How To Repair a Cordless Drill Battery

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How To Repair Dead Drill Battery

If your cordless drill battery isn’t holding charge anymore, it is time to look into how to repair a cordless drill battery.

Identify The Problem

The first sign of a dead cordless drill battery is not holding charge. The battery works for a few minutes and dies early. This is the most common problem that needs to be fixed.

Check The Type of Battery

Lithium-ion batteries are commonly found in cordless drills. Only some old models will have nickel-cadmium batteries or nickel-metal hydride batteries. Before you jump in to repair it is important to know the battery type for the right treatment.

Safety Measures

Wear protective gloves and protective goggles and work in a well-ventilated area to avoid any accidents.

How To Repair A Dead Drill Battery

It is necessary to test the voltage of your cordless battery to see if it needs the kind of repair. To test the voltage of the battery, you will need a multimeter. After you detach the battery, check for a “+” and a “-” sign on it. The multimeter will have a red and a black probe. Hold the red probe to the positive sign and the black probe to the negative one. A healthy drill battery should read close to or higher than 12V (V stands of volts). If your battery shows 8V on a 12V battery then it needs to be repaired.

The cells with less voltage are creating the problem in your cordless battery. Take out each cell and check their voltage in a similar way. Set the multimeter to DC voltage mode. The scale should be appropriate for individual cells. Test each cell with the red and black probe once again. A healthy lithium-ion cell should read between 3.6V and 3.7V. And Nicad and NiMH should read about 12V as fully charged. If your cells show lower reading then you need to replace them.

Additional Tips On How To Take Care Of The Cordless Drill And Its Battery

Now that you know how to repair a drill battery for cordless drill, here are some additional tips for handling your cordless drill and the battery.

Keep the cordless drill clean - Regularly clean the drill’s outer body, chuck, and vents with a soft brush or cloth. This will prevent the accumulation of dust and debris, it can result in overheating.
Lubrication - Apply lubricant to the drill chuck and other moving parts if recommended. It maintains smooth operation and prevents rusting.
Proper usage - Use the drill for appropriate tasks. Avoid overloading the drill beyond its capacity.
Proper storage - Store the drill in a clean and dry place when not in use. Avoid exposing them to extreme temperatures and moisture because this can harm electronics.
Do not overcharge - With proper instructions in the drill manual, keep charging the battery. Do not overcharge the battery. If it heats up while charging, allow it to cool down.
Optimum charge levels - It is a good practice not to drain the battery completely before charging. For lithium-ion batteries, keep the charge between 20% and 80%
No water exposure - Protect the battery from water and moisture to avoid electrical problems.

Caution

The dead cells should be disposed off at a battery recycling facility. Do not throw it in the trash because it could be hazardous.

Now that you know how to repair a dead drill battery, you can save money and extend the life of the tool.

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