rebelrider.mike
Member
- Joined
- May 25, 2017
- Messages
- 548
Before I throw broken stuff away, I like to try and fix it first. Sometimes I save money. Sometimes I don't. I usually end up with a new tool and sometimes I even learn something.
So here's my latest fix it project. A while back I bought a Black and Decker electric screwdriver. Comes in really handy when I don't want to go find my full sized hand drill. Or it did until it stopped charging.
Well, the thing is powered by 3 AA NiCd 800mAh batteries in series. One cell was completely dead. The other two were pretty far gone, and I decided to replace all three.
I've been using Tenergy NiMH cells for a while and I like them. So I decided to try out their NiCds as replacements.
The new battery is kind of ugly, but it works.
Got it crammed into the allotted space.
And it works!
At this point I decided to address the charging system. I was a bit confused to learn that the power brick sends out AC current. I guess there's a diode in the wiring somewhere inside the tool.
Yep there's a diode in there under the shrink wrap.
The new charger will be DC current, so the diode is no longer needed.
Also, the barrel connector for the charger is an odd proprietary size. I'm swapping it out with a more standard 5.5x2.5mm one.
Finally, the cable connector is just a bit shorter than the original, which prevents a good connection.
I removed around 1/8" of the finger-holdy bit (that's a technical term) and now it snaps right into place.
Seems quite happy on the iMax charger. And the old charger can be saved for some future thing I don't know about yet.
So here's my latest fix it project. A while back I bought a Black and Decker electric screwdriver. Comes in really handy when I don't want to go find my full sized hand drill. Or it did until it stopped charging.
Well, the thing is powered by 3 AA NiCd 800mAh batteries in series. One cell was completely dead. The other two were pretty far gone, and I decided to replace all three.
I've been using Tenergy NiMH cells for a while and I like them. So I decided to try out their NiCds as replacements.
The new battery is kind of ugly, but it works.
Got it crammed into the allotted space.
And it works!
At this point I decided to address the charging system. I was a bit confused to learn that the power brick sends out AC current. I guess there's a diode in the wiring somewhere inside the tool.
Yep there's a diode in there under the shrink wrap.
The new charger will be DC current, so the diode is no longer needed.
Also, the barrel connector for the charger is an odd proprietary size. I'm swapping it out with a more standard 5.5x2.5mm one.
Finally, the cable connector is just a bit shorter than the original, which prevents a good connection.
I removed around 1/8" of the finger-holdy bit (that's a technical term) and now it snaps right into place.
Seems quite happy on the iMax charger. And the old charger can be saved for some future thing I don't know about yet.