How To fix: Zap a Dead Cordless Drill Battery (nicad repair tutorial)

[tryin2lhard]

Hey man how long did the battery hold up after this?

Thanks for sharing.

[froshmasta]

@tryin2lhard

I got a few more useful cycles out of it before it needed zapping again and then a few more, etc, etc. The real true solution is to replace the batteries but this works as a stop-gap measure and fun experiment.

[1995RangeRover]

Thanks for posting I will do just that!!!!

[jeepers2655]

Bob was my Uncle! had 2,named Bob.......LOL

[freevideos051]

yes it works but I used a power supply of 36 volts DC BE CAREFUL THEY CAN BLOW UP!!

[freevideos051]

@freevideos51 NEVER USE AC!!!! AND A HOT BATTERY IS A BATTERY ABOUT TO BLOW UP, A LITTLE WARM IS OK ALSO THE GAS IN CAR BATTERY IS EXPLOSIVE DO NOT TRY THIS WITH A CAR BATTERY. IF YOU ARE NOT SURE DO NOT DO IT, BE SAFE YOU MAY NEED YOUR HANDS AND EYES!!!

[scooterp21]

You should drill wood at high speed.

[scooterp21]

I ran to the Lowes and bought a welding mask so I could watch the part where you used the welder!

[scooterp21]

So,........... Power Fisting, huh??!!??!!

[twattyboz]

lol I'm an electrician, and I also kinda expected an explosion. Still I'm well impressed. My main drill (a Makita BHR200) which cost me £510 (about $800) had two batteries go out in the last month (the drill is about 4 years old though) and without it I can earn a wage so my delivery of x2 new batteries at £155 EACH just cfame this morning. Out of interest I just googled and found this video to see what to do with my old dead batts. God to I wish I had seen this £310 (OR $480) Ago Brave man!!!

[froshmasta]

@twattyboz

Hahah thanks!

You're better off in the long run with new batteries but now that you know the trick you might be able to squeeze some extra lovin' out of the old ones as spares or something. Good luck!

[Ste120372]

Oh my god! The brand of welding machine is "FIST POWER"

[fcunderwood]

Hell, i was fixing to laugh when it blew up in your face but I was impressed when it worked again. I'm 49 years old and still being schooled...

[practice264]

I knew you could zap nicads to get them to work in some cases because we used a big power supply at work. Don't have a big power supply at home but do have a Mig - so I'm going to give it a go, thanks.

[311ozy]

really stupid guy should watch in slow mo its backwards like you'no illusion

[froshmasta]

@311ozy

Except for how the drill is in forwards which can be clearly seen in the video by the forward/reverse selector being in the forwards position. Also the drill went through a chunk of 2x4 in relatively little time in low speed with a metal bit that is as dull as your accusations. So I could agree with you but then we would both be wrong.

[MrTHEORIGINALICEMAN]

@311ozy  Colossal moron should understand optical illusion as it relates to frame rate and slow motion does not change the illusion, before he sticks foot in his mouth. Recommend stepping in some dog shit as a deterrent to putting foot in mouth.

[MrILLUMINATING]

Can I just plug into my 120v wall outlet and use a cut cord to shock it? Exciting!

[froshmasta]

@MrILLUMINATING

I hope you're joking... but in case you aren't: GOOD LORD, NO!

[freevideos051]

@MrILLUMINATING NO! that is 120 Volt AC BOOM!!!

[kesdabest]

i bet he was waitin several days to drill that chunk o wood, what a relief

[311ozy]

stupid guy has the drill in reverse lol

[froshmasta]

@311ozy

Stupid guy can't understand an optical illusion due to the frame rate of video.

[a2zhandi]

it would appear your drill could use a zap from the grinder ;-)

Thanks for a great tip on reviving dead batteries. I've had 3 or 4 go out at the same time. Who can afford a few hundred in batteries at once...

[shah76]

thankyou you save my 30 bucks. i just tried last week and now my drill work great

[froshmasta]

@69mrcrash

I know! Some people, eh?

[pscileppi]

Almost looks like the drill was in reverse.

