DeWalt Li Ion Batteries

[PHXPhlyer]

Help

I have multiple DeWalt 18V cordless tools. All of the original Ni-Cad battery packs are getting old and fading. Several have had new cells installed as a less expensive alternative to new packs, but are also on the way out.
I recently purchased a pair of 20V 5AHr Li Ion replacements with adapter and charger. The new battery packs are much smaller than the originals but the adapter brings the combination back to approx. the same size. The new packs also have a test feature to show charge via press to test switch and 3 LEDs.
The charger has three lights to indicate: charging, charged, and hot/cold delay.
Both batteries came showing 1 lit charge bar. When put on charger the charger indicator immediately showed "charged.
I called DeWalt C/S and they immediately acknowledged known problem with that line of packs and sent replacements with no questions asked.
New packs arrived. Same story as first pair. Called DeWalt again and got same response, so I said maybe it is the charger and not the packs, so they agreed to include new charger with the two new packs.
Same story with new charger and packs.
Any thoughts on possible solutions?

PP

[John Hill]

Some cells when first installed from new need to be 'woken up'. Google knows all about this!

[OFSO]

Slight drift. My new Huawei tablet won't charge with the charger it arrived with, which will however charge my smartphone. An identically-rated charger, almost identical in appearance, charges the tablet perfectly, using the same cable, so connectors are ok. Mystery...

[PHXPhlyer]

Kudos John

Googled it and found two solutions.
!. Battery pack not seated in charger.
2. "Dead" battery needs jump start.

Turns out it was number 1. Pack can be put on charger and light indicates charged. Turns out that pack has to latch onto charger just like it does to tool or adapter, in my case.
Forced them to latch and immediately they started to charge.
Good news is that I now have 4 extra batteries and an extra charger. Only need to get another adapter and I'll be all set.

Thanks again,
PP

Thanks to the Indians? in the DeWalt call center not having a clue,
i'm up 4 packs and a charger.

[Boac]

PHX - whether it is still true or not, it was always considered to be a good idea to run down a battery before charging, since sometimes the battery can consider its current charge as 'full'. Worth a try?

[PHXPhlyer]

Boac:
Ran both batteries all the way down. All came with one LED out of three lit.
Will experiment a bit with the others.
AFAIK the main advantage to Li Ion it no memory.

PP

[Rwy in Sight]

Slight drift. My new Huawei tablet won't charge with the charger it arrived with, which will however charge my smartphone. An identically-rated charger, almost identical in appearance, charges the tablet perfectly, using the same cable, so connectors are ok. Mystery...

Does the charger of the new Huawei tablet charges something else correctly?

[PHXPhlyer]

First 2 packs charged to full indication in less than an hour and a half.
Next 2 happily charging away.

PP

[llondel]

PHX - whether it is still true or not, it was always considered to be a good idea to run down a battery before charging, since sometimes the battery can consider its current charge as 'full'. Worth a try?

The memory effect in NiCad cells was that if you recharged them before they were fully discharged, they'd behave as they were fully discharged when they got down to the same point again.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_effect

Not the case for Li-Ion cells.

[PHXPhlyer]

Update

All six packs charged up nicely. Approx. an hour and a half each. All indicate full charge (3 lit LEDS).
Thanks again John.

PP

[ExSp33db1rd]

Rarely use my battery eqipped tools, when I do I always find them discharged. PITA

[Rwy in Sight]

Rarely use my battery eqipped tools, when I do I always find them discharged. PITA

It would help if you make a need to use them at regular intervals. Up until the lockdown I was running a a petrol/gas powered chainsaw for a few minutes every three weeks or so to keep it in good working condition.

John are you referring to the old habit of charging the battery for 24 hours, do a full discharge, one more 24 hour charge and then a normal use?

[unifoxos]

AFAIK the main advantage to Li Ion it no memory.

Another big advantage is the self-discharge rate is much lower. I used to have the same experience as Speedy with Ni-Cads, rarely find it with Li-ion

[Boac]

Useful thread, guys - thanks for the Google idea, John. Education more complete now.