Rejuvenating Ni-Cad batteries.

missfire · 04-02-12, 01:49 PM

Anyone tried it? For a drill/driver/screw gun in this case.

There are various methods on the net involving mig welders.

Some say the packs will not recharge because certain cells will have polarity shifts..!? and you can jump them back into life with careful application of low duration high voltage pulses, kind of like what the Ctek chargers do?

What do'you think? Worth a try with a large face mask? I can't buy new ones as they are obsolete, the only other option is £300 on an equivalent srcew gun that will come with new batteries.

ChrisG · 04-02-12, 02:14 PM

What is the make/model?
I dismantled one of my Erbauer batteries recently, ( I believe NLA -- just like loads of Audi parts !! ) only to find out that inside the large black plastic case it had 10 ordinary C size NiCads, all soldered together with connector wire to form one 14.4 volt unit.
I know that 10 years ago the model aeroplane guys soldered these C batteries together, to get the correct voltage to power the motors in electric flight ( quiet! ) planes-- now we have Li ion and Li poly.

I believe that a number of the older Bosch 9.6 v drill drivers are the same , seven c cells.

LYT4X · 04-02-12, 02:21 PM

First thing to note is that rechargable batteries of any chemistry don't last forever. Whether it's NiCads, NiMh's or Li-ion's they all have a lifespan beyond which they are basically junk. However, NiCads tend to be the ones which appear to be knackered soonest but can be brought back to serviceable life the easiest. The problem with NiCads is that they can suffer most from a build-up on the charge plates (like dental plaque) which prevents them from discharging properly. If this is your issue, the best way to rejuvinate them is a succession of complete charge/discharge cycles. We are not talking about one or two cycles here. More like six to ten cycles of complete charge then complete discharge. If you don't get any improvement past this, then they aren't going anywhere. I've no ideas what you could be doing with a mig welder but I can't see that helping much!

missfire · 04-02-12, 02:34 PM

Well I just gave it a go... on charge now.

didn't blow up yet!

It's a pack with twelve 1.2V 1500mAH cells in it. You can buy them and solder them together indeed! Lets see how long the charge lasts under full load. I'll try the full discharge full charge cycle thing too!

It's the only gun I have that will drive 150mm timberfix screws, a big cheap massive hammer drill driver thing from B&Q, it's actually really well built surprisingly. I tried driving them with a little 12V Erbauer the last time I used them, it wasn't too happy about that..

it almost split the gun down the middle.

missfire · 04-02-12, 02:40 PM

What brand would you buy if you had to buy a new gun..????????? if money was no object, what is the best brand?

dgacampbell · 04-02-12, 02:43 PM

Try here, i have used them before, it does mean splitting the battery pack, but it is the best cure, you will need super glue lol and maybe a soldering iron.

http://www.batteriesplus.co.uk/

missfire · 04-02-12, 02:45 PM

cheers! on favourites now!

Phil Payne · 04-02-12, 02:48 PM

I have a Makita D3000 right-angle drill that I bought in 1985. Just recently the Hire Shop in Sheffield got me two new batteries from Makita for £23 each. The drill was older than any of the four shop assistants.

ChrisG · 04-02-12, 02:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Payne

The drill was older than any of the four shop assistants.

trouble is I'm finding that a lot these days.

There's a lovely young lady in the local dealers - we have bit of a flirt etc etc trouble is she probably young enough to be my GRANDAUGHTER

missfire · 04-02-12, 03:19 PM

nothing wrong with that! as long as you're not related...

makita, deeeewalter.. any more? specialist screw guns that take collated screws there's more choice but i just need an all rounder gun... do makita and dewalt keep the same terminal set up on the battery packs for many years? that's my problem with this gun, they still make them... only they change the terminal set up every two years so that you need to buy a new gun every two years..

real crafty that is..

04-02-12, 02:21 PM	#3
LYT4X Younger than JJ ! Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 651	First thing to note is that rechargable batteries of any chemistry don't last forever. Whether it's NiCads, NiMh's or Li-ion's they all have a lifespan beyond which they are basically junk. However, NiCads tend to be the ones which appear to be knackered soonest but can be brought back to serviceable life the easiest. The problem with NiCads is that they can suffer most from a build-up on the charge plates (like dental plaque) which prevents them from discharging properly. If this is your issue, the best way to rejuvinate them is a succession of complete charge/discharge cycles. We are not talking about one or two cycles here. More like six to ten cycles of complete charge then complete discharge. If you don't get any improvement past this, then they aren't going anywhere. I've no ideas what you could be doing with a mig welder but I can't see that helping much! __________________ ________ John

04-02-12, 02:14 PM	#2
ChrisG Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Bracknell, Berks. Posts: 1,465	What is the make/model? I dismantled one of my Erbauer batteries recently, ( I believe NLA -- just like loads of Audi parts !! ) only to find out that inside the large black plastic case it had 10 ordinary C size NiCads, all soldered together with connector wire to form one 14.4 volt unit. I know that 10 years ago the model aeroplane guys soldered these C batteries together, to get the correct voltage to power the motors in electric flight ( quiet! ) planes-- now we have Li ion and Li poly. I believe that a number of the older Bosch 9.6 v drill drivers are the same , seven c cells.

04-02-12, 02:34 PM	#4
missfire making wooden things Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cow land Posts: 8,156	Well I just gave it a go... on charge now. didn't blow up yet! It's a pack with twelve 1.2V 1500mAH cells in it. You can buy them and solder them together indeed! Lets see how long the charge lasts under full load. I'll try the full discharge full charge cycle thing too! It's the only gun I have that will drive 150mm timberfix screws, a big cheap massive hammer drill driver thing from B&Q, it's actually really well built surprisingly. I tried driving them with a little 12V Erbauer the last time I used them, it wasn't too happy about that.. it almost split the gun down the middle.

04-02-12, 02:40 PM	#5
missfire making wooden things Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cow land Posts: 8,156	What brand would you buy if you had to buy a new gun..????????? if money was no object, what is the best brand?

04-02-12, 02:43 PM	#6
dgacampbell Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Co.Armagh, N.Ireland Posts: 1,442	Try here, i have used them before, it does mean splitting the battery pack, but it is the best cure, you will need super glue lol and maybe a soldering iron. http://www.batteriesplus.co.uk/

04-02-12, 02:45 PM	#7
missfire making wooden things Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cow land Posts: 8,156	cheers! on favourites now!

04-02-12, 02:48 PM	#8
Phil Payne Banned Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sheffield Posts: 1,809	I have a Makita D3000 right-angle drill that I bought in 1985. Just recently the Hire Shop in Sheffield got me two new batteries from Makita for £23 each. The drill was older than any of the four shop assistants.

04-02-12, 03:19 PM	#10
missfire making wooden things Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: cow land Posts: 8,156	nothing wrong with that! as long as you're not related... makita, deeeewalter.. any more? specialist screw guns that take collated screws there's more choice but i just need an all rounder gun... do makita and dewalt keep the same terminal set up on the battery packs for many years? that's my problem with this gun, they still make them... only they change the terminal set up every two years so that you need to buy a new gun every two years.. real crafty that is..