DeWalt 18v charger/battery issues

[ImNotRight]

For some reason, my DeWalt charger decides every now and then that it doesn't want to charge my batteries anymore.

I can put the battery on it and it blinks as if it is charging, but it doesn't actually do anything. It'll stay like that all night, and sometimes after the first hour it'll do the fast blink indicating a bad battery or other fault.

all i have to do to fix it though is take the case apart and spray the board down with electronics cleaner.

Its done it twice now, and I have no idea why it even fixed it. My garage is not dusty and in fact it's pretty much just storage anymore.. Nothing of value has been done between this last time and the time before that.

There is nothing blown or out of shape on the board. The battery is a couple years old but hardly used and once actually charged, holds the charge as long as a brand new battery.

I'd just replace the charger but DeWalt chargers are stupid expensive, especially for something I only use once or twice a month.

[randy92782]

Ever try to just blow it out with air for like keyboards?? My room isn't very dusty either but i clean mine out before I charge it. I use mine about as much as you i guess

[ImNotRight]

nope, no canned air nor compressor right now

[randy92782]

Originally Posted by ImNotRight

nope, no canned air nor compressor right now

I just blow in mine when i run out. Like an old nintendo game

[ImNotRight]

LOL.. Will give it a try next time. The only dust that there would even be in my garage so far is wood/fiberglass though.. non conductive. Doesn't make much sense to me.

edit: but it worked great for a few years back in my old garage where I actually did stuff.. lots of metal/grinder dust back then and never gave me an issue.

[randy92782]

Originally Posted by ImNotRight

LOL.. Will give it a try next time. The only dust that there would even be in my garage so far is wood/fiberglass though.. non conductive. Doesn't make much sense to me.

edit: but it worked great for a few years back in my old garage where I actually did stuff.. lots of metal/grinder dust back then and never gave me an issue.

It would still charge through the metal dust though right and not the wood and fiberglass seein as how it's breaking connection. Maybe not idk

[rocket flier]

I charge mine inside so I don't get the grinding dust issue.

About the time a pack has gone bad has been around black friday and I pick up 2 new batteries with a charger and free drill/driver for $99. I think HD had one at $89 recently on slickdeals.net.

[1TON73K5]

My batteries don't hold a charge like they used to, or the charger is doing the same thing, not fully charging the bats.

[krb]

Originally Posted by ImNotRight

I'd just replace the charger but DeWalt chargers are stupid expensive, especially for something I only use once or twice a month.

Look on Ebay.I picked up 2 batteries and a charger for a good price.Way exspensive at Lowes,Home depot.

I have two chargers in the garage.They are dirtier than hell and still charge.

[tdavis]

How old is the charger? Several years ago, they recalled a bunch of chargers..

I have 3 of them chargers now, and getting ready to use VoltMan to rebuild the batteries.

[ImNotRight]

it's old. i got it used and that was.. man like a year or two before the XRP stuff/redisgn came about. I'd have to say at least 5-8 years old.

if I have to buy junk for it I'm just gunna ditch it and buy rigid. used a lot of rigid power tools when I was plumbing and they never gave me any greif.

[randy92782]

Originally Posted by ImNotRight

it's old. i got it used and that was.. man like a year or two before the XRP stuff/redisgn came about. I'd have to say at least 5-8 years old.

if I have to buy junk for it I'm just gunna ditch it and buy rigid. used a lot of rigid power tools when I was plumbing and they never gave me any greif.

No freakin way! At my last job the guy doing our plumbing (ironic i know) had rigid tools and he was always asking to borrow ours cause his batteries would not hold a charge. Mainly in the sawzall. Not dissin them though. He may have just had a junk set but i personally wouldn't buy them just from that experience.

Just sayin

[Corn_Smuggler]

I noticed at a local store the other day that they had really cheap reconditioned ones. If yours is 5-8 years old, this one should work, right?

http://www.toolking.com/dewalt-dw911...attery-charger

[ImNotRight]

thanks for the link. might be the way to go.

[PTSchram]

Originally Posted by tdavis

How old is the charger? Several years ago, they recalled a bunch of chargers..

I have 3 of them chargers now, and getting ready to use VoltMan to rebuild the batteries.

Didn't somebody's house burn down because of one of these? Was it Keith Strong?

[ptrautne]

Do you try to charge the battery right after use? The batteries have a device to measure the temperature and won't allow you to charge the battery if it’s too hot.

Originally Posted by ImNotRight

For some reason, my DeWalt charger decides every now and then that it doesn't want to charge my batteries anymore.

I can put the battery on it and it blinks as if it is charging, but it doesn't actually do anything. It'll stay like that all night, and sometimes after the first hour it'll do the fast blink indicating a bad battery or other fault.

all i have to do to fix it though is take the case apart and spray the board down with electronics cleaner.

Its done it twice now, and I have no idea why it even fixed it. My garage is not dusty and in fact it's pretty much just storage anymore.. Nothing of value has been done between this last time and the time before that.

There is nothing blown or out of shape on the board. The battery is a couple years old but hardly used and once actually charged, holds the charge as long as a brand new battery.

I'd just replace the charger but DeWalt chargers are stupid expensive, especially for something I only use once or twice a month.

[ImNotRight]

Yes I did originally, but then I also tried off and on for a week or two before I sprayed it down... so probably not the issue.

maybe I won't be leaving it plugged in anymore...

[tdavis]

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01057.html

The batteries may be toast too..

http://www.voltmanbatteries.com/servlet/StoreFront

[ImNotRight]

Thanks. I've got a DW9116 already, so no recall for me. Damn.