Battery issue. Any DeWalt drill pros here?

[rdcl]

I have a cordless Dewalt drill model #DW927.

I've had it for years and it has served me well. I love it. It was a gift from dad. Came with two batteries plus charger.

Now, here is the issue. Today I want to use the drill, so I begin charging one of the batteries and as it is charging the red light blinks at a slow steady pace as it should.....after a while the light goes solid red......as it should and then the battery is now fully charged.

On battery #2 however......Sometimes.....the red light blinks very fast.....and the thing won't take a charge. What is happening here? Do these batteries go bad after so many years?

Thanks in advance for any feedback,
Russ

 

[joe44va]

Yes, they do go bad. You can buy replacements. The new lithium units are better as are the new brushless motors. If you use it a lot you may want to consider an upgrade.

 

[rdcl]

Yes, they do go bad. You can buy replacements. The new lithium units are better as are the new brushless motors. If you use it a lot you may want to consider an upgrade.

Thanks Joe. So would you say the issue is the battery and NOT the charger? I say this because now battery # 2 is blinking at the correct slow pace.

Russ

 

[arjay]

I went through several of those drills using them most work days and my latest one just sits most of the time.The batteries seem to last 3-5 yrs and then they don't hold much of a charge any longer.As expensive as batteries were,I just replaced the whole kit.

 

[Steve912]

All rechargeables, regardless of type, have a finite number
of charges in them. Each type has some peculiarities on
how they "like" being treated, but they will all give up the
ghost, eventually.

Chargers tend to last indefinitely, if not subjected to abuse
like overheating (inadequate air flow for cooling), or contamination
with metal grinding dust, water, etc.

If one battery performs normally and other doesn't, using
same charger, the charger's most likely ok.

You can rebuild the battery packs but if the drill's more than
five years old, you can probably get a better drill for the time,
cost and effort involved in rebuilding them.

 

[Rule3]

Batteries die and are not worth replacing or rebuilding. You can get a whole new (better) drill and two batteries for probably less than replacement batteries,

It's today's economics of throw away consumables,

 

[snake803]

I was told by a supposedly knowledgeable individual that,
The batteries will not last very long if connected to the charger for a prolonged period of time...As soon as the light indicates the charge is complete... pull that puppy out of the charger....
JIM...........

 

[BigBill]

My co worker in the engineering group in charge of the electronic testing equipment would take apart these rechargeable batteries and solder new rechargeable batteries in there place. I have one of those older drills it cost me $59 for a longer lasting battery already, dead again.

 

[Drm50]

I have used Dewalts for several years, daily. I always have 2
Drills. Reguardless of advertisement you get more use out of
batteries that are used daily. I drain batteries on 12v tail lite
bulbs, if it still has partial charge in it. Avoid leaving batteries
in sub zero temps. I had all 18v Nic-cad Dewalts and was having
battery problems. I was in Lowes and was going to pick up a
2 Pk of 18v batteries. This was over two years ago. 2pk was
$119, Lowes had 20v Lithium Drill, two batteries and charger
in soft case for $99. No brainer, bought two. Running daily
for over 2 yrs. The other Dewalt 18v tools , I started replacing
with 110v corded. I came to realize that there was no need for
Cordless on most of them. The only one I miss being battery
is the Sawz all, because I'm lazy. I have milk cases full of
battery tools and chargers, you can't give them away because
of battery expense. I do hold onto the hard cases Dewalts came
in. The new tools come in gym bag soft case, I put my new ones
in the old cases.

 

[rdcl]

Thanks to every ones responses. As much as I like my cordless, I'm going to get a cord drill real soon. I rarely if ever use my drill when a power outlet is not available. FWIW, I don't use the tool for my job.....it is strictly used for hobby/pastime/work around the house kind of stuff.

Honestly, the only reason I own a cordless in the first place is because like I said......it was a gift from dad several years ago. After I got it I gave my cord drill away!

I'll hang on to the cordless because it was a gift.......but in the future it is going to be plug-into-the-wall-and-go.

Russ

 

[glowe]

I will say that I like my old 18Volt 1/2" DeWalts and when the batteries started to die too quickly, I checked out ebay and found non-factory replacement batteries for around $30 a pair. They charge well and have been working for over a year now. Only difference is they are lighter weight than the originals. I still am nervous about using lithium batteries. I know that there are millions out there, but with my luck I will get the one that explodes and burns down the house.

 

[Kanewpadle]

Can't remember the last time I used a plug in drill. Been using Dewalt cordless for the last 20 years or so. The last few of which have been 20V. Use them everyday at work with extended run time batteries. They do everything I need them to do.

The economy model Dewalt 20V drills are about the same as the 18V with 1500 RPM motors and the same amount of torque. But if you step up a model the RPM increases to 2000 and the torque is incredible for a cordless drill. I can install several deadbolts in wood or steel doors on one battery.

Around the house the economy Dewalt at $100 is a real bargain.

 

[jtcarm]

Thanks to every ones responses. As much as I like my cordless, I'm going to get a cord drill real soon. I rarely if ever use my drill when a power outlet is not available. FWIW, I don't use the tool for my job.....it is strictly used for hobby/pastime/work around the house kind of stuff.

Honestly, the only reason I own a cordless in the first place is because like I said......it was a gift from dad several years ago. After I got it I gave my cord drill away!

I'll hang on to the cordless because it was a gift.......but in the future it is going to be plug-into-the-wall-and-go.

Russ

Wise move.

The difference in power is astonishing if you’ve gotten lazy and addicted (like me) to the cordless tools.

My old DW corded 3/8” comes out whenever I need pocket holes. Drilling with a PH bit will suck the life out of batteries real fast.

I will say, however, that cordless impact drivers are handier than a pocket on a shirt. We just put up 160’ of wood privacy fence in the back yard. I can’t imagine having to drive the lag screws for the stretchers without my cordless ID.

 

[muddocktor]

Thanks Joe. So would you say the issue is the battery and NOT the charger? I say this because now battery # 2 is blinking at the correct slow pace.

Russ

Had you just discharged the battery (used it until it was out of power)? If so, it could have been hot and the charger wouldn't charge it until it cooled down. And I think that lithium batteries are more intolerant of heat and charging than the older varieties of portable drill batteries.

 

[chief38]

For many decades I used cordless drills 6 days a week all day long. I owned 7 of them and they did last and work competently. About 9 years ago that all changed and I only used them on occasion (I'm not in the Field any longer) and they do not like that! Rechargeable batteries are somewhat forgiving when they are new, but as they grow older they prefer constant use, constant depletion and a good charge to repeat the cycle. If that is done, they work great. If only used once in a while they do not hold a charge well and need constant recharging. They also never last for very long when not in a constant cycle.

Since the battery packs are in some cases as much as the entire tool kit, it doesn't really pay to just buy new batteries as many times one can buy a new drill, 2 batteries, a charger, the case and sometimes a bit set is included for about the same price as just the two new batteries (sometimes even less).

For me, cordless made absolutely no sense any longer and I sold ALL my cordless tools. I purchased corded models and have lived happily ever after that! Since I've got outlets all over my home, garage, workshop and property, the cordless convenience means nothing to me other than on a rare occasion I will need a short 25 foot extension cord - but even that is rare. I no longer have to deal with batteries charging dying, or replacing.

If cordless tools are called for and used daily they are GREAT! If allowed to sit for lengthy times in between uses - not so good.