Ryobi LiOn Battery Life...

[Jim Frye]

I have had five of the LiOn battery packs since the first of March this year. I charged all five of them and set them on a shelf. I have a half dozen NiCad One+ packs that are in normal rotational use, so the LiOn packs aren't really needed in the shop.

The point of this post is that the LiOn packs all held a full charge for four months sitting on the shelf. One of the five still has a full charge at this writing. I have started using the LiOn packs this week for a rather different reason. I have been using the One+ fan to help cure some tung oil finish that is very slow to dry. The LiOn packs will run the fan all night without slowing down. The NiCad packs are good for about 6 - 8 hours before they are down to useless.

[LinuxRandal]

Speaking of Ryobi Batteries, Jim, I want to pick your brain.

A few years ago, I bought a Ryobi Drill for the occassional (rare) use around work. One of the bosses took it home (two blocks away when we need it). Both Nicads have died, and we have picked up one Lithium, but since I don't have it......

Can the charger (Lithium or Nicad ones) also work with NiMH (considering rebuilding)?

Thanks

[Jim Frye]

All Charged Up...

Speaking of Ryobi Batteries, Jim, I want to pick your brain.

A few years ago, I bought a Ryobi Drill for the occassional (rare) use around work. One of the bosses took it home (two blocks away when we need it). Both Nicads have died, and we have picked up one Lithium, but since I don't have it......

Can the charger (Lithium or Nicad ones) also work with NiMH (considering rebuilding)?

Thanks

I assume you are talking about Ryobi's 18 volt line here. The original Ryobi NiCad chargers will only charge the NiCad packs. The new Ryobi Dual Chemistry chargers will charge the old One+ NiCad packs as well as the new LiOn packs. No NiMh chemistry in Ryobi's line.

I had an old Ryobi red tab NiCad pack rebuilt by a local battery shop for about $33 with a one year warranty. Since Ryobi came out with the One+ line, it is cheaper to put the dead packs in the recycling bin at HD and buy a new One+ pack. I think the new prices on the One+ NiCad packs are $25 each in a two pack with a two year warranty. I haven't decided on the economy of the new LiOn packs yet. They are still pretty pricey at $89 each. The thing I am still up in the air with these is the amp. hour ratings of the two designs. The NiCad One+ packs are 1.7 Ah and the LiOn One+ packs are 2.4 Ah. The NiCads give you more Ah per dollar, but the LiOns give you more run time per pack.

[leehljp]

Thanks Jim for the post. I wondered what the difference would be. I almost bought a couple of the new One+ batteries and charger while in the States in May, but passed on it. My current set of NiCad batteries are OK but weakening. I just hope they hang on as until Dec 2010.

It is good to know the staying power of the LiOn packs and they will be welcome.

[crokett]

I discovered last night that the new LiO packs also have some sort of thermal overload protection built in. I was using my little Ryobi 18v circ saw to cut the wall sheathing back in my shop so I can pull wiring and the saw quit. The battery pack felt pretty warm and the charge indicator on the back didn't work. I let it sit for a while and then tried the charge indicator. It worked that time. Those batteries are great - I only have one and need to get at least one more.

The price of even rebuilds is insane. I have a DeWalt 14.4V drill I never use because the packs are dead. The new Ryobi 18V One+ packs cost less than the price of a rebuilt one for the DeWalt.

[Shep]

I've got a 12v compact LiO drill. The thing holds a charges for what seems like forever. I keep a backup charged up, and it's always fully charged when I need it just by sitting on the shelf. When you need them charged, it only takes about 15 minutes. Great battery.

[aggrex]

My current set of NiCad batteries are OK but weakening. I just hope they hang on as until Dec 2010

Occasionally HD has specials on some Ryobi drill packages that offer 2 battery paks, charger, tool for around $99. I have acquired Nicad or Lithium batteries by buying some of these drill packages. I do not need the extra tools and have sold them but the 2 Lithium batteries+Li charger more than justified the purchase.

[crokett]

I was in HD at lunch today for some electrical stuff and walked by the tools. I was thinking about this thread so checked and the 18V LIon battery packs are now 50 bucks. So they've dropped in price considerably in the last several months.

[Highlander]

The batteries you saw for $50; were they the regular Li batteries, or the compact ones? A couple of days ago I saw some of the compact batteries in single packs for the first time, but there was no price on them. Was not interested enough at the time to ask about them.

Just wondering if the compact are the ones being sold for $50, and the regualar still $89.

[crokett]

Good question. I know they said 18V on them. I double checked that. Ididn't notice if they were compact though. The next time I am back there I will check and see if they were the regular or compact ones.

[Jim Frye]

Lion Prices...

The batteries you saw for $50; were they the regular Li batteries, or the compact ones? A couple of days ago I saw some of the compact batteries in single packs for the first time, but there was no price on them. Was not interested enough at the time to ask about them.

Just wondering if the compact are the ones being sold for $50, and the regualar still $89.

The last time I was in HD here, that was the deal. I checked the price on HD's web site before I posted the original of this thread and the price on the full size pack was $89.

[Highlander]

Went in HD today, regular Li batteries were $89 and compact Li batteries $49. Check the date on the package before you buy them, the compact Li batteries had a date code of 0835 (35th week of 2008). These are a year old. No-one really knows how long Li batteries last, but they are supposed to start to deteriorate from the date of manufacture.

I bought a Ryobi Promo kit with the green recip saw, compact drill, 2 batteries and charger for $99. I wanted the saw anyway, so it made the batteries really cheap. The date code on this was January 2009 (0904).