Replacing screwdriver batteries

One day, when I took my screwdriver out of the closet, I discovered that it didn’t work. The batteries were dead, the first thing I thought was and put the screwdriver on charge. But as soon as I connected the charger to the battery, it immediately showed the full charge of the battery. I connected a tester to check charging and it turned out that the batteries had high resistance, which meant they were failing.
Replacing screwdriver batteries

After browsing the forums, I found out that the problem of failure of nickel-cadmium batteries used in screwdrivers is by no means new, but rather very common. In general, in addition to being cheap, these batteries are a plus for the manufacturer; they have a lot of shortcomings that become apparent during operation. This includes a short life cycle, low capacity, and short battery life.
All forum members who are faced with a similar problem without hesitation boldly change nickel-cadmium batteries to lithium-ion ones, which is what I will do as well. They may be more expensive, but the screwdriver will work much longer and harder.

Replacing screwdriver batteries


Without hesitation, I purchased 18650 lithium ion batteries. Since my screwdriver is 18-volt, and one battery produces 3.7 V, therefore, I needed 5 pieces. 5x3.7=18.5 V is what you need.
I also bought battery compartments, one for two batteries, the other for three. I connected everything in series. I took out the old batteries and replaced them with new ones.
Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

This could be the conclusion, but as it turns out, I made a terrible mistake. The fact is that lithium-ion batteries cannot under any circumstances be charged in the same way as old batteries! This is even dangerous, as they can simply explode.
How then? It's not that complicated - you need a charging controller for lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries are very sensitive to overcharging and being discharged below normal - all these factors quickly damage them. This is perhaps their main disadvantage. But it’s easy to get rid of it by using a controller that will take over all the functions of monitoring and limiting dangerous modes and make the operation of the battery at a high-quality level.
Purchase links:

Charging controller connection diagram


Replacing screwdriver batteries

The batteries are also connected in series, except that each connection between the batteries is connected to the controller. As a result of this, the controller monitors the condition of each battery and prevents it from overcharging in the circuit.
I put together a diagram. Everything works perfectly.
Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Check video

Screwdriver battery assembly


Since the controller was added, the battery compartments had to be abandoned, since there was sorely not enough space. Well, this is for the better, since the screwdriver is subject to vibration, and not tight contact could not have a very good effect in the future...
I decided to solder the batteries together.In general, lithium-ion batteries are very afraid of overheating and need to be connected by contact welding. But I don't have it. So I soldered everything with a soldering iron. If you do this, then teach: use only a powerful soldering iron of 40-60 watts. Solder with acid or active flux. And under no circumstances solder one connection for more than a second. If it doesn’t work the first time, it’s better to wait five minutes and try again.
In the end I did this:
Replacing screwdriver batteries

I soldered the circuit.
Replacing screwdriver batteries

I glued the batteries together with tape and installed them diagonally into the battery compartment of the screwdriver.
Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Replacing screwdriver batteries

Charging is in progress.
Replacing screwdriver batteries

I soldered all the wires to the terminals and ended up with an updated battery for my old screwdriver, which I hope will serve me for many years.
Purchase links:
come back
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Comments (4)
  1. AlexPanych
    #1 AlexPanych Guests January 22, 2018 12:58
    0
    What kind of batteries did you use? Have you bothered with such a parameter as the maximum output current? Or just the cheapest? ))
  2. Vlad
    #2 Vlad Guests January 24, 2018 00:25
    2
    As a collective farm option, it may work, although in terms of production time, it’s easier to earn money for a new Li-ion battery.
    It’s easier and cheaper to install the same Ni-Cd batteries, but with a reduced self-discharge current (sanyo eneloop technology). Then you won’t have to use all these recharge controllers and don’t be afraid that these batteries will explode if calculated incorrectly.
  3. Alexey Golovin
    #3 Alexey Golovin Guests 25 January 2018 14:29
    1
    Batteries must be taken with high current. For example Liitokala for LG HG2 18650 3000mAh electronic cigarette rechargeable battery high-discharge, 30A high current.
  4. Digger21
    #4 Digger21 Guests 5 May 2018 16:45
    3
    The idea is certainly interesting, but on the same site you can buy a new battery for a screwdriver, cheaper and without dancing with a tambourine)