[wurft]

Wow, I am so trying this.

[hotchicksandpuppies]

Yep, still a piece of drill, and batteries. Why you would think the technolgy exists to make a better drill,batteries, and welder and the chinese have duped us all into the cheap tool game. I have a much better stick welder- lincoln, paid 25 american dollars for it without a cord.

[donniedw1950]

I tryed this with my arc stick welder worked on some but not all my bad battery packs but I got 5 out of 8 working THANKS FOR THE HELP

[froshmasta]

@donniedw1950

Awesome! glad I could help!

[slantly]

no fist like a power fist. lmfao!

[bizzyfingers]

well done to you sir! very well done indeed

[froshmasta]

@bizzyfingers

Thanks!

[TomGi2]

@bobsmedoggy

So, buy buying a mig welder from China, or buying new drill batteries from China... what is the real difference here? I'm confused...

[froshmasta]

@bobsmedoggy

You are clearly not understanding the concept of DIY repairs and I clearly do not understand your bizarre economic ravings...

I hope someday you might also discover the joy of fixing your own things.

I bid you good day, sir.

[froshmasta]

@bobsmedoggy

Ah yes. The ad hominem attack approach. I guess since you have declared me an idiot you must be correct. Well congratulations to you, sir, for winning the internet!

Since you seem worried about the well being of my family I hope I can help ease your mind by letting you know that my wife and I both have good jobs and Canada isn't in the financial nosedive that the US appears to be. Thanks for your concern... unless you're just trolling me, then thanks for the laugh.

[froshmasta]

@bobsmedoggy

I've also supported a Canadian retailer (Princess Auto) who provides jobs for people in my area, saved myself a tonne of money on replacement drill batteries, and kept a whole bunch of plastic and nasty chemical stuff from ending up in a landfill.

I'm sorry you don't understand those aspects of it.

[moviematcanada]

All I can say is thank you so much for this video, I was just about to buy 3 new batteries for my 18v Makita and the best deal I could find on the net was about $192. If I was in the same town as you I would buy you a beer right now!. I went to the garage got out my battery charger set it to boast, zap the 3 batteries and bang 2 worked again from stone dead they didn't even need to charge. The 3rd one shows it has power but is dead in the drill, further investigation needed on that one.

[froshmasta]

@moviematcanada

Glad I could help. If you truly feel indebted to me you can always go buy some prints off of my photography site at the link in the description :)

Be warned that the drill batteries won't be brand new again and will probably have to be zapped again sometime... but at least you're getting some free use out of them again right?

[moviematcanada]

@froshmasta Photos I don't have a single inch of space on any wall in my garage to anything but tools ;~)

[jojojosmart]

Dude, you need a spot on a redneck reality show. You'd be a star.

[froshmasta]

@jojojosmart

Hahahah, thanks!

[iakgia]

is it possible to be done with an ARC welding machine...???

[froshmasta]

@iakgia Probably. As long as your welder is putting out DC volts and you know the polarity it could be worth a try. Especially if your batteries are no good already.

[oobuc5]

yes i liked it ,i spend time cracking just about everything sealed for life.they are useing screws now on thos battery chargers that have 3 slots instead of 4 = take a crosshead bit and grind off 1 of the protusions and bingo its fits those security screws !

[airbornean]

I've done the same with a flash-bulb circuit from a disposable camera. I think it's a little less dangerous than a welder for smaller batteries. I do like the idea of using a welder for larger AH batteries.

Good deal! Thanks for the demo!

[froshmasta]

@airbornean

Good way to reuse some disposable stuff. Thanks for watching!

[sirtom68]

Dont worry about the battery's..you need a drill bit sharpener lol. Good video, im gonna try this.

[jameskcfanz]

wow wish i would of known this a while back.



[froshmasta]

@jameskcfanz

I hear ya there. I wish I had found out about it earlier too. Oh well, we know now!

[theweedy217]

STOP TALKING JUST DO IT

[transdetendal]

try looking up the light bulb conspirecy, long tv upload but bout 1 hour but worth the watch

[froshmasta]

@transdetendal

That's a good watch. Thanks for the recommendation. The show made me even more glad that I save lots of things from being thrown out by fixing them and using them instead.

