- Feb 18, 2001
- 30,990
- 5
- 81
In case you did not know, Firestorm, Black and Decker, and Dewalt are all the same company.
Firestorm is a cheaper version of a dewalt, and Black and Decker is usually even cheaper.
Well, I found one of the reasons. If you missed a thread erlier, I asked for a few battery packs so I could rebuild them. I had a brainstorm, and remembered about the battery recycling thing at work, so I went and asked if I could have a few. ( I was fired, so it was anyting but a shre thing) My request was granted, and told I could take as many as I wanted. ( Home Depot sends them out to be recycled ) So I grabbed one 9.6, 12, 14.4, and an 18v Dewalt battery pack, along with a 12v firestorm, a 9.6 and 12v ryobi, and 2 15.6 Craftsman battery packs. ( there were still about 60 other packs, but I only wanted to see the representitive cell size, along with the packaging that holds them together. )
I tear the packs apart and realize a few things.
#1 Dewalt packs are a b!tch to take apart, Craftsman, firestorm and Ryobi are easy.
#2 The batteries in the Dewalt packs were all double shrink wrapped ( one around the cell, and another around the entire pack.
#3 The packs of the Dewalts had internal reinforcements in the form of plastic top and bottom plates which no one else had.
#4 The Firestorm pack was shrinkwrapped as a unit. The cells were wrapped in kraft paper.
#5 The Firestorm and Dewalt battery packs are externaly the same size. They can even be used interchageably in the drills. but on the inside, the firestorm batterys were sitting on a little plastic "shelf" to make up for the fact that the batteries were 2/3rds the size ( short in height. ) verses the ones in the Dewalt.
#6 The Craftsman battery packs had no reinforcement, no shrink wrap, no nothing. Just craft paper to keep the cells from internally shorting. The pack did have a tempeature diode though. I assume it is for the charger to turn off at a certain tempeature.
#7 with the exception of the Firestorm, all the cells were the exact same size ( or within 1 mm ) They were Sub C's.
So, I am now going to order some Sub C batterys so I can try to rebuild these. I found a place that sells Sub C NiMH batteries ( these are all Ni-Cad ) for $2 apiece, ( or $1.8 for Ni-Cad) but minimum is 1000 pieces. everywhere else wants $3.5-4.5 each
I am also going to try building one out of AAA batteries, as they are about the same height. But that is later.
Here is one question for you. How do you solder a tab to a battery? I swear these packs look like they are spot welded.
Firestorm is a cheaper version of a dewalt, and Black and Decker is usually even cheaper.
Well, I found one of the reasons. If you missed a thread erlier, I asked for a few battery packs so I could rebuild them. I had a brainstorm, and remembered about the battery recycling thing at work, so I went and asked if I could have a few. ( I was fired, so it was anyting but a shre thing) My request was granted, and told I could take as many as I wanted. ( Home Depot sends them out to be recycled ) So I grabbed one 9.6, 12, 14.4, and an 18v Dewalt battery pack, along with a 12v firestorm, a 9.6 and 12v ryobi, and 2 15.6 Craftsman battery packs. ( there were still about 60 other packs, but I only wanted to see the representitive cell size, along with the packaging that holds them together. )
I tear the packs apart and realize a few things.
#1 Dewalt packs are a b!tch to take apart, Craftsman, firestorm and Ryobi are easy.
#2 The batteries in the Dewalt packs were all double shrink wrapped ( one around the cell, and another around the entire pack.
#3 The packs of the Dewalts had internal reinforcements in the form of plastic top and bottom plates which no one else had.
#4 The Firestorm pack was shrinkwrapped as a unit. The cells were wrapped in kraft paper.
#5 The Firestorm and Dewalt battery packs are externaly the same size. They can even be used interchageably in the drills. but on the inside, the firestorm batterys were sitting on a little plastic "shelf" to make up for the fact that the batteries were 2/3rds the size ( short in height. ) verses the ones in the Dewalt.
#6 The Craftsman battery packs had no reinforcement, no shrink wrap, no nothing. Just craft paper to keep the cells from internally shorting. The pack did have a tempeature diode though. I assume it is for the charger to turn off at a certain tempeature.
#7 with the exception of the Firestorm, all the cells were the exact same size ( or within 1 mm ) They were Sub C's.
So, I am now going to order some Sub C batterys so I can try to rebuild these. I found a place that sells Sub C NiMH batteries ( these are all Ni-Cad ) for $2 apiece, ( or $1.8 for Ni-Cad) but minimum is 1000 pieces. everywhere else wants $3.5-4.5 each
I am also going to try building one out of AAA batteries, as they are about the same height. But that is later.
Here is one question for you. How do you solder a tab to a battery? I swear these packs look like they are spot welded.
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