Repairing tool batteries

[Smithson]

Has anybody tried getting tool batteries repaired here? Looking on the net, there's lot of info on how to do it, doesn't look that difficult. I have a couple of drills with dud batteries, it would be great to get them going again.

If somewhere could be found, it would also be worthwhile to bring old tools over, as once the batteries are gone, they are just about given away.

[Spin]

The cells are available in Bangkok, the tricky bit is installing them, the original ones tend to have a tab joining each cell which has a mini spot weld. Not having a spot welder to hand, you are faced with soldering and the heat causes problems sometimes.

[VocalNeal]

Has anybody tried getting tool batteries repaired here? Looking on the net, there's lot of info on how to do it, doesn't look that difficult. I have a couple of drills with dud batteries, it would be great to get them going again.

Amorn. If in Bangkok Old Siam Plaza top floor. Had both my DeWalt 18V drills done 2400 baht each, but they have 15 NiCad cells. Turnaround depends on volume that day but the wife dropped them off, went shopping and collected them the same day. Don't know but I suspect the cells are about 120 baht each.

If somewhere could be found, it would also be worthwhile to bring old tools over, as once the batteries are gone, they are just about given away.

I suspect like in Vancouver that tradesmen get theirs fixed by taking them to a battery store. Same goes for rock climbers and the like. My son had a Saturday job in said battery store. BTW Lithium batteries are more difficult because of permit required by battery store.
Most contractors and jobbers here have mains powered equipment with a moth eaten extension cord as otherwise the batteries would always be dead/flat and "we can't work guv." or the 9.000 baht drill would always get "lost" or like me the first job they did with said 9,000 baht drill they dropped it from the top step of a step ladder fortunately DeWalt are made of sterner stuff! I even imported an expensive vehicle charger. Never used!

TIP (from son): Try to buy 12v tools then one can buy a small 12v battery and rewire the battery pack so the drill runs on the external battery. This will also work with 9.6v. Some contractors and most rock climbers have a "holster" with a small 12v battery in. Rock climbers sometimes have two holsters for added endurance and balance. 7AH battery is between 500-750 baht.

Semper will ask why rock climbers need drills!

[Smithson]

^ It's good to know there's somewhere that does it, however the price is similar to what new batteries are available for on ebay.

It might be difficult to find somewhere as Thai inertia means they haven't accepted cordless tools.

[VocalNeal]

Well I suspect the cost of batteries is pretty much universal it is the labour that is cheaper here. That being said if you bought some in bulk from say Alibaba?
But whether or not the overall cost compared to overseas would be lower if one factors in the shipping? One would also need a mini spot welding machine at minimum and I have no idea where you would get one of those.

If you are not in BKK, Amorn has branches in many places. They may have to send your personal ones to Bangkok though. PC batteries also!

[Buksida]

^ It seems that repairing here is more expensive than in the US, with the price of labor being so much cheaper, then either the batteries cost more in LOS or Amorn is charging a premium.

[JGA]

Amorn Electronics on the 4th floor of Fortune Town in Bangkok has the spot welder needed to make battery packs. They rebuilt two packs for my Dewalt drill about 18 months ago for 100 baht each. I provided the cells that I bought in the States (odd size not readily available in Thailand). I just used the drill this week and the packs are still working fine.

[Ian36]

Rather than soldering the battery tags try flash welding them with a 12 volt car battery.

[phunphin]

Theres a Co in aussie that sells Micro spot welders, they are a couple of grand though.
Ok if your setting up your own bussiness.