How to turn your outdated NiCd tool batteries into powerful Li-ion ones!

In this video, I'm going to show you how to upgrade your old NiCd/NiMh tool batteries to powerful Li-ion ones by using salvaged 18650 battery cells from old laptops. With this simple conversion, you can unlock the true potential of your cordless tools and get more power and longer run time.

I'll guide you through the conversion process, so you can easily convert your batteries. You'll learn how to swap your outdated NiCd batteries for high-performance Li-ion ones, and get the most out of your tools without breaking the bank.

Below is everything that you might need for this conversion:

The written instructions can be found over at Instructables:

Support my work on Patreon so I can continue producing free content and tutorials!

My recording gear:

How to turn your outdated NiCd tool batteries into powerful Li-ion ones!
#battery #NiCd #li-ion #18650 #tastethecode

Get exclusive Taste The Code t-shirts and merch at

Design great PCBs with Altium designer and get great discount!

Click on the link below to get two months of free premium access to Skillshare and start learning today!

Get $50 off your order on hosting for all of your website needs and learning projects on Dreamhost!

[rsz]

Great video nice and simple. Well done!!!

[softerseltzer]

Exactly what I need, thank you for the guide!

[mattybrownvhsarchives]

I love how you don't explain a single thing you're doing. Very educational.

[ericklein]

I wouldn't suggest using laptop cells for power tool batteries. The 22F is the perfect example of your typical laptop cell. 2200mAh capacity, max continuous discharge is 2C so 4.4A. Obviously you don't want to push your cells at 100% of their rating due to voltage sag even though this isn't a continuous use application. I would definitely go with cells that have at least a 10A rating for the least powerful power tools. If the battery is going to be used in something that is a real hog, definitely stick with cells that have a 20-30A rating. Molicel's are always a great choice. Samsung 25R, 20S, 30T, 40T, LG has several high discharge cells like the HG2 and HE2/HE4, Sony has several in the VTC series, for EVE I can recommend the 20P or 25P. BAK and Lishen also make good cells.

Edit: Its so refreshing to see someone has had the forethought to leave the nickel strips on the paralleled cells. They were born together so might as well leave them together. And in your case made it much easier for you to assemble the pack. But that tab you broke off the last pair...thats the tab for the balance wire.

I'm also baffled by the uninsulated wire. Definitely a few major no no's in here that you're gonna get jumped on for.

[thatautogarage]

I did this with my Dirt Devel Dust + Vac recently. NiCd batteries sucks and I had several of last year's vape batteries laying around. After modifying the case and making an appropriate charging solution It constantly has more power and instead of only lasting the factory 7 minutes I can vacuum for around 2 weeks before recharging ( I'm assuming 2+ hours per charge now).

[lonesonestarcattlecompanyj]

great video. I have you plug and play older Bosch 18v batteries. do you hire your services to revamp these batteries for people? thank you.

[NeoGhk]

What's the board used for.?? can I use 3 Li batteries to get 12 V with no board attached??

[thomasscott]

hi, brilliant video i want to do exactly what you, ve done with my 18v dewalt drill but using a 5s bms could i still use my dewalt charger. thanks .

[mrcoco]

Its cool to see u keep the old nickel strips on, but can we put 1 more layer of nickel strip on top of the left over nickel strips ? And oso can we use nickel strips better den u use the white wire that u solder it??

[antslife]

I like your video but it would be nice if you could could do a speaking tutorial in normal motion for dummies like me who want to do this to their batteries

[christopherleubner]

Get a group that is close, use the bms sized for the correct amps. Use a charger that is designed for lithium ion. I find usbC to be awsome for this as it can autorange 3.6V 7.2V 12V and 20V ❤

[peacemaker]

How to charge the new lithium pack? What with old Ni-cd charger?

[Teknopottu]

Great project!

Why do you use so much flux?

[danielkerry]

Wouldn’t the low voltage cutoff be different between the two battery types?

[xanadusanson]

Hello friend, I don't know much English, but I will try to explain my problem:, I tried to change the battery of a 14.4 v drill to lithium, I used recycled 18650 batteries (obviously tested and with the same voltage) and formed a 4s2p pack and bought 4s bms boards at 40 amps (balancer type), and on three occasions the plates did not withstand even a vacuum test: (without effort) I thought it would be a defect in the board but I ordered from another store and now that I tried a new one and did a vacuum test performance, suddenly I heard a small explosion, I ignored it and continued drilling, until I heard a second one so I assumed that something had happened in the BMS and yes, a mosfet exploded and the truth is physically you can't see anything else but I think that more than one component must have been damaged as well. In your videos it looks so simple (and it really is, it's not very scientific) and this is happening to me, I only did a vacuum test on the other boards and apparently the transistors that are responsible for balancing the cells are heating up too much ( one or two, not all) and when I load them with the imax6 I get "connection break". Can you explain to me what I'm doing wrong or what causes could cause this to happen or at least what should I do? I thank you in advance.P.S: There are more details to explain but I didn't want to go on too long, if you need more details let me know

[nitzanh]

40 amp BMS? Is it enough for such a high-watt low-voltage tool?

[cookies-pbegvgv]

I heard that as Butter management system

[dungcucamtayquocdat]

Samsung 20R, 20S, 25R, 25S will better for the battery drill

[stevesfascinations]

Your time is worth money. In my opinion this is not a cost effective repair. Sometimes you have to replace equipment. I enjoyed watching your repair though.

[matelang]

This is really dangerous.. use extra isolation beetwen cells and also + and - terminal.. with time, dust and other things, like metal shavings go inside, and you got a nice short circuit, they will explode.. otherwise.. you can build a cheap spot welder, using microwave transformator and a controller module, if you need help about this, just let me known!