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Started By
Message
I have all 18V dewalt tools. Weighing buying new 18V batteries vs 20v to 18v converter kit
Posted on 5/27/22 at 11:54 am
Posted on 5/27/22 at 11:54 am
Any advice would be appreciated. I’m not interested in getting rid of 18v tools. My last working 18v battery isn’t holding a charge any more.
I’m wondering what’s the best option moving forward. I don’t use the tools daily, just miscellaneous home jobs. Circular saw, jig saw, drill, impact drill, saws all etc.
Should I buy a couple of new 18v batteries
Or is it worth it/better to get the 18-20v converter kit and use 20v batteries moving forward.
I’m wondering what’s the best option moving forward. I don’t use the tools daily, just miscellaneous home jobs. Circular saw, jig saw, drill, impact drill, saws all etc.
Should I buy a couple of new 18v batteries
Or is it worth it/better to get the 18-20v converter kit and use 20v batteries moving forward.
This post was edited on 5/27/22 at 11:59 am
5
Posted on 5/27/22 at 12:49 pm to Cow Drogo
I used the converter kit that way it allows me to use the old 18V tools along with a mix of new 20V Max tools.
I’m also exploring the idea of buying a converter to something like Ryobi that will give me options of cheaper tools but only one set of batteries.
Only issue I know about is some of the battery protection functionality may not work. So be careful with the converters, in particularly when running them hard and to low/no charge.
I’m also exploring the idea of buying a converter to something like Ryobi that will give me options of cheaper tools but only one set of batteries.
Only issue I know about is some of the battery protection functionality may not work. So be careful with the converters, in particularly when running them hard and to low/no charge.
Posted on 5/27/22 at 10:40 pm to Cow Drogo
Biggest danger with using converters (at least as I understand the issue), is that your charger won't recharge your lithium (20v) battery if it's completely depleted (or pushed below a certain point).
Current tools are designed with a 'smart' feature, that catches this before the battery is drained too low.
The converters I've seen, don't enable this feature. So they allow it to work, but you have to be mindful to stop and swap out the battery, or it will run too low and you're stuck.
I have a Ryobi battery that drops too low like this, I have to take it apart and do a bump/trickle charge to bring it back up to where it takes a charge. I think you gotta be somewhere around 12.4, 12.5 or so, and then it will charge.
Current tools are designed with a 'smart' feature, that catches this before the battery is drained too low.
The converters I've seen, don't enable this feature. So they allow it to work, but you have to be mindful to stop and swap out the battery, or it will run too low and you're stuck.
I have a Ryobi battery that drops too low like this, I have to take it apart and do a bump/trickle charge to bring it back up to where it takes a charge. I think you gotta be somewhere around 12.4, 12.5 or so, and then it will charge.
Posted on 5/28/22 at 7:27 am to Scoob
quote:
is that your charger won't recharge your lithium (20v) battery if it's completely depleted (or pushed below a certain point).
I have some 18v that won’t take a charge, anyone had luck salvaging them?
Posted on 5/28/22 at 7:41 am to Cow Drogo
I have all 18v nicad or nimh or whatever those batteries were that came with my DeWalts. I bought some cheap knock-off lithium batteries on Amazon after my batteries all stopped charging and holy crap!! Those black lithium batteries are legit! Not only do they weigh a fraction of the original ones but I can still use my existing chargers and they are still going strong 3 years later.
Give it at shot. You can always return them free to Amazon if they don't work.
I'll look for the ones I bought and post the link.
Give it at shot. You can always return them free to Amazon if they don't work.
I'll look for the ones I bought and post the link.
This post was edited on 5/28/22 at 7:45 am
Posted on 5/28/22 at 9:58 am to Cow Drogo
Bought converters online for a fraction on the price and bought a new impact with two batteries and a chargers to get the batteries.
The 20v batteries suck compared to the old 18V.
The 20v batteries suck compared to the old 18V.
Posted on 5/28/22 at 11:00 am to Cow Drogo
I agree with cad….just pitch your current batteries and buy some aftermarket on Amazon. The higher the Ah rating, the better.
This post was edited on 5/28/22 at 11:02 am
Posted on 5/28/22 at 12:16 pm to tide06
quote:Lithium? Yes, I've done it with a Ryobi, it's the same process with any brand.quote:
is that your charger won't recharge your lithium (20v) battery if it's completely depleted (or pushed below a certain point).
I have some 18v that won’t take a charge, anyone had luck salvaging them?
There are Youtube videos about Bump-Charging Lithium batteries, works for any brand.
You take the battery apart so you can see the cells, once out of the case they should be a bunch of cells stacked. You don't have to remove them from that stack structure.
All the cells are wired together, you need to find the positive and negative tabs on it. When you do, get a WEAK battery charger (you don't want 20 amps!). I've set my old car battery charger to 2 amps, I've seen people sacrifice an old cell phone charger by cutting the connection end off and separating the wires.
Once you KNOW you've got the positive and negative posts, hold one of the charger wires on one post, and bump-charge it... touch the other wire to the other end about 3 seconds, release, repeat. Keep doing this about a minute or so; if you have a voltmeter it's helpful.
The OEM chargers will not charge a battery unless they're over around 12.6 or 13 volts, if they drop below that the charger flashes and the battery is "dead".
My Ryobi was around 11.8v, I did the bump-charging to get it up to about 12.8v. Once it got there, the stock charger will recharge it.
I disassembled the case only enough to access the tabs (so I could see the cells and wiring). Once I got it charged enough, I reassembled it and stuck it on the charger. I've had to do this twice or so, it was a reconditioned battery and I assume one of the cells was weak. I can use that battery again, I just don't run it all the way down in the tool anymore and it works.
If you have an old NiCad battery you just want to make work, you might try sticking it in a ziploc, and putting it in the freezer overnight, and then charging it the next day. I made an old battery take a charge once doing this, I've read it realigns the electrons or something and lets the battery take a charge again.
As I said, it worked, but the battery ran down and was dead again afterwards.
Posted on 5/29/22 at 6:56 am to Scoob
Love the effort here 
but I think it cost me more to read and try to comprehend all this than to order those batteries from Amazon.
but I think it cost me more to read and try to comprehend all this than to order those batteries from Amazon.Posted on 5/30/22 at 6:23 am to CAD703X
Thanks everyone
I’m gonna try your 2 pack of off brand 18v for now
I’m gonna try your 2 pack of off brand 18v for now
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