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Makita 12v Ni-mh battery

wyowolf | Posted in Tools for Home Building on June 14, 2009 04:01am

I have a 2 year old Makita 12v drill with 2 Ni-mh batteries. I use them every few weeks or so. When i went to put the batteries in the charger they flash red then after about 10 min show green. put battery in drill, acts like its almost dead?? put it back in charger and charges for about 5 min then turns green, put it back in drill same thing?? One battery is a little better then the other but both are much weaker then original. is it the batteries?? the charger? I thought when i bought this drill it would last for a long time, now i feel i got screwed!! i am never really hard on it, or run it all the way down etc… any thought?? new battery? new drill?? the batteries are about 70$ each!! hate to spend money on something that will

out again in a few months? I see now they have Li-ion kits.. deciding weather to buy a new kit or sink more into batteries?? recommendations on new kits??

thanks Frank

We were the winners, cause we didnt know we could fail….

Waylon…

“I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him.” Aciores autem morsus sunt intermissae quam retentae. (Freedom suppressed and then regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.) Cicero, De Officiis ” once i had woman with high hand, and i let her treat me mighty low man, she made a lover of my best freind, and now he treats me like a hasbeen…”

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Replies

  1. KenHill3 | Jun 14, 2009 05:51pm | #1

    Sometimes you can buy a whole new kit (with 2 batteries) for the cost of replacing the batteries alone. Look around.

    1. User avater
      wyowolf | Jun 14, 2009 06:23pm | #2

      well that is tempting :) but i was mostly wondering if the batteries are actually bad?? or is the charger bad? i had an old sears cordless that lasted for a long time before the batteries went bad and i figured if i got a good one that i would have the same luck, i mean i dont really use it all that often. I guess i just expected more from a major brand.Frank
      We were the winners, cause we didnt know we could fail....

      Waylon...

      "I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."

      Aciores autem morsus sunt intermissae quam retentae.

      (Freedom suppressed and then regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.)

      Cicero, De Officiis

      " once i had woman with high hand, and i let her treat me mighty low man, she made a lover of my best freind, and now he treats me like a hasbeen..."

  2. danski0224 | Jun 14, 2009 10:23pm | #3

    The OE Makita charger sucks.

    The Makita fast charger is much better, and costs $99 when I got mine... it will not work with the new LiIon batteries.

    You can get aftermarket 12v Makita pod style batteries for cheap on eBay... made in China just like OE Makita (used to be made in Japan) 

    The new LiIon stuff does not work well or at all near and below 40* F.

    1. User avater
      wyowolf | Jun 15, 2009 02:24am | #4

      I wish i knew someone that had a 12v like mine so i could check it out. I can see one battery going but both?? its only a couple years old maybe used a dozen times... my old craftsman lasted much longer.I saw a 4 piece PC 18v at lowes for 160$ which is really tempting, I know they are the NiCads.I just wish i knew if it was the charger or the batteries... thanks to everyone who replied.Frank
      We were the winners, cause we didnt know we could fail....

      Waylon...

      "I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."

      Aciores autem morsus sunt intermissae quam retentae.

      (Freedom suppressed and then regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.)

      Cicero, De Officiis

      " once i had woman with high hand, and i let her treat me mighty low man, she made a lover of my best freind, and now he treats me like a hasbeen..."

      1. danski0224 | Jun 15, 2009 03:29am | #5

        Lack of use kills rechargeable batteries.

        I have several 12v Makita tools. Best investment I made for them was the fast charger (it also reconditions the batteries). Once I found out that the LiIon batteries don't work so well in the cold, I lost interest in the 18v LXT kit... and I already had the Milwaukee 18v setup.

        There is a universal aftermarket charger made by 10c Technologies that is supposed to work well. You have to buy adapters for the different batteries.

        If you want to send the batteries to me I can run them through on my fast charger... or you can make a road trip :)

        Or, PM me and I'll send you the extra stock Makita 12v charger I have... I haven't used it in years. Send it back if it doesn't work...

        I know you can get 2 new Makita pod batteries on eBay for about $80... that's what I did.

        The rechargeable batteries used in power tools are the same type used in radio controlled cars. Those chargers are pretty sophisticated and expensive. The chargers provided by the tool companies aren't.

        1. User avater
          wyowolf | Jun 15, 2009 04:26am | #6

          i see several 12v for sale, both the Nicad and NImh, i assume either will work for the drill, makita brand batteries.
          if you lived closer i would take you up on that, thanks again.Frank :)We were the winners, cause we didnt know we could fail....

          Waylon...

          "I was born in the darkest ignorance, and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him."

          Aciores autem morsus sunt intermissae quam retentae.

          (Freedom suppressed and then regained bites with keener fangs than freedom never endangered.)

          Cicero, De Officiis

          " once i had woman with high hand, and i let her treat me mighty low man, she made a lover of my best freind, and now he treats me like a hasbeen..."

          1. danski0224 | Jun 15, 2009 05:40am | #7

            Yes, either NiCd or NiMh will work.

            You do not need Makita branded batteries.

  3. collarandhames | Jun 15, 2009 05:46am | #8

    I'm starting to yearn for my old makita 9.6v nicad.  That was a GOOD machine.

    I bought a ridgid set this winter, and it has been a lemon.  We get pretty cold up here in canada,, and the set came with a 1 hr charger.  Go to work in the morning,, then warm up both batteries cuz you forgot the bag in the truck,, THEN wait for an hour to charge the first battery.  

    I think we're falling prey to the tool guys wanting to be sexier than they aren't.

    I'm going back to nicad.  my 2 cents.

     

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