Makita Cordless Battery Dead, Never Used - Can It Be Saved?

kiitos on 17/08/2024 - 21:09
Last edited 18/08/2024 - 18:41 by 1 other user

I have a Makita cordless drill with 2 BL1811G batteries, that I think I got through an OzBargain deal years ago.

I use the drill infrequently, and so I don't think I've ever had to charge the second battery - until today. I tried charging the second battery and it flashes, which according to the charger means there's a problem with it. I left it on for a while but there was no charge when I tried it in the drill.

Would this because I never charged it until now years later? Is there any way to "renew" the battery?

Home & Garden Battery Cordless Drill Cordless Tool Makita Power Tool

Comments

  • wombat81 on 17/08/2024 - 21:23
    +2

    If the batteries sit without being used they go flat over time. If they start flat long enough it damages them. Somewhere like Battery World can probably repack them, but you'll likely find that it isn't economically viable. It would probably be a similar price to replacing then with new ones.

  • conant on 17/08/2024 - 21:38
    +3

    I do not think it is savable… There is actually a "lock" chip on the circuit board- which locks the battery while it detects faulty cell.

  • bio on 17/08/2024 - 21:52
    +2

    Not an answer to your question, but those are very old batteries. 1.5Ah and not compatible with the Makita LXC 18V ecosystem. It may be a better investment to buy a new kit with a more modern battery.

  • sumyungguy on 17/08/2024 - 22:14
    +3

    I saved a Ryobi battery by getting a cheap pre-owned one and swapping over the control board. Also costs nothing to try the jump starting method.

    • kiitos on 20/08/2024 - 19:33

      What's the jump starting method?

      Edit: Probably the very next reply!

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 17/08/2024 - 22:18
    +2

    I managed to salvage a friend's Ozito, that was in this state.
    1. You need another fully charged battery of the same type.
    2. Make a set of very simple jumper leads.
    3. Using the leads, connect and leave for a half hour or so. It will raise the charge state of the flat battery enough that the charger will accept it and allow it to be charged.

    This will help. https://youtu.be/aQ3b6pxFKCE?si=1cLmKmq-yDM1DN96

  • aussieprepper on 18/08/2024 - 07:23

    Yes, you can jump these packs, but I probably wouldn't. The issue with running cells in series is that some (maybe one or more) cells will have a lower voltage than others. That is why these packs have a BMS to make sure all cells are charged the same. Even though all cells are different and will age differently, they should be closely matched.

    In some cases, draining a cell can lead to reverse charging (the voltage will be below -0 volts on that cell), which can cause shards of metal to form inside the cell, which can short out the cell or cells, leading to a vent or a fire.

    Once a cell has been overdischarged, it may not perform as well as it once did. This can lead to issues like a higher impedance, meaning it will get hotter than the other cells in that pack at the same amperage; it won't hold as high a charge voltage, it will always be at a lower voltage than the rest of the cells.

    Personally, I have charged 18650s at about 1.5 volts, which is way too low. The cutoff for these cells is like 2.8 volts, but a single cell you can see and feel.

  • Wiadro on 18/08/2024 - 07:52

    You need to push more voltage to the battery while charging

    • LFO on 18/08/2024 - 11:17

      Will 240VAC be enough ? ? ?

      :-|

      • Wiadro on 18/08/2024 - 12:10

        Might go bang but try it

  • Sinnerator on 18/08/2024 - 08:44

    If you are into DIY then consider pulling the packs open to get the internal battery/cell part number, and repack them yourself?
    plenty of youtubes showing how

  • LFO on 18/08/2024 - 11:15

    How good are you with "household electronics".

    If you are not then ignore the rest of this post.

    Otherwise opening the battery pack, finding the flat batts (probably one or two 18650 ones) and re-charging them to 4.2VDC, in a one by one basis, with a quality charger, might do the trick.
    I did something similar but for a Ryobi set and one pack was saved and came back to useful life but the other just got dead regardless and was DOA … with salvaging the few remaining good 18650 (for other uses) as the only alternative.

    Only try this if you are knowledgeable as risk of fire is a possibility for the uninitiated.

    Edit: just noticed Sinnerator suggesting very similar to this and, as expected, got neg profusely … so far only -2 … but it will be -1 after my + :-)

  • kiitos on 20/08/2024 - 19:36

    Thank you all. I'm wary of fiddling with electrical and electronic stuff, so will probably continue with a single battery, and look to upgrade to a more modern system as recommended if that goes bung.

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