Battery Replacement for DeWalt Drill
- Thread starter centershot
- Start date
Dewalt makes a battery adaptor to convert your tool to the new 20 volt batteries, but you're probably better off buying a new drill and getting a "free" battery.
They've made the new batteries so expensive, I've considered burning my Dewalt battery tools and buying a small generator.
Gerry
They've made the new batteries so expensive, I've considered burning my Dewalt battery tools and buying a small generator.
Gerry
NZ_Fclass
Silver $$ Contributor
It may be possible to change the cells inside the battery housing, with a bit of surgery etc. But my concern would be the need to change the charger, as the charge profile for lithium may be different.
It may also be possible to replace the "dead" ni-cad cells at lower cost. I have done this on one of my Canon cameras which used Ni-Mh cells obtainable from a local electronics shop.
It may also be possible to replace the "dead" ni-cad cells at lower cost. I have done this on one of my Canon cameras which used Ni-Mh cells obtainable from a local electronics shop.
Last edited:
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
Don't know of a lithium that uses the same type of battery attachment as the old style(nicad). Plus your charger won't work. Walmart has the 18v nicad 3/63.00 , unless the online not up to date. I went to the 20v lithium, after I rebuilt my porter/cable 18v one time.(put new nicads myself, just some soldering).
If it were me, I would buy a combo drill, battery, charger and get a more efficient brushless motor and lithium battery. They are marketing like ink jet printers, they give away the printers and make profit on the ink. Often during sales you can get drill, battery, charger for less than the battery and charger and even sometimes less than a battery. Same thing with EGO products!
Yes. There are several listed on Amazon that are lithium replacements for the 18V Ni-cads. Around $35 each with 50% more capacity. I have all Milwaukee tools and zero Milwaukee batteries. At about a third of the price, equal capacity and better longevity I doubt I'll ever buy another Milwaukee battery.
Link to a pretty highly rated one but there are plenty of others:
Lithium Dewalt Replacement
This right here.
Can you use the old charger with the lithium batteries?
drop_point
Silver $$ Contributor
My old-style is completely different than the new style batteries.
You can buy an adapter for more money than a new drill with battery and charger costs. DeWalt and other brands of cordless drills are disposable.
I purchased the 20V adapter when it first was available and not so expensive and I have other 20V tools which came with a charger so the cost was minimal at the time. The 20V charger is different so you would need a charger.
WSnyder
Silver $$ Contributor
If you buy the Dewalt adapter to use the lithium batteries take the battery out when you’re done using the tool. If you don’t it’ll be dead or low on charge the next time you use it. This is (or was) a known fault with the adapter kits. I have several and all of mine have leakage current in the adapter circuit that will drain the batteries. I’ve learned the habit of pulling the batteries every time I’m done using the tool.
Yea, the adapter I purchased will deplete a battery if left attached.
WSnyder
Silver $$ Contributor
At first I was like WTH??? But a search found everyone had the same issue. It sort of didn’t matter to me how cost effective it was or wasn’t, I didn’t want to throw away perfectly good tools. I’m probably 3 years give or take on the lithium adapter kits and they are still running fine. I own some of the newer smaller more compact and more powerful tools that I use everyday in the field and they are better but the old ones do shop duty and for that they work just fine.
I run several 18 volt systems on 20 to 18 volt adapters with no issues. The old style 18 volt batteries can't hold a candle to the 20 volt batteries.
Since I have a PHD in being a tight ass, I tried this adapter out. It's every bit as good as the dewalt brand for half the cost.
If anybody has found an aftermarket battery as good as dewalts, please share with us. I haven't had any luck.
Since I have a PHD in being a tight ass, I tried this adapter out. It's every bit as good as the dewalt brand for half the cost.
If anybody has found an aftermarket battery as good as dewalts, please share with us. I haven't had any luck.
Not an direct comparison but I use Powerextra replacements for Milwaukee. They've given me better longevity than Milwaukee brand batteries for a whole lot less money.
They also make 18 volt Dewalt lithium replacements for about $20/each.
dave@aDave
Gold $$ Contributor
Unfortunately DeWalt is not the quality product that it used to be since Stanley Black & Decker bought them.
When my gas powered weed trimmer went hoofs up, I asked several contractors and they recommended Makita tools.
So i bought a Makita 40 volt trimmer that came with a charger. While searching for a second battery, it became apparent (as stated above) that it was cheaper to buy another Makita 40 volt tool that comes with a battery and not the charger. I don't know how much is BS, but Makita is pretty adamant about not using other brand name batteries or chargers as the charger and battery "talk" to each other and the tool. Talks with a Makita employee re-enforced this. Seems that the 40 volt batteries and chargers are somewhat high tech.
That's my $0.34 worth (1945 $0.02 inflation adjusted)
When my gas powered weed trimmer went hoofs up, I asked several contractors and they recommended Makita tools.
So i bought a Makita 40 volt trimmer that came with a charger. While searching for a second battery, it became apparent (as stated above) that it was cheaper to buy another Makita 40 volt tool that comes with a battery and not the charger. I don't know how much is BS, but Makita is pretty adamant about not using other brand name batteries or chargers as the charger and battery "talk" to each other and the tool. Talks with a Makita employee re-enforced this. Seems that the 40 volt batteries and chargers are somewhat high tech.
That's my $0.34 worth (1945 $0.02 inflation adjusted)
The new lithium 18V will work in the older DeWalt drills that took the 18V NiCad batteries. It’s NOT cost effective and you’d be ahead getting the adaptor and 20V lithium batteries as that IS more cost effective. I went with the 18V lithium batteries and they are significantly smaller and lighter than the NiCad batteries. If I’d realized that before I ordered the 18V batteries I’d have gone the 20V route. You will also have to get the correct charger for charging lithium ion batteries. After all of that I suspect it’s actually cheaper to get a new drill with batteries and charger.
Cost effectiveness:
Buy a new Tesla and just trickle charge your battery tools while charging the car.
Problem solved for about OMG- $60,000.00
Buy a new Tesla and just trickle charge your battery tools while charging the car.
Problem solved for about OMG- $60,000.00
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