Harry Krause wrote:
...well, no one was, but...

I just finished a season of boating in which I actually was able to use
some of my battery-powered power tools when I needed them. That is,
there was juice in the battery.

Last year, one of my battery packs died completely. Rather than just
toss it and buy another, I sent it off to be "rebuilt," but with NiMH
batteries, instead of the NiCads with which it was originally built.

What a difference!

The NiMH pack lasts about twice as long as a NiCad pack (even with a
NiCad pack that is working properly), seems to hold a charge longer
during periods of non-use, and seems to charge faster.

The cost for rebuilding as about the same as buying a new DeWalt NiCad
pack, about $50 to $60.



The biggest problem with rechargeable battery packs, aside from
tales of 'memory' effect of course, is that anxious users press on
when their tool battery starts to die, killing the battery pack.

Continued use, as in continuing to try to finish one more screw, or
one more shave, is that once one of the cells in a battery is flat,
continuing on forces the dead cell to conduct when it is depleted.
This forced over-discharge can quickly kill the cell dead. From
then on, it's capacity is damaged, and it will not recover. The
entire battery pack is then fit only for the dump as there is no way
to properly recycle them. This is a scandal. There should be a
recycling deposit and proper recycling of the cells should be
accomplished by the manufacturer, under regulations.

If you can manage it, dissassembly and testing and reassembly of the
scavenged good cells can reduce losses. My B&D cells are near
impossible to service, purposely I suspect, as Hooverism, to
increase sales in an unethical manner, like Ford and Taurus
transmissions, etc.

Those battery packs are like Gutenburg's revenge; The printing
presses are now near free, but the ammo is dear, and the residue
deadly poisonous.

Lithium is the way to go, and stopping work AS SOON AS the tool bogs
down will save the battery pack for future battles. Discretion
really is the better side of valour, and all boaters needing battery
tools should take warning and "reef early."

P.S. Why can we not easily substitute non rechargeable cells for
depleted rechargeables? Just guess.

Market control is why. There is no free trade, only collusion
between biggies to stop we'uns from competing.

Terry K