Primecell
I rarely purchase new batteries for old cordless tools. Instead, I have the packs rebuilt by Primecell, a service that replaces and upgrades the cells in NiCd and NiMh batteries found in a variety of equipment including camcorders, RF Scanners, and power tools. New replacement batteries for, say, my Ryobi 12V drill would have been about $90, roughly the cost of purchasing a new drill with *two* new batteries and charger. Having the battery packs renewed by PrimeCell ran me about $60, two-way shipping included. I first used this service about five years ago and have since shipped them a total of three battery packs. The turnaround is quick (about a week, though you can pay up for 24-hr service). Not only is it less expensive than buying new ones, from my experience, the rebuilt batteries are much more powerful than OEM and they’ve also lasted 30-50 percent longer than the newer packs my Dad purchased for his drill.
-- Ladd Morse
Primecell
$15+
(depending on type, voltage)
Favorite (15)
Fred
Great find!
I have good soldering skills so I rebuilt my own 12v tool battery packs. Upgraded NiCd to NiMh. The drill now acts like an 18v drill of its era with the light weight of a 12v battery. Helped my son-in-law build a jungle gym. My "dinky" 12v drill out powered and out lasted his huge and heavy 18v.
NiMh require different chargers so if you go this way be sure to upgrade your charger too!
pcr1
If you don't want to deal with the shipping, you can also find a Batteries Plus store. They rebuild batteries for any nicd or ni-mh packs as well, usually with a 24-48 turn around, they have different upgraded cells, so you can get packs made anywhere from 30% to double the runtime of the oem.
VitaminCM
These are awesome. I have about 8 tools and three batteries to go with them. I wish I knew about getting them cheaper a few weeks ago.
Nick
Check out Batteries Plus as well (http://www.batteriesplus.com/), they may have a local store and I believe they can replace cells in battery packs.
Eeyore
The new Lithium battery packs might be $90, but the battery shown in the picture is an older battery that only costs about $25.
Davey
Looks like Batteries Plus doesn't rebuild power tool batteries -- at least I can't find a mention of it on their website.
Paul Dulaney
The economics of this are upside down; the economically rational choice is to buy a new drill when the battery pack fails.
I'm a capitalist for the most part, but I would endorse the following legislation: manufacturers must sell consumers a new battery pack at the manufacturer's cost if the consumer returns the old battery pack for recycling.
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Ross Nicholson
Cadmium is a dangerous heavy metal that must be recycled properly. Do not handle it.
Dave
Also note that many (if not most) of the super-high capacity NiMh batteries out there have a very significant self-discharge and will not stay charged on the shelf for any length of time when compared to the lower capacity varieties.
pcr1
Davey, Batteries Plus does rebuild power tool packs, or any other nicd or nimh pack you have. I work there and do them all day long.
Davey
pcr1, I looked pretty carefully at the Batteries Plus website and couldn't find anything about power tool packs. Maybe you can suggest to them that it would be in their interest to make that option clear. Anyway, thanks for the info.
dan
Ryobi 12v drill with two batteries and a charger only cost $ 49.97 not $ 90.00 . Batteries for a 12v are $ 24.97 ea.
Kevin
Ryobi?!! Yeach!
Garbage.
Khan
Kevin,
While there are higher quality products available, I've used several Ryobi products and found them to be a good value for the money. My 14v Ryobi drill has provided flawless service for four years and running. Got it on sale fairly cheap and it has paid for itself several times over. Once mans garbage and all that...
rikki oneal
i went to battery plus,with 2 24volt dewalt batteries and charger.had them rebuild 1 battery for 100 bucks,and after the second time they rebuilt it they told me my charger was bad.my first visit there they checked my charger and said it was fine.ill never use them again. phx az