Power Tool Battery Reconditioning Is Easy
December 17, 2012
Is the battery of your power tool beginning to show signs of dying out, or has it gone completely dead? Whichever is the case, you may be thinking of purchasing new batteries for your tools. But, have you seen the battery prices lately? It really makes you want to just buy a new tool instead. Fortunately, there is still a more affordable option, and that is battery reconditioning.
Power tools usually employ rechargeable nickel cadmium (NiCad) batteries. These batteries can be recharged several times before they begin to die out. The good thing is that this type of battery can still be reconditioned even when it has died out, and its usefulness can be restored. It is also advisable to recondition your batteries once each month for maintenance purposes, and every time they are in storage for extended periods to prevent the battery from going into deep discharge.
Reconditioning a battery is a very easy DIY project. In fact, after reading through the following instructions on how to recondition a power tool battery, you will be amazed at just how easy it is. There are just two things you need when reconditioning a NiCad battery: a battery charger and an electrical outlet. Once you have these two things prepared, here’s how you can get your battery back in shape.
Let the power tool run through normal operation until the battery is completely discharged. For example, if the unit is a drill, run it until the drill does not turn anymore. Be sure to let the tool run without a load (e.g. run the drill without actually drilling into anything). Once the tool’s battery has gone completely dead, plug the power tool battery charger into an electrical outlet and then charge the power tool battery until it regains full capacity.
As soon as the battery has been fully charged, run the power tool again to check the battery’s capacity. If you notice that it has not yet returned to full working capacity, you may have to repeat the entire power tool battery reconditioning process once or twice. However, if you notice that the battery’s performance has improved as compared to when it has not gone through the reconditioning process, it is best to wait a month before reconditioning it again. Too much discharging and recharging may cause undue strain on the batteries. If your batteries continue to deteriorate even after monthly reconditioning, it may already have run through its lifespan and that is when buying a replacement becomes the best option.
Of course, the process described above is just one way to recondition power tool batteries. There are also more detailed and complicated reconditioning processes that you can choose from. You may want to check if your battery’s manual contains instructions on how to properly recondition it. If the battery’s casing is cracked, however, it is best to throw it away and just buy a replacement battery. Before your power tool battery has died out, the best thing you can do is to take proper care of it such that you are able to optimize its lifespan.
fueanalchickly 