Replies

1. 
   RickL | Apr 26, 2005 02:18pm | #1

   Try having your batteries rebuilt.

   http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/index.htm

   There's a bunch of different services out there offering better than oem batteries. Have used voltman with good luck. Saved 2/3 the price of new pansonic and milwaukee batteries.

1. 
   saulgood | Apr 26, 2005 02:52pm | #2

   rick,

   [edited, because I went to the site, it answered my question]

   thanks for the tip, how do your rebuilt bats compare?

   Edited 4/26/2005 8:00 am ET by saul

2. 
   BenA | Apr 26, 2005 02:53pm | #3

   Cordless power tool batteries are rated in amp hours. They start from 1.9 to 3.6 amp hours. the rating are in each cell. The more amp hours per cell the longer run time and the more it will cost for a battery The cheaper batteries don't even use full size cell they use 4/5 cells to save money( less amp hours shorter run time) thats why you will see a 18volt drill in home depot for $119 and the same looking drill in a tool store for $ 199 most likely its the battery difference, and sometime the drill is better made also . hope this clears it up for you.

    

1. 
   saulgood | Apr 26, 2005 03:04pm | #4

   ben,

   Thanks for the info. what's the best way to find the amp hours of a given battery- before buying?

1. 
   BenA | Apr 26, 2005 03:19pm | #5

   usually they are listed on the box, or the spec. sheet of the tool , usually in the instruction booklet. The cheaper tool won't' list them because they don't want to advertise the lower amperage batteries. If you buy your tools from a industrial tool store they should know the amp hours of the tools they are selling. Try to avoid the big boxes if possible. good luck

1. 
   saulgood | Apr 26, 2005 05:36pm | #6

   It sounds like everything else; ya get what ya pay for. All things being legit, I suppose I'll buy the most expensive battery from the least expensive source I can find. BTW, I checked out http://www.voltman.com, (rebuilders) - they seemed to have some good prices, except when you get up into the higher voltages. for my 18v they wanted $90, pls shipping. That gets me two brand new on e-bay, though voltman claims his rebuilds are better.  Thanks for the info, everyone.  saul

3. 
   tmaxxx | Apr 29, 2005 07:28am | #7

   well this one brings back some bitterness. i have had dw 18v for years and while for the most part i have been happy with there performance especialy since some projects i do max out the tools ability.  but i have had not so good luck in the battery department.  after about a year or so i find the batteries always really start to crap out even though i try my best to follow there recharging rules.  last fall i had 3 out of 12 batteries working and i was not happy about having to spend $135 for each new one.  i found battery store that rebuilds them for 90 bucks each.  so out went 9 batts.  nothing but problems with them.  they all have been back at least once but still most of them dont work worth beans.  they told me they put in the 'better ones' but whatever they did they suck.  the big kicker is about 2 months after i did all that, dw came out with there new ones which hd sells 2pk for about $120.  i have some of those and they are WAY better than the old ones and the rebuilt ones.  the rebuilt ones dont hold there charge for more than 1-2 days either.

   good luck

   Tmaxxx

   Urban Workshop Ltd

   Vancouver B.C.

   cheers.  Ill buy.

1. 
   saulgood | Apr 29, 2005 02:19pm | #8

   Thanks tmaxxx,

   that's exactly the kind of info I was looking for. It's really too bad, These batteries cost more than the tool body itself, and yet it makes more sense to chuck them out than to rebuild - what a waste. Oh well, as a business expense it's still worth it; I've earned thousands with these tools, I  guess I can spend hundreds to have them running well.