How to Revive Dead Cordless Tool Batteries
Got a Cordless Drill, Sawzall, or Jigsaw that Just Won't Run Anymore? Spending $50.00 For a New Battery Ought to Be a Crime! Find Out How to Recharge Those Old Dead Batteries Using Common Household Items
Somehow the conversation turned toward tools, as often a group of men will do, and specifically how to bring back dead cordless batteries. I thought right away of all those old dead batteries I had thrown away over the years, now filling up the land fill. (I know you're supposed to dispose of them a certain way, but I guess I was never in-the-loop about what that actually entailed.) But I was still excited about all the money I could be saving henceforth. I think you will too once you discover how easy and inexpensive it really is.
OK, now to the nuts-and-bolts. First, gather up the following necessities:
(1) Set of jumper cables.
(1) Stiff copper or other metal wire. (About 4" will do.)
(1) Automobile battery. (You can leave it in the car.)
(1) Dead cordless tool battery. (One at a time, that is.)
Now, clamp the positive (red) side of the jumper cables onto one end of the wire. If using insulated wire, you will want to remove the insulation, at least where you clip the jumpers and about a ½" on the other end. i always just strip it bare, but it's your choice. I also like to clip the black-end to the insulated jumpers for the time being, to keep the metal ends from touching.
OK, now hook up the free end of the jumpers to the negative and positive ends of your car battery respectively. Position your battery with the two metal contacts facing up. In rapid succession, start tapping one of the contacts with the wire. This will trick the battery into taking a charge. You may have to do this a couple hundred times for full effect.
I hope this will save you loads of money down the road. It will make my day if you tell me about it below. Thanks.
Published by Greg Inman
I was born and raised in a country setting in Florida. Raised horses, hunted snakes, and ran deer. Always wanted to write, but didn't think I was good enough to get published. Forever grateful, AC proved me... View profile
- Dewalt Five Piece Tool KitThis how to guide will give the purchaser a complete easy to follow program of dos and donts of this tool kit.
- How to Save Big on Your Home Depot PurchasesDid you know that a little bit of effort could create a big reward on major purchases at Home Depot?
Free Energy Efficient Lightbulbs at Home Depot SundayIn honor of Earth Day, Home Depot plans to give away one million free compact fluorescent lightbulbs in its stores this Sunday, April 22. Customers who visit any Home Depot stor...
The Home Depot: Review of Home Improvement Stores, North Oklahoma CityInsider's Guide to Home Depot, North Oklahoma City.
Home Depot Kid WorkshopsHome Depot offers free Kid Workshops the first Saturday of every month from 9 am to noon. Kids get to build from kits.
- Talking Tools - the Bond of a Good Cordless Drill
- How to Choose the Right Cordless Drill
- Choosing a Cordless Drill
- I Can't Live Without My Black & Decker Cordless Swivel Drill
- Product Review: DeWalt DC759KA Heavy Duty 1/2" 18V Cordless Compact Drill/Driver Kit
- How to Choose the Best Power Drill
- Saw's Jigsaw: The Next Great Horror Villain?
9 Comments
Post a Commentgoing to try tomorrow...check the Greenville News for my name if this goes wrong.
worked like a champ
this does work. i found that a 13.8VDC power supply works well for any battery 12V or under. I used a DMM to monitor the drill battery voltage for each touch, stopping when i was able to get the voltage up above the battery rating, then putting the battery on the charger. I regenerated two 12V DeWalt batteries, saving myself $150. a 12V car battery might not save a 18V battery, i recommend having more voltage available than the battery is rated for. jumper cables can be dangerous, so take care not to short out your car battery. i recommend fusing the power wire you are using, insulating exposed wiring, etc. you can touch the negative or positive for this to work (just complete the circuit), with the other wire secured.
do you have a picture to show how this works.
Huh, I thought I included it in the article, but I guess it wasn't very clear. You clip the negative jumper onto one of the contact points on the battery. The positive one clipped to the stiff wire is the one you tap the other contact. Hope this helps, Greg
where do hook the neg.cable while you're doing the procedure ?
thanks it worked great and saved me 50 bucks
Glad it worked for you! Mine never was that great to begin with, being a B&D Cordless Drill. But it last as long as it did before, which was about 20-30 mins. GI
Hey Greg! Just tried it. My batteries are restored and I just saved a buttload of money cause of you. Thx.
But the question is, how long are the batteries good for now?