1 reply to this topic

[richard.tufty]

I have been getting fed up recently of finding my cordless drill batteries flat whenever I need to use them. I use a Ryobi 18V kit which has a drill and circular saw, and can have many other tools attached to the same batteries. The standard batteries are NiCd, upgrades to Lithium are available at c. $90 each plus a new charger. No thanks.

I bought some old dead batteries off ebay and a 2200 mAh 5S1P 40C Zippy Lipo from Hobby King (I think it was $23) and set about modifying the case. A small amount of dremel action and it all fits nicely, with a bit of padding around the battery (it's a soft skin one). I ran the balance connector to the outside to make charging easier and to allow a Lipo alarm to plug in whilst the tool is in use (I think they draw a bit of current when not in use, can't leave it plugged in all the time sadly).

In the box of dead batteries from ebay I also got a charger. I took the guts out of it so that I could use the docking bay connector to connect to the battery more easily with my Lipo charger. I ran a cable with a Deans connector to the outside (it's actually the old mains power lead cut short, uses the same grommet to get out of the case) and voila!

Pictures will follow, it's in the garden charging now (I figured I would do the first charge outside to be sure I got it all wired up right!)

[WillyChang]

good tools use LiFE aka A123s... with vented case & some have special charger that fans air through battery