Cordless Screwdriver - String Winder

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

I have a Skil-Twist rechargeable cordless screwdriver fitted with a string winder attachment. Haven't used it in a while. Popped the (dead) battery into the charger and stuck it in the wall for about 30 min. The charger got very hot and the battery is cold and holding no juice.

What do you suppose is going on? Do I have to chuck it and buy a new one?

Thanks,
J'beaux

George McLellan · From: Duluth, MN USA

Jim, that's the same thing that happened to my B&D Power Driver. It costs as much around here to fix than toss.

Geo

Blake Hawkins · From: Florida

Jim, Yep, the battery is dead. You'll have to get a new one.
My Skill battery has lasted longer than the ones in my Ryobi drill.
About two years is the usual life of the rechargables.
Blake

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Blake, do you know if they sell just the replacement batteries or if I have to buy a whole new screwdriver with battery?

Boo Bernstein · From: Los Angeles, CA

Hey, Jim -- I am having a similar problem --the battery isn't completely dead but it's not holding a charge for very long. If you find the answer about buying just a new battery, please let me know.

Thanks, Boo

Jon Light (deceased) · From: Saugerties, NY

My B&D cautions you only to recycle, not reassemble once you have opened it up. Somehow, with that magic word 'recycle' they have transformed this from a grotesque ripoff and waste to an 'eco-friendly' product. I sure hope some execs were granted huge stock options for this brilliant plan. Wankers.

----oh, and yes, it died after a couple of years.

[This message was edited by Jon Light on 02 July 2006 at 10:53 AM.]

Don Walters · From: Saskatchewan Canada

The batteries for my 14.4 Volt cordless drill from Sears would no longer hold a charge. I checked the price of the batteries and they were about $89 each. I went to the store and they had a newer model drill plus 2 batteries on sale for $40! That's very common around here and it appears some of you experience the same. As already mentioned, it's unlikey you'll find any advantage replacing just batteries on these rechargable devices.

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

That is the reason I switched to an Hitachi model power drill that has a detachable battery unit.

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Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

If they're not removeable batteries, you can order new ones online, and replace them if you're handy with a soldering gun and a screwdriver. Most inexpensive tools still use NiCad batteries. They require you cycle (use) them regularly, and always let them run down completely before you recharge. They have a sort of "memory" of how much you use them, and if you recharge them when they're not completely run-down, they'll only restore a partial charge. When they start to get weak, tape the device switch "ON", and let it run until it stops completely. Then, remove the tape and recharge for the full time (usually 4-8 hrs.). If it won't hold a charge after that, it's time for new batteries.

Cycled regularly, and allowed to run down completely, a set of NiCads should give you several hundred charges (several years' use) before they die.

As to whether or not it's worth it to replace the batteries, that's strictly up to you.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

It just depends on the model and whether the batteries are currently available - a quick internet search on the model number would turn that up. I very much assume that the rechargeables are like boat batteries or something - you want to keep them juiced up, and not let them drain out completely between uses. A battery that goes completely dead between uses may come back one or two times, or it may stay dead - you can keep a boat battery going for a decade if you keep it charged in the offseason too. I have a couple of sets of batteries for my drill and I try after keep after them every few months or so.

P.S. -> (Donny and I were posting at the exact same time, and just gave completely opposite advice - I'm pretty sure his is more likely to be right!

)

[This message was edited by David Mason on 02 July 2006 at 12:12 PM.]

Lee Baucum · From: McAllen, Texas (Extreme South) The Final Frontier

The title of the topic - "Cordless Screwdriver" - reminded me of something my wife pulled on me quite a few years ago. I told her I wanted one of those new "cordless screwdrivers" and she took me out to the garage to show me that all my screwdrivers were cordless.

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Lee, from South Texas
Down On The Rio Grande

Mullen U-12, Excel 8-string Frypan, Evans FET-500, Fender Steel King

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Unfortunately the cost of new rechargeable batteries can equal the price of a new unit. Typical of many products made today - it's cheaper to buy a new one tht repair the old, if you can get it repaired.

I have a $10 model power screwdriver that uses standard AA batteries, that I bought at a discount store, just to be used as a power winder.

