Wilsons Sandbox

Howdy Rev, I work in construction and cordless tools are a boon and a curse. In considering your issues I assume that you have the older Nickel Magnesium/Cadmium batteries. I have been taught that these batteries have memory of the charge was since last charged. This then resets the battery when it is next charged as teh amount of charge it will carry. The moral of this is to fully discharge your batteries before charging. The other seemingly apparent fact that I have learnt is that rechargeable batteries have a finite life span. The battery itself costs so much you may as well buy a new drill/dustbuster as well. Optionally eBay has batteries that seem a better deal than what HomeDepot wants in terms of $$$s. My suspicion is that the batteries are dead. The links you have been given for info on batteries is probably way better than the folk wisdom from the construction site. The latter tells me that you should be fully running your batteries down before charging them fully for re-use. Lastly, I have started using Li-Ion batteries for work. Myself and many others are much happier with these as they charge faster and supposedly do not have the charge memory which so predisposes "regular" rechargeables to an early demise. Hope my heresay is of some help! Jim A5 Hail, All Knowing, all seeing list, cough, This is off topic, and well, its off season with freezing rain today...and these 'tools' do rest in the tool box that I use for the 1 KLR.... I have two hand held tools that the batteries seem to have gone South, and I suspect, are never, ever coming home again. 1. My beloved drill, the DeWalt DW991 14.4v drill, it has 13year old- batteries--both purchased at the same time, alternated/charged faithfully--won't hold a charge for more than a few hours after full charge cycle--and the 'spin' of the drill has lost all of it zip at an indicated 'full' charge by the chargers indicator system.The drill sees on occasional use during the month, but a few times a year, it gets involved in driving 1-2-300 dry wall screws at a time; meaning, it is not abused as a carpenters friend everyday of its life. The dust buster gets used 2-3 times a week.I seem to remember that these high capacity batteries have a limited number of charge cycles. Is that true? 1-Q.Can somebody describe a trouble shooting suggestion that will tell me the batteries have seen their last useful charge? The second tool is a Black and Decker Dustbuster that contains two 'VersaPak' Interchange Battery System, batteries. Likewise it will not go to 'full' charge anymore as well. After setting on the charger, the dust-buster, at best, will just convert electricity to noise--at a very low rpm. 2-Q. Suggestions for testing one of those batteries? How do you know when these items are used up. I am suspicious that the cost of two batteries is = to the new cost of a dust-buster. (And I was never fond of this item....)and while we are here-- 3-Q. Should items like these be left on their chargers? I generally keep the dust-buster on its cradle, and the off duty 14.4v battery in the charging cradle--indicating a 'holding-charge'. revmaaatin. hunkered down in South Dakota--but still deer hunting via 4X4 Suburban--one last night, tonight, regardless of the present snow storm--just NOT by KLR! _________________________________________________________________ Drag n drop Get easy photo sharing with Windows Live Photos. http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowslive/photos.aspx

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Tom Zangla" wrote:

> > My 2005 KLR always has a least one milk crate on the back. Since > I use my KLR all winter long (Pennsylvania) I was wondering if I > could take the small stock battery out, put a plastic battery case > in the crate, add a bigger 12 volt battery to that case and then > use proper gauge wire to connect it to where the wires are > under the seat. > > As far as milk crates go, I have had 3 high stacked on the back when > I go for some groceries. > > Tom > SW Pennsylvania >

I know a guy who rode his DRZ all through Copper Canyon with a duff charging system and a car battery bungied to his fender. I'd assume he recharged nightly at best, since opportunities to plug in a charger are few and far between. A milk crate on the back could only make it easier to rig.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, Jim Tegler wrote:

> > > > Howdy Rev, > > I work in construction and cordless tools are a boon and a curse. In

considering your issues I assume that you have the older Nickel Magnesium/Cadmium batteries. Hi Jim They are NiCad batteries, and I have been faithful to run them flat dead before recharging. I have not priced a new drill, but I have suspected the 'new' deal would be the best buy. Here on the prairie, the comparison shopping is all on line as it is 200 miles to a 'real' town--but only a mouse click away from your friends. revmaaatin.