Cordless tool cell replacement
Replacing 18650 li-ion cells in an accumulator for electric tools.
- 1 min read
Being able to repair faulty accumulators is very useful. After building a spot welder from a microwave oven transformer (see guide how to build it or choose from many other guides on the internet) it is a very quick and easy process.
However, manufacturers sometimes make it harder to open. This Makita accumulator had non-standard screw heads, star-shaped with a pin in the center. I just drilled it out. The plastic melted from the heat so it was easy to pull out even before drilling all the way through. I also replaced a Parkside one some time ago and I think that was much easier.
Some supply of 18650, got from prototype electric drum-roller
When I pulled out the cells from my pack, they had damaged wrapping, so I put on new ones and used a heat gun to re-wrap them. The protective rings were fine. These wraps are cheap and easily obtainable, for example on AliExpress.
Spot welder – a very useful tool. See guide how to build it
