buy a tool with a Lithium Ion battery and not a nickel cadmium ( Ni Cd ) one, it will not develop a memory and will hold it's charge much more and for longer than the "old" Ni cd ones
Also to prevent 'memory' in NiCad batteries they should be completely discharged regularly. The worst way you can treat a NiCad battery is to use it now and then and leave it or recharge it constantly between uses.
Holding the trigger (e.g. locked) on until the battery runs down is not adviseable as a motor overheat will normally result. Better to fashion a discharger with a suitably rated (12V?) auto light bulb and some wire. Just hook it onto the battery terminals and leave set up until bulb stops glowing, and then recharge battery as normal.
We used an automated version of this to prevent memory in two-way radios used daily on the job which previously had been replaced on charge every night. Battery issues reduced markedly as a result.
Harm Less Solutions.co.nz
NZ & AU distributor of Eco Wood Treatment stains and Bambu Dru bamboo fabrics and clothing
Dendrite growth is only one form of failure for NiCads. Zapping can work but is not entirely trouble free. When the dendrite burns off if can cause the separator material to carbonise which poisons the cell so don't be disappointed if it does not work.
Renewable power systems - hydro, wind and solar.
Grid tie and off grid (stand alone) www.poweron.kiwi.nz
powerguy;363148 wrote: Dendrite growth is only one form of failure for NiCads. Zapping can work but is not entirely trouble free. When the dendrite burns off if can cause the separator material to carbonise which poisons the cell so don't be disappointed if it does not work.
I've got lots of dead ones to practise on Maybe if I can get 50% working again I'll consider it a success
PalmyCol;363119 wrote: If you buy a tool with a Lithium Ion battery and not a nickel cadmium ( Ni Cd ) one, it will not develop a memory and will hold it's charge much more and for longer than the "old" Ni cd ones
Problem is I have a dozen or more Firestorm batteries for the 6 tools I have. They are basically lightweight "grab a tool" options for say whan I don't want to fire up the 60cc Husqvarna saw to prune a 3" branch, also, Tess can handle them, so I want to keep them going without spending a grand on new batteries[:0]
If they all take the same battery I would buy 2 Lithium ion ones and start fresh with some good batteries and look after them. The Ni Cd ones also don't like being left uncharged so you should charge them fully when they get down a bit and after fully discharging them like Organix suggests
gemini kiwi;363154 wrote: Problem is I have a dozen or more Firestorm batteries for the 6 tools I have. They are basically lightweight "grab a tool" options for say whan I don't want to fire up the 60cc Husqvarna saw to prune a 3" branch, also, Tess can handle them, so I want to keep them going without spending a grand on new batteries[:0]
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