Can this be done? I have a cordless drill with 2 exhausted batteries. It is a hammer drill, and I need to use it. Can I bypass the battery and run it off of the charger, or will I need a power supply with higher amperage output? New batteries cost more than a new drill, and I'm cheap (Fiero owner, you know )

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1986 SE 350 V8

It won't run off the charger--it's like a trickle charge--not enough current to do anything other than charge a battery. I have, ran a 12v cordless drill off a car battery tho. Ran it right off the battery--not off the cig or accy plug.

I know I saw one that was able to run off the charger when the battery ran down. Forget the brand but it was able to do it as long as the battery was in it. I guess it just depends on the brand and charger.

Try it, what do you have to lose but 5 min?

Now after looking at your post again it is a hammer drill? No way it is going to work off the charger but like Don said if it is a 12v one you may be able to run it off a car battery.

Steve

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Technology is great when it works,
and one big pain in the ass when it doesn't.
Detroit iron rules all the rest are just toys.

...you could try opening the case of one of your batteries. Most (note, I said most, not all) of these batteries use AA type cells in them, just remove the old ones and install new ones.

Edit >> just to add, I had a similar situation with a Makita set, the batteries where 2 years old and not working - took them in the Makita to have them tested - to make sure it was the batteries and not the charger as they both seem to go at the same time - and they gave me 2 free new batteries as a replacement as those battaries where only charged a couple of dozen times and they said they should have lasted longer so they covered them under warrenty (despite that being long over).

[This message has been edited by Mickey_Moose (edited 02-10-2010).]

This is a Skil 14.4 volt hammer drill. It is over 6 years old and of average-belowe average quality. The first pair of batteries started dying after about 1 year. I got 2 new ones ($$$) and they only lasted about 8 months. I got fed up and bought a DeWalt and the Skil was sent to live out eternity in the basement. Now I am in need of a hammer drill, and would like to see if I can rig this sucker up to work long enough to drill 3 holes in concrete. I don't care if I blow it up as it's not doing me anygood in the basement & it's not worth replacing or rebuilding the batteries.

Maybe I can fashion one of the battery cases into an adapter and use the 18 volt DeWalt battery. Maybe I'll just rig up some hokey a$$ cables to the 18 volt battery and go nuts.

the battery in the car is 12 Volt
Some trucks are running 2 batteries totalling 24 Volts
If the drill is 14.4 Volts, you need an inverter and a powersupply
12 Volts , isn't enough to power a 14.4 Volt drill to its full capacity

Jeez, just buy a masonry bit and stick it in the DeWalt.

Unless you're REALLY bored. Then I'd try the car battery

quote Originally posted by proff: the battery in the car is 12 Volt Some trucks are running 2 batteries totalling 24 Volts If the drill is 14.4 Volts, you need an inverter and a powersupply 12 Volts , isn't enough to power a 14.4 Volt drill to its full capacity

Start the car while you do it. Most alternators charge in the 14 volt range.

Used a concrete drill bit in a normal 1/2" corded drill. Took some effort, but it worked. Thanks for all of the input. If I get bored one of these days, I might experiment with it.

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1986 SE 350 V8

find out what the battery pack consists of . as stated alot use aa or sub c batteries. If its sub c I have some rc car car batteries we can make you a new pack on the cheap. my aa batteries are no good but my sub cs are.

quote Originally posted by proff: the battery in the car is 12 Volt Some trucks are running 2 batteries totalling 24 Volts If the drill is 14.4 Volts, you need an inverter and a powersupply 12 Volts , isn't enough to power a 14.4 Volt drill to its full capacity

But your forgetting, the battery puts out about 600 Amps. Waaaay more than the AA batterys in the drill. I think you will get about 5 holes in the concrete befor the drill smokes.

I currently have about 5 dead Dewalt 12v cordless drill batteries, and two dead Black and Decker 12v. Between 6 and 10 years old, can't bring myself to toss the drills but they don't make the batteries from what I have found.

Even if they did, it's usually cheaper to buy a new drill than to replace the batteries. Stoopid.