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sxz

sxz

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#171301 13-Apr-2015 13:28
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I have an Ozito tool set from Bunnings, which cost about $200.  It includes a Drill, Sander, Multi-tool, torch and radio.  It is very similar to this set below, but obviously with some different equipment.  It comes with 2 lithium ion batteries and one charger.  I have twice now returned the whole set because one battery has died.  I have just had one battery in my third set die.  Bunnings no longer sell the set.  They do not sell individual batteries.  I like the set and the tools, and ideally I want the battery fixed.  Is this possible?

Background:  The battery has not had a lot of use.  this set is only a few months old and is used for minor DIY.  In each case the battery decides not to deliver any power or to charge.  It happens seemingly without warning.  From my non-technical view it appears like the charging/regulating circuit has fried? 

I don't want to return the set for cash, because I am happy with the tools and can't replace them for the cost they were bought for.  Does anyone know if batteries with my problem can be serviced / fixed?

Ozito

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hsvhel
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  #1282117 13-Apr-2015 13:34
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Call simpower and discuss what you want.  They re-pack/build and design batteries and theyre very reasonable.





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1101
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  #1282718 14-Apr-2015 10:02
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No no no
Bunnings cant be allowed to get away with not selling replacement batts.
Under the CGA, spare parts HAVE to be available.

If you went in & kicked up a fuss, they would have to do something about it.
Heres the contact for Ozito if you want to ring them direct . Mention the CGA & that parts have to be available under NZ law
http://www.ozito.co.nz/

But anyway, if 2 batts have died I'd guess there is a serious fault with these units. Even if you get batt packs rebuilt , what guarentee that a
dud charger wont ruin that as well?

Or , since they are still for sale, take the whole lot back for warranty replacement
http://www.bunnings.co.nz/ozito-cordless-combo-kit-18v-li-ion-4-pc-with-2-batteries-ckl-184_p00179004

linw
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  #1283245 14-Apr-2015 21:01
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And lithium batteries/chargers going bad is a real worry as in potentially burning your house down.



gzt

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  #1283360 14-Apr-2015 23:26
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In each case the battery decides not to deliver any power or to charge. It happens seemingly without warning. From my non-technical view it appears like the charging/regulating circuit has fried?

So the charger will no longer charge the other battery?

chevrolux
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  #1284433 15-Apr-2015 08:48
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Re-packed batteries suck. I had some Dewalt ones repacked and they were just rubbish. Also it ended up costing the same as a new one.

surfisup1000
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  #1284455 15-Apr-2015 09:16
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1101: No no no
Bunnings cant be allowed to get away with not selling replacement batts.
Under the CGA, spare parts HAVE to be available.


But the CGA is not a one-solution law.    

They could get a refund which is an acceptable alternative to lack of spare parts under CGA law. 





gregmcc
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  #1284458 15-Apr-2015 09:22
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take your refund and buy a decent quality set

 
 
 

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Aredwood
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  #1284933 15-Apr-2015 16:39

Some lithium battery protection circuits have a feature that if the terminal voltage gets too low. They will make the battery go open circuit. (some safety reason, don't know why an under voltage condition is dangerous). Problem is that you need to regularly use your lithium tools to stop the battery voltage levels getting too low.

I say - Take them back for a refund and buy some mains operated tools. As they can sit around for as long as they like, and are still ready to use.





sxz

sxz

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  #1284978 15-Apr-2015 17:21
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Sorry - the set I have is similar, but different. So replacement is not an option, my set is no longer sold.

I agree Bunnings should offer replacement parts per the CGA - but they dont, and they have instead offered me a refund.  But I don't want to refund the whole set.  I understand that I cannot require them to fix the damaged battery if they are offering a full refund instead?

I just want the broken battery to work!  If I take the cash and buy a quality set it will cost me much more than the $200 i'll get back. If that's my only option however, I might have to stick with it.

Good suggestion to contact Ozito directly to ask for a battery to be provided, I hadn't thought of that.

andrewNZ
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  #1284991 15-Apr-2015 17:37
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I'd go for the refund.

