Resurrecting imbalanced Milwaukee M12 battery

[Stubby]

I know a guy who lost his workshop/garage to a fire due to a battery tender. It was hooked up to a battery for maintenance over the winter. He left for a few days, and the thing caught fire.

I use them too, basically hoping that I have better luck than he did...

Rich

 

[echomeister]

This got me thinking about buying a cheap shed to put in the corner of the lot to keep Li-Ion batteries and chargers in.
Scary stuff

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

@OM617YOTA how long did you have these batteries before they went wonky on you?

(I mean obviously there is a manufacturing defect but I'm curious if it showed up in the first month... or year... or after a few years)

Thanks dood

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

This got me thinking about buying a cheap shed to put in the corner of the lot to keep Li-Ion batteries and chargers in.
Scary stuff

A shed, a garage... whatever structure... the key to fire safety is largely about VENTILATION where we store fuel.

As long as we:

1) adequately ventilate the place where we store fuel and

2) (ideally) use our battery chargers in a different location than where we store fuel

...then we don't have to worry about houses burning down, garages, shops cars etc burning sown... assuming we're exercising common sense.

Even if I built a shed to use for all my battery charging... if I don't ventilate it and I store a can of gas in there (unless its adequately ventilated) eventually I'm going to see that shed explode. Guaranteed.

Most electrical fires from low amperage, low wattage devices in shops turn from minor issue to disaster because of flashpoint. That is, a fuel container is stored in a sealed room... if you google "flashpoint gasoline" or kerosene or diesel or... paper... whatever... you'll find that gasoline's flashpoint is so low its scary...

 

[OM617YOTA]

@OM617YOTA how long did you have these batteries before they went wonky on you?

(I mean obviously there is a manufacturing defect but I'm curious if it showed up in the first month... or year... or after a few years)

Thanks dood

Can't remember if it's two or three years. They got super light use until just recently, then failed immediately.

 

[PapaWhitebeard]

Can't remember if it's two or three years. They got super light use until just recently, then failed immediately.

Thanks--good to know (I've got a bunch of 12V red tools that seem to be doing the error light thing... most of them are probably between 5-10 years old... (shrug)

Like you, I moved on to 18V for my cordless electric tools... I love the Milwaulke (sp?) stuff but the last few years I've been going with Makita simply because of ubiquity... everyone's got batteries... everyone's got chargers... and they make some super lightweight itty bitty nut drivers that are powerful enough to take of lugnuts (?!)

But for sure they're bigger and heavier than the 12V milwaulkee stuff...

FWIW I've found the bosch 12V tools to be *excellent* but the problem is lack of ubiquity... nobody has them nobody has chargers nobody has batteries...

 

[jh35]

I know old thread but...
I've been on team m18 for probably 5 or 6 years and did not want to get another style or brand of battery. Well I ended up needing smaller / compact tools for some jobs and gave in about a year ago. I have a m12 6 amp. I have fully charged it I think only two times. While running a die grinder last night, the magic smoke literally came out. Right out of the base of the battery. Tool was dead and the battery did not work on other tools. The battery showed fully charged (green light) on the charger.

I found one of the Reddit's about the 6 amp battery so I guess I don't feel that bad now.

My buddy had good luck with these cheapy knockoffs. There was a 30% coupon yesterday, so my order came to $25.48. I don't use m12 very much so for this little amount of cash I will give it a try.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGG8YJ4C?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

 

[OM617YOTA]

You're braver than I. I know I went fast and loose with recharging my damaged M12's with a benchtop power supply, but the cheapo knockoffs are where I draw my own personal line, won't have them.

Even with my solar power system where I used individual Chinese lifepo4 cells, I still spec'd in and installed my own BMS's and circuit protection.

 

[jh35]

You're braver than I. I know I went fast and loose with recharging my damaged M12's with a benchtop power supply, but the cheapo knockoffs are where I draw my own personal line, won't have them.

Even with my solar power system where I used individual Chinese lifepo4 cells, I still spec'd in and installed my own BMS's and circuit protection.

Don't know if I'm a braver or dumber, maybe one affects the other? Who knows. I spent a lot more than $25 for the smoked 6 amp and I rarely have a use for the m12 tools. That is my reasoning. I'm a little uneasy too and not expecting a lot, but I'm not using it on an impact or stalling out on a drill. My buddy "accidentally" bought these and has had great luck with them, although the supplier or the process could have changed or maybe he received the only two decent ones that factory ever produced. I'll report back after I have used them a few times.

I won't buy knockoff m18 batteries and never have. I have (3) 5 amps (1) 4 amp and (1) 2 amp. I've never had an issue with them. However I use them on 1/2" impact on farm equipment, and a 4-1/2 grinder regularly .

Thank you for your insight on the balancing and other aspects. I'm a mechanical engineer, not electrical. I have a basic knowledge of some things and do most of my own wiring at my place, but that's as far as it goes.

Jeff