Can a Ni-Cd charger charges Lithium battery

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CYUE

CYUE

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Hello,

I just dug out an old cordless drill come with Ni-Cd battery which is already dead. I want to re-build the battery, replace Ni-Cd inside with Lithium close to 14.4 volt, and keep its original charge protection circuit.

My question is: after that, can I use the same Ni-Cd charger to charge the new Lithium battery ? or do I need to get a charger specially for Lithium battery?
 

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Don't think so. My old drill had NiCd batteries. At one point the made Li batteries available --- but they specifically said you can't use the old NiCd charger with the Li batteries.
 
Do an OnLine search for charging Li vs NiCad batteries and you will find definite difference in the charging method. One big difference is NiCad's like to be run all the way down then recharged. If not they develop "memory effect" which means they will start just delivering just what has been required of them.
Li batteries are just about the opposite they don't like to be totally discharged. That's why some of your better Li battery equipped tools will shut off and no longer run before the battery runs all the way down.
 
CYUE said:
Hello,

I just dug out an old cordless drill come with Ni-Cd battery which is already dead. I want to re-build the battery, replace Ni-Cd inside with Lithium close to 14.4 volt, and keep its original charge protection circuit.

My question is: after that, can I use the same Ni-Cd charger to charge the new Lithium battery ? or do I need to get a charger specially for Lithium battery?
Click to expand...

Trying to charge lithium battery with nicad charger can lead to fire. Lithium battery is very picky on how it gets charged but upsetting it can be quite spectacular if you are in a safe area but quite devastating if you are not.

Best to stick with replacing the nicad batteries. You can probably get good replacement cells from RC hobby shops.
 
By the time you get to rebuilding the old batteries, then buying a charger for them that somehow they fit into, you will pbly spend more $$$ than if you had just got a whole nice new cordless drill from Harbor Freight.
 
Hi Jeff, I fully agreed. These days, doing some research, new one with Li battery prices are slowly dropping, especially close to Xmas. Will definitely get a new one.
 
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