It means you've had free use of the current set, and you have $200 to put towards a new better set, or as Aredwood said, some mains tools that won't become useless because batteries fail.

richms
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  #1284996 15-Apr-2015 17:45
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The low battery cut off is because taking a cell too low will damage it, some will not reset when the charger is applied. Some will even not reset when the cell voltage comes back up.

Chances are they have used the cheapest of cheap cells in the pack, and they have wildly different cell capacities and one of them was just too little to actually keep up.

You could open the pack up, and use a hobby charger to charge up the cells one at a time to a full 4.2v state and see if the pack comes back to life.

Repacking junk cells with proper ones should make it better than new. The problem is that a lot of batteries are repacked with not that great cells, like a couple of cheap repacked ryobis I got off aliexpress (which just came airmail just fine) - Lousy capacity and horridly inaccurate power gauge on it, since I guess once cell is really weak. But when they cut out they still charge just fine.




Richard rich.ms

Hatch
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  #1285410 16-Apr-2015 10:32
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Try talking to RUKI

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/user_public.asp?user_id=68300

He's a self professed battery geek and may be able to help.

Niel
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  #1285619 16-Apr-2015 14:11
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chevrolux: Re-packed batteries suck. I had some Dewalt ones repacked and they were just rubbish. Also it ended up costing the same as a new one.


DeWalt uses LiFePO4 from A123, not LiPo (unless they have changed recently).  If it was not repacked with A123 cells, then it would perform rubbish.  Or if the shop used LiPo cells, then you will get only half the run time and will damage the cells from deep discharge.  Both the charge termination voltage and discharge turn-off voltage for LiFePO4 are lower than for LiPo.




You can never have enough Volvos!


richms
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  #1285650 16-Apr-2015 14:53
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There are 2 series of Dewalt lithium. They have the traditional 18v nicad shaped ones and the ones that are called 20v max in the US to reduce confusion but are still called 18v here for some stupid reason.





Richard rich.ms

RUKI
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  #1293600 29-Apr-2015 14:32
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Hatch: Try talking to RUKI

.....


Can be done by yourself....

I was recently shopping for tools in Bunnings / Placemakers / Mitre 10 and loooked at those cheap Li- operated cordless screwdrivers/drill sets.

Beforehand I have measured currents the motors draw in my cordless 12V Ruobi Drill/Screwdriver (made in Japan), another one 7.2V (Made in Germany) and another one 3.7V (Made in China) and had a good idea what the Li pack for those should look like - i.e how many in parallel (most important) and how many in series (overall pack voltage).
FYI: 18650 Li-Ion cells, commonly found in laptops and used in those tools are rated at 2.2AH each and should not be loaded with more than 2.2A current. Drill motors depending on the make/model can easily draw much more than that (e.g. 3-5 Amps) - hence there should be few of those cells in parallell. There are new cells in that form factor (18650) being developed which can deliver more power/higher currents and have more designed capacity but I would be doubtfull that those will be used in super cheap chineese tools.

My observations in regards to cheap Li-operated cordless tools in abovementioned supermarkets:

1) Majority are custom packed 18650 cells but most likely not genuine. By "genuine" I mean quality manufacturers from Japan and Korea - Sony; Samsung.
3) Common tool pack were 1PXS – not designed for high currents. Cordless drill motor consumes more power than those packs can deliver. Batteries in those cheap tools will quickly fail because of poor quality and being overloaded.

For myself I ended up with the following DIY solution (as I have few dozens of genuine and tested by myself Samsung/Sony cells):

 

  • Made 4P2S (4 parallel, 2 series) pack for my 7.2 v drill/screwdriver and 4P1S pack for my 3.7V screwdriver.
  • 3.7V screwdriver’s motor handles 5V easy – so I use PSU from PC instead of battery when indoors.
Results are awesome as expected.
Technically speaking my tools are no longer cordless – as the new packs are bigger and do not fit inside the original enclosure. For my tasks it is even better as no extra weight added to the handle – useful