PC Battery problems

snorky | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on June 18, 2005 06:06am

I have 3 PC 14.4 battery packs. 2 of them got to the point where the charge light on the charger would stay on for only about 2 minutes. I thought the packs were bad and sent them to Voltman in Ohio for rebuilding. Got them back and have the same problem. I think my charger is OK because the 3rd pack can be used down to near zero then
will charge up in an hour and work fine. I suspect something in the circuitry in the packs is bad and tells the charger (erroneously) that the battery is fully charged. Anyone had a similar experience? Can this be fixed and where?

Replies

stancalow | Jun 18, 2005 06:17pm | #1
gov

Yes! I just noticed my PC 14.4 is starting to do the same thing. Light use, 2 years old.
WillGeorge | Jun 18, 2005 10:03pm | #2
Battries have a 'Memory'.. Once it gets to a place it like you stuck with it! Sort of jokin' you but thinks it is true.. I THINK you can discharge the battery with some sort of resistor that puts a full load on it and does not burn up the battery OR the resistor in the process..

I got several different brand drills with 14.4 volt battries..

I was MUCH better off with 115 VAC!

The worsters were the DeWalters!
PlaneWood | Jun 19, 2005 06:22am | #3
If you open up a pack and measure the voltage across each of the 12 batteries, you will notice that some have flipped. By that I mean, when they should be reading positive, they are reading negative. Those batteries are bad and need to be replaced. I bought replacement batteries on the internet and soldered them in, replacing the bad ones.

PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
UrbanRedneck | Jun 19, 2005 06:42am | #4
Wish I could help you. I had the same problem with my PC 14.4. I just went out and bought a new Dewalt 14.4 XRP with the 1/2" chuck and love it. I had my PC for 8 years and this year is when they started to go bad. Instead of going through the hassle of getting new batteries, I figured I got my monies worth out of the PC and opted for the new Dewalt.