[transdetendal]

@froshmasta really glad you liked it, tells something about the human being ,all that good stuff going to waste

[transdetendal]

wee it looks like its working

[froshmasta]

@transdetendal

It works great. I'm still using this drill regularly as well as another one that I zapped.

[transdetendal]

@froshmasta ha ha im all in to that, and i want you to look at somthing i found on someones channel, im NOT trolling but ive always had the belives that thin wore out to quickly so....

[HoneycombAgent]

What's your welder settings for dealing with battery packs?

[froshmasta]

@HoneycombAgent

Since it's a little welder and I don't know any better I run it at full heat/power. Seems to work for me.

[martyisnuts]

powerfist ,crappytire you like your fisher price tools eh? just kidding princess auto and Crappy tire are my to favoriate stores. Cheers from Halifax

[froshmasta]

@martyisnuts

Haha, I'm cursed with a Powerfist-sized budget :)

[martyisnuts]

@froshmasta lol with gas prices who can afford tools

[zzrich]

Nice vid bud ! My 18v ryobi batteries charge fully, but quickly loose their power. I have an old Astro brand wire feed made in pakistan, haha. This seems like a neat trick. I dont have anythink to lose !

[froshmasta]

@zzrich

Make sure the batteries are nicads, get a bit of protective gear on, and go for it! :)

[W4llyB4nger]

LOL cambodian tire and power fist :D pure canadiana. Sick

[froshmasta]

@W4llyB4nger

Nothing but the best! :D

[poolmotorrepairguyFL]

the spatter sticks to everything, seems a mile away is to close. cuz it's going to jump over to and stick to it bigger than ship! so ya need a harborfreight. 20-cubic-ft-argon-gas-cylinder­-92807 and you can find the 20% off coupons for hobo freight in popular science in the back..check your local welding sup. and if you have another type of bottle they will trade it in for the one you need 4 free.oh and be carefull with that wire tensioner its PLASTIC. do not over tighten

[froshmasta]

@poolmotorrepairguyFL

The spatter is my only really big complaint with my use of the fluxcore. I'm not doing really pro work here anyway :)

I'm in Canada so the closest I get to Harbor Freight is Princess Auto around here. I'm pretty gentle with the tensioner, in fact I rarely change the tension on it at all but I realize it's a cheapo unit. Thanks for the tips!

[poolmotorrepairguyFL]

flux core is a joke. ya got to try gas and you will never go back to flux core

[froshmasta]

@poolmotorrepairguyFL

It's not really a joke for people on a budget who just do a little welding as a hobby. My welder is convertible to gas-shield but after talking to a local place and getting a price on the bottle and gas stuff I decided the flux core would be fine for a while. You're right that gas is better for sure though. Someday I'll get on the bottle. Thanks for watching!

[szlagjasny]

sure seems like it

but I agree

and in reverse it would not go through so fast

[froshmasta]

@szlagjasny

Exactly. If I were drilling that in reverse I'd have to make a whole separate 10minute long video just to get through that 2x4 :)

[szlagjasny]

u are drilling in reverse

ha ha

[froshmasta]

@szlagjasny

Nope. You're seeing an optical illusion produced by the framerate of the camera and speed of the drill bit. Thanks for watching though!

[jburkett62]

Terrific video! I'll try this with 2 car batts in series. Thanks!!

[froshmasta]

@jburkett62

Thanks, be sure to try to follow as many safety measures as you can and good luck!

[veterano130]

This work in 24v battery for drill

[froshmasta]

@veterano130

I'm no expert but I don't see why not.

[veterano130]

I have a question after that you must put the battery in the charger.Thanks for the video

[froshmasta]

@veterano130

Yep. The zapping just straightens the battery out so that it will work normally again. Zap it and then charge as usual before using.

[sk7ca]

Well some of you guys say that high power AC destroys the batteries. but what does he have to loose? it's unusable before he's zapping it. so i don't really see the problem.