Robert Leaman · From: Murphy, North Carolina, USA

NiCad cells have a memory function that depends on how a cell is used and how it is charged (more than one cell constitutes a battery). Cells are rated in ampere-hours. However, that rating may be misleading. A cell with 1000 ma-hour rating cannot support a 1000 ma discharge for one hour. When a 1000 ma-hour NiCad is discharged to 50% of its capacity and then charged, it soon becomes a 500 ma-hour cell. I have a MagnaLite flashlite that uses Nicad cells and a 50-watt halogen bulb. The instruction manual directs that every month, the flashlight should be turned on until the lamp goes off and then recharged for 24 hours. The flashlight, and its cells, are almost four years old and is used every day with the original NiCad power pack. Present day NiCad cells usually can support 800 charge/discharge cycles when properly used and charged.

Some caution must be used when charging series connected cells (a battery). If one of the cells is in a failure mode, it may reverse charge and that makes the entire cell array (battery)unusable. If possible, cells must be charged in parallel but at times, disassembly is not possible or practical.

There are devices that purport to be able to restore NiCad cells. These devices use a high voltage capacitor that discharges into the cell and sometimes destroys dendrites that cause cell deterioration. My experience is that although the cell may appear restored, it usually fails to a gross internal short soon after restoration.

Interesting enough, almost the same memory function phenomena is exhibited by electrolytic capacitors. For example, when a 600 VDC capacitor is operated at 400 VDC, it becomes a 400 capacitor and will fail if immediately operated at 600 VDC unless it is slowly reformed to the higher voltage.

With respect to lead acid cells, I have seen emergency 120 volt lighting units with lead acid cells more than 20 years old and still functioning normally. However, these cells were maintained with a constant float charge that exactly matched their normal internal self-discharge function.

For more information on all cell types:
http://www.batterymart.com/battery_faq.php

Ernest Cawby · From: Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Sometimes rechargable batteries can be restored by putting them on a strong magnet over night. Some times this works and some times not. Worth a try.

ernie

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Jim,
I,also,have a "SkilTwist" screwdriver,& the same thing happened to me. I went to my local Ace Hdwe. & got a new battery for,about,$16,& the charges seems to be lasting longer than the "original" one.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

One more note about discharging ni-cads...run the device until it stops working, as advised above. BUT, don't leave it in that state (turned on) any longer than necessary. If you do, it will go into deep discharge and may not be rechargeable any more. Run it ONLY until it completely stops functioning, then recharge fully.

The "hot charger/cold battery" problem means there is a short in the battery. I just avoid the uncertainty of repairing it (have tried everything mentioned above)and replace them when this happens. Around here we have a place called Batteries Plus. They can rebuild almost any type of battery pac and guarentee their work.

JERRY THURMOND · From: sullivan mo u.s.a.

I have a music store, an use cordless screwdrivers every day, I find that no matter what I do they only last about six months used every day. I gave up a long time ago trying to fix them, I just buy a new one. Jerry

Jim Cohen · From: Philadelphia, PA

Update: none of my local hardware stores stocked these batteries and I couldn't even seem to get one from the Skil company. But I found them for sale at, get this, Amazon.com! I paid about $13.99
Chargin' it up right now.
Thanks for all the input.
jc

Smiley Roberts · From: Hendersonville,Tn. 37075

Jim,
In case I ever need another one,(which I probably will,eventually) thanx for the ordering tip.

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  ~ ~


  ©¿©  It don't mean a thang,   


  mm   if it ain't got that twang.

[This message was edited by Smiley Roberts on 16 August 2006 at 12:16 AM.]

Ken Fox · From: Nashville GA USA

My 18 volt Dewalt drill had one battery that would not hold a charge. The other was doing well until it melted down in the charger yesterday. I bought a new identical drill with 2 batteries and a charger on Ebay (factory reconditioned) for 159.99 shipped! That was cheaper then 2 batteries and a charger. Now I have a backup drill.

Not bad for over 8 years of service. Tough drill to boot. 1/2 chuck" and I ahvce worked it to death in the last 8 years!

Marco Schouten · From: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Try to find one with Lithium Ion batteries,
Bosch is making some models now. They don't have a memory effect and won't discharche over time.

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Steelin' Greetings
Marco Schouten
Sho-Bud LLG; Guyatone 6 string lap steel; John Pearse bar; Emmons bar; Evans SE200 amp

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