Battery Depot

How to Recondition a Lead Acid Panasonic Tool Battery

If you have an automotive or other lead-acid battery that isn’t working properly, you may be able to recondition it. Lead-acid batteries decline in performance most often because sulfur accumulates on the lead plates of the PANASONIC EY9117B drill battery, corroding them and blocking electric current flow. You can use a common household chemical, magnesium sulfate (Epsom salts), to recondition a lead-acid battery. If you follow the proper procedure, the magnesium sulfate will remove the sulfur and restore the battery to normal operating condition.

Heat a half quart of distilled water to about 150 degrees F and add 7 or 8 oz. of Epsom salts. Stir until the Epsom salts are completely dissolved. Do not use tap water because it contains chemicals that will contaminate the battery.

Remove the battery caps and carefully drain the water from the battery. If you have a sealed (low-maintenance) battery, find the access points (also called shadow plugs) and use a drill to open them. Insert a funnel and pour enough of the Epsom salts solution in to refill the cell. Repeat until you fill each cell.

Replace the battery caps. Use plastic plugs to close up the drill holes in a sealed battery.

Shake the battery vigorously for a minute to make sure the solution works its way through each cell.

Place the power tool battery for PANASONIC EY9116B on a charger and allow it to charge slowly for 24 hours. To completely recondition a lead acid battery, you may need to charge it to capacity several times over the next few days.

You can recondition a lead-acid battery only three to five times because each time the lead plates become coated, some irreversible corrosion takes place. If you are going to store the battery for several weeks or more, place it on a solar or other trickle charger.

Follow safety precautions. A lead-acid battery contains sulfuric acid. Wear safety goggles and rubber gloves, and work only in a well-ventilated place. If you get any liquid from the battery on you, immediately wash the area with water and apply baking soda to prevent chemical burns.

Test the battery to see if it’s worth reconditioning with a voltmeter with a wire probe. You may be able to revive a 12-volt PANASONIC EY9108 battery if it’s showing over 10 volts, though your chances are best if it’s registering 12 volts.

Portable Power Tool Safety

Power tools are powerful and dangerous equipment that may cause accidents and damage if turned on accidentally or not used in the proper manner. A lot of industrial accidents occur from using the wrong power tools, or using them in a manner other than prescribed. Failing to wear the right protective gear is another reason these accidents may happen.

It is important to always use the right kind of portable Dewalt power tools battery for a job. Each tool comes with detailed instructions on its use. Always make sure that you are familiar with the instructions before you use the power tool. If you have finished using the tool, switch it off and also turn off the main source of power.

Most electrical tools require safety accessories like work gloves, overalls, eye protection gear or hard hats. When you are working with portable power tools, it is extremely important to make sure that you are wearing all the safety gear that is required for working with the tool. If you do not have the right safety gear, buy it before you begin your work.

Portable tools are easy to use because you can move around with them, making it possible to access areas that would otherwise have been inaccessible. However, make sure you are aware of the power cord so that you do not trip over it. Also, always handle the tools by their handles and not the power cord.

Cleaning and proper maintenance is important for keeping your power tools in working order. However, care should be taken while doing so. Always switch off the power tool before you begin cleaning it. Always use the materials recommended in the instruction manual of the National power tool battery to clean the tool. If you are not sure how to clean the tool, use the help of a technician or have it serviced at an authorized center.

Always make sure that you use clamps to pin down and secure the object that you are working with. If the object is moving around and you are not able to get a good grip, it increases the chances of an accident. Extra precautions should be taken while working with circular saws and other sharp or pointed tools.

How to Rebuild a Dewalt 14.4V Battery

The DeWalt 14.4-volt battery is one of a large range of batteries designed for that company's line of more than 200 cordless power tools. It is made from 12 nickel cadmium (NiCad) cells, each producing 1.2 volts to enable the DEWALT DW9057 battery to produce 14.4 volts once wired in. If you find your battery doesn't hold its charge, it's less expensive to rebuild it rather than buy a replacement.

Remove the 14.4-volt DeWalt battery from the power tool and place it on a workbench.

Remove the battery cover using a Phillips head screwdriver to unscrew the six screws. That number may vary depending on the type of battery for DEWALT DW9050.

Use a small screwdriver to pry out each of the12 NiCad cells from their battery compartment. Some are soldered as this provides a better connection and helps stop the cells from shorting. If they're soldered, heat a soldering iron and touch a soldered cell terminal with the soldering iron until the solder melts. Remove the soldering iron and quickly pry the cell away from the connection before the solder hardens. You must do this on all 12 cells.

Place the 12 NiCad cells in a clear plastic bag so they are visible. Dispose of the cells in a DEWALT DW0243 drill battery recycling unit and not in your regular trash.

Insert the replacement NiCad cells into the battery compartment. Either push them in place or, if the old ones were soldered, heat a soldering iron. Touch each cell terminal with the soldering iron and solder. Allow a small amount of solder to melt, then remove the soldering iron and solder and let the solder solidify and cool. Repeat that process on each cell terminal.

Let the battery pack cool. Replace the battery cover but don't tighten the screws with excess force.

Put your battery on charge for an hour to ensure that all the cells are fully charged.

Insert the battery into your power tool.

How to Disassemble a Dewalt 12 Volt Battery

Your DeWalt 12-volt drill comes with a removable, rechargeable DEWALT DW9061 battery pack. It can be recharged several times over the course of its lifetime, but at some point the battery will start to lose charge. It is possible to dismantle your DeWalt drill's battery pack and replace the dead cells inside the battery. Doing so will void your drill's service warranty.

Press the release button on each side of the battery pack and remove the battery from the drill or battery charger. Relocate the battery pack for DEWALT DW9062 to a safe work surface.

Place a chisel tip inside your soldering gun. Plug in the soldering gun and allow it to heat up for 5 to 10 minutes.

Locate the crease along the outer casing of the battery pack where the battery pack's body meets the base of the pack's casing. Press the heated chisel tip to this crease and run the tip along the crease around the entire casing until the body of the battery pack is completely separated from the base.

Grasp the body of the DEWALT DW9071 drill battery pack and lift it out of the base assembly. The battery cells are attached to the main body of the battery pack.

What Are the Dangers of Overcharging NiMH Batteries

A nickel-metal hydride cell battery, abbreviated NiMH, is a common type of rechargeable drill battery found in consumer electronics. NiMH batteries have two to three times the charge capacity of nickel-cadmium batteries (or NiCd) and are inexpensive compared to lithium-ion cell batteries, making them a popular and cost-effective choice for consumer products that require a rechargeable battery. However, care should be taken when charging them, as overcharging can damage the battery cells or create potential hazards.

After a NiMH battery cell begins to overcharge, the increased energy feeding into the battery will reverse the voltage polarity of the electrodes inside the power tool battery for Hitachi and cause a slight decrease in the battery's voltage. Over time, this effect of overcharging can become more and more noticeable until the battery no longer has enough voltage to power a device.

Overcharging older NiMH batteries can also cause hydrogen to build up inside the cells. When that happens, increased pressure can cause the battery cells to rupture, rendering the battery unusable. In some cases, the buildup of hydrogen can also pose the risk of explosion. Newer NiMH batteries are designed with vents in the cells and will emit small amounts of hydrogen to prevent this from happening.

Overcharged NiMH batteries can heat up very quickly, rising to temperatures that could damage either the power tool battery for Craftsman or the electronics in the charging unit. To counteract this danger, some quick chargers are designed with a fan to keep the batteries cool.