[al123456789al]

wtf is cambodian tire???? dont u mean canadian tire?

[leedee1977]

you are one crazy mf,,,,but i like it

[froshmasta]

@leedee1977

Thanks!

[signal44]

Awsome vid...but why do a few days need to pass?

[froshmasta]

@signal44

Mostly because life gets in the way of making videos. I took the battery pack and just left it in the charger till I got around to doing the follow up part of the video.

[6013welder]

@froshmasta can iu se my powerfist stick welder 70 amps

[froshmasta]

@6013welder

I don't know what that welder makes for output voltage and things. Check your owner's manual or somebody who knows about stick welders to see if you're getting a similar DC voltage output that you could use for battery zapping.

[6013welder]

@froshmasta it has an ac output and 45 volts output 70 amps plz help i have the same drill and it died too need to fix

[froshmasta]

@6013welder

I think AC voltage would destroy your drill battery.

[6013welder]

@froshmasta it is already messed up i think ill try it

[froshmasta]

@6013welder

I don't recommend doing that for all of the potential safety hazards involved in ramming high-powered AC voltage into a little DC battery.

[6013welder]

@froshmasta allready did it but i never used my welder i used 3 car batts that i had in my shed and put em in series and shocked the thing with it it also makes a great dc welder and the battery works now i can drill more holes per charge thanks man

[BoogWar01]

@froshmasta Ehrrmm...its a DC welder. Mig welders use between 13.5 and 24 volts rectified DC current. Amperes are what does the trick in welding, 90 amps welds 3/16ths mild steel no prob.

[BoogWar01]

@6013welder U can if it has DC. AC at that amperage would probably turn your drill battery into a bomb.

[g7txu]

How does a battery comprising Nickel and Cadmium battery become sulphtated? Where does the sulpher to cause this reaction come from?

[samurphy]

@g7txu I think, perhaps, he misspoke. Sulphation occurs in lead-acid batteries. In Ni-Cad batteries the problem occurs due to cadmium dendrites (crystals) that grow on the plates and end up causing internal shorts. This process burns off the crystals and returns life to prematurely aged cells.

[g7txu]

How does a Nickel Cadmium battery get sulphtated? Where does the sulpher come from?

[wyattlisadana]

Get owt your canadian ah!

[poopdogsays]

You have a bit of a Red Green thing going on! hahaha

[frank0067]

what if i dont have a welder like that.. what can i use around the house

[froshmasta]

@frank0067

I'm not sure... maybe a couple car batteries in series would do it. Remember: we're looking for high amperage but low (DC)voltage my welder is only around 30v DC. Be careful with whatever you end up trying!

[frank0067]

@froshmasta

ok ty sir

[lolley1100]

@froshmasta When I need to weld something, one car battery works for me...Battery chargers work too, but I broke two doing that...and its not as powerful...

[rainmanferguson]

@froshmasta most car batteries are at least 400 amps @ 12volts even on a small car.

[froshmasta]

@rainmanferguson

Yessir. A guy could probably zap his cordless tool battery off even one car battery I suppose. I still get the feeling that the extra voltage helps though. If I didn't have anything else to use I'd try on one car battery.

[BoogWar01]

@froshmasta One car battery doesn't have enough volts. U need two in series to wake up these cells.

[froshmasta]

@BoogWar01

Makes sense.

[samurphy]

@frank0067 If you're doing individual 1.2v nicad cells, you can just use a 12v car battery (just sparking the leads like he does here). If you want to do a whole 9.6 or greater pack, you'd want around the same voltage level as a welder, around 40volts.

[samurphy]

@frank0067 by which I mean probably 3 car batteries in series. It'll work, but its almost as unlikely you'll have 3 car batteries lying around as a welder :)

[carwashman]

Looks like you have the bit turning backwards. Battery revival tip is awesome. Thanks

[froshmasta]

@carwashman

Thanks for the compliment. The bit is turning the correct way but there appears to be an optical illusion going on that makes it look backwards.

[rchapman]

not to lessen the actual content, but your intro credits made my day.