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Replacement Batteries for Cordless Drills

Mr. Peet said:
So we had the new "generic" DeWalt replacements for over 2 weeks. Last week I charged them and put them away. Hadn't used them all week (5 or 6 days). Yesterday, get them out to use the 18v skilsaw to cut up some smaller branches that came down since Christmas. My wife was so excited that she was able to make 3 or 4 passes with each battery before they were dead.

So, I'd say that the NiCad generic 3.8 Ahr for sure do not hold a charge. Fresh off the charger they are fine but do not last as long as actual DeWalt batteries, guessing a third less run time.

So got a FARMER math question: Since the 3.8 Ahr generic runs like a 2.2 Ahr DeWalt would the 4 Ahr generic run close to the 3 Ahr DeWalt?

Similar but different question: I see they offer a 5 Ahr lithium generic battery that looks just like a Nicad 18V in shape and size. Lithium hold storage charge better than Nicad. DeWalt charger is good for both Lithium and Nicad. Do you think the 5 Ahr generic lithium would likely match up with a 3 Ahr lithium from DeWalt?

The 5 Ahr lithium has a battery gauge on it like some of the other higher volt DeWalts. I kind of like that option...
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Mr. Peet said:
So we had the new "generic" DeWalt replacements for over 2 weeks. Last week I charged them and put them away. Hadn't used them all week (5 or 6 days). Yesterday, get them out to use the 18v skilsaw to cut up some smaller branches that came down since Christmas. My wife was so excited that she was able to make 3 or 4 passes with each battery before they were dead.

So, I'd say that the NiCad generic 3.8 Ahr for sure do not hold a charge. Fresh off the charger they are fine but do not last as long as actual DeWalt batteries, guessing a third less run time.

So got a FARMER math question: Since the 3.8 Ahr generic runs like a 2.2 Ahr DeWalt would the 4 Ahr generic run close to the 3 Ahr DeWalt?

Similar but different question: I see they offer a 5 Ahr lithium generic battery that looks just like a Nicad 18V in shape and size. Lithium hold storage charge better than Nicad. DeWalt charger is good for both Lithium and Nicad. Do you think the 5 Ahr generic lithium would likely match up with a 3 Ahr lithium from DeWalt?

The 5 Ahr lithium has a battery gauge on it like some of the other higher volt DeWalts. I kind of like that option...
Click to expand...
My dewalt came with 2ah batteries so that all I have experience with, except for the 5ah clone I bought. I can tell you the clone will easily last 3 times as long as the dewalt 2ah batteries...
 
So after 2 months of being frustrated every time I wanted to use the cordless DeWalt tools with the new dead batteries, I decided to drop the Ni-cad and go with the Lithium- ion. Got the new 5 amphr 2 pack, they arrived yesterday, took an hour each to charge. Unlike the other batteries, the charger light flashes while charging and stays on when done. With these two, the light flashes and goes out when charged. I do like the charge indicator on the side of each battery. I used one for 10 minutes with the saw-zal, and it lasted. Both it and the other still read full charge this morning. Hope this purchase works out well...
 
You bought Li ion packs to fit your Ni Cad Dewalt tools?
 
I guess you get what you want but this video convinced me to pony up the extra cost of the factory DeWalt batteries.
 
Mr. Peet said:
That is a great price..20V anything DeWalt is usually $89+
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Back in Feb I picked up a 20V 5AH battery for $65 on Amazon. It says they are still available but with shipping from Amazon the way it is now I am going to hold off.
 
3 days and the knock-off's are still holding full charge. Good sign so far...The new Ni-cad replacements would go dead in 24-30 hours just sitting. The original old DeWalt batteries would die overnight.
 
ripjack13 said:
I'm late to the show, but, I use the cheapie batteries for my makita and my bosch kits. The cheapie bosch have lasted for over 5 years. 2 of the 4 makita ones though have died in 3. It's worth it for me because the real makita batteries are stupid expensive.
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ripjack13 said:
My cheapie makitas came in today too....
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TXMoon said:
I guess you get what you want but this video convinced me to pony up the extra cost of the factory DeWalt batteries.
Click to expand...

Update to the great battery conundrum.
The majority of the cheapie batteries died within 3 months. So, I ponied up and bought a 10-pack of real Makita 4.0 batteries from Makita's Amazon page. 4 of them were dead within a week. So I started a return for the whole lot and got a new batch. I took the dead ones and switched em out for good ones and then returned that batch. Within 2 months, half of them were not charging. I wrote to Makita's HQ and told them what the deal was and how much money I had shelled out over the course of my 40-year construction career and chewed em out for a few more sentences.
Then I had a back n forth discussion with a few of their reps and low and behold I got a new 10-pack set of batteries and a Tshirt and a tool bag.
So now I have 15 batteries. and a little happier about it too.
 
ripjack13 said:
Update to the great battery conundrum.
Then I had a back n forth discussion with a few of their reps and low and behold I got a new 10-pack set of batteries and a Tshirt and a tool bag.
So now I have 15 batteries. and a little happier about it too.
Click to expand...
But will they last any longer? Is anything different with them?
 
Mr. Peet said:
3 days and the knock-off's are still holding full charge. Good sign so far...The new Ni-cad replacements would go dead in 24-30 hours just sitting. The original old DeWalt batteries would die overnight.
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Not quite 3 years and the knock-offs are still working great. The 2 amphr 20V DeWalt the same age no longer registers full charge, but one light short of full. Run time has also dropped since day one. However, the 6 amphr flex DeWalt battery has continued to work great, without noticeable issue. Use it often for my 18V stuff too, and so far no issues.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #34
I went back and looked at when I started this thread; three years ago.

The $18 knock off battery I bought back then is still going strong. Charges fast and holds a charge well. Doubt I’ll ever buy a name brand replacement battery after my experience and the comments on this thread.
 
Mr. Peet said:
My DeWalt knock-offs were 18V replacements, Li-ion 18V 5.0Ah 90Wh
ML:DC9096-LI
Manufacture: XNJTG China
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Well, one of these died last week. It had one light of charge, worked it until it quit. I put it on the charger and forgot it over night. Next day it was dead. Tried another charger, still nothing. Tried jumping it, nothing. The second battery just started registaring only 3 out of 4 charge lights. So guess that is on the way now.

However, the 20V 2Ah DeWalt still works and continues to charge to 2 out of 3 lights on the indicator. The big 20 to 60V flex volt DeWalt battery still works as it did 6 years ago, great.
 
Do you have an interstate battery store there? I’ve had a few battery packs rebuilt by them and much less than new cost.
 
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