WTF? 30 year old NiCd battery lives again..?

[slofox]

I own a 30 year old rechargeable shaver, powered by a NiCd battery. This has been used regularly with god knows how many discharges and recharges.

Recently, as you might expect, the battery has become less and less able to hold a charge. I assumed it would be dead very soon.

But. A coupe of weeks ago, I plugged it into the mains to recharge and also to use the mains power to shave with. When I had finished, I just put it down, still on charge and wandered off totally forgetting about it for about four or five days. I eventually remembered it was on charge and assumed it would be toast...

Not so. Since the long overcharge it has performed better than it has for a couple of years. The battery is churning away like a new one. I don't know how long this will last but am intrigued to know just what the fuck it is up to...

Anyone got any ideas? Coz I haven't got a friggin' clue.

[george formby]

Your timing sucks, I just got rid of my Makita drill with knackered NiCads.

Oh well, be interesting to find out what's the haps.

Awaiting the brains trust.

[slofox]

Your timing sucks, I just got rid of my Makita drill with knackered NiCads.

Oh well, be interesting to find out what's the haps.

Awaiting the brains trust.

Actually, I've got several drills like that. Might try it out again!

[BMWST?]

i was contemplating this very thing today .Have an old old old cordless Philishave,and for at least the last couple of years it has had infrequent use(that rugged look) But i have started to use it most days again it it is going very well.

[Gremlin]

Assuming it's a shaver (I have a Remington), they actually recommend regular long charges, 12 hours is considered a shorter charge, long being 24 hours, and you get a longer run out of it as well.

[mashman]

They don't make 'em like they used to eh...

[jellywrestler]

Your timing sucks, I just got rid of my Makita drill with knackered NiCads.

Oh well, be interesting to find out what's the haps.

Awaiting the brains trust.

why didn't you just get the battery packs reloaded? nicads are like standard batteries. just small battieries that come in fixed sizes and can be changed out.

[pete376403]

why didn't you just get the battery packs reloaded? nicads are like standard batteries. just small battieries that come in fixed sizes and can be changed out.

I have a few B&D drills that need new batteries (12v and 14v Nicad IIRC). Getting the packs rebuilt will cost more per drill than the cost of purchasing a new Bosch drill and impact driver combo with two 18v lithium batteries and charger.

[jellywrestler]

I have a few B&D drills that need new batteries (12v and 14v Nicad IIRC). Getting the packs rebuilt will cost more per drill than the cost of purchasing a new Bosch drill and impact driver combo with two 18v lithium batteries and charger.

fuck all people even know it can be done at all, expect the only option is a replacement oem one

[pete376403]

fuck all people even know it can be done at all, expect the only option is a replacement oem one

Knowing a place that can do the stainless spot welding of the linking straps helps. (Battery Cell in Petone doesn't)

[mashman]

I have a few B&D drills that need new batteries (12v and 14v Nicad IIRC). Getting the packs rebuilt will cost more per drill than the cost of purchasing a new Bosch drill and impact driver combo with two 18v lithium batteries and charger.

According to the internet, if some batteries aren't giving off a charge in a certain range the charger will consider it a non-viable battery and not charge it. The hack to "prove/fix it", is to open the battery, locate the terminals, give the battery a quick boost back into range, and then charge the battery as normal. The batteries may not necessarily be dead, just not strong enough to be considered viable to charge.

[george formby]

why didn't you just get the battery packs reloaded? nicads are like standard batteries. just small battieries that come in fixed sizes and can be changed out.

I had considered it but a new Lithium 18v drill turned up for my birthday. The Makita languished on the shelf.. Shame, good drill with a decent chuck.

[R650R]

You can get adaptor plates now to so that different brand battery packs can be used on another brands tools

[pete376403]

Needed a drill for a job last week and too far back to the workshop to get it, so up to Bunnings - $34.99 for an XU1 brand, 18v lithium, impact, torque limiter, even has a built in LED to illuminate to work . I dont hold any hopes for its longevity, but it got the job done

[F5 Dave]

Getting damm near impossible to import batteries of any kind due to increased shipping restrictions. A workmate had made his own spot welder for the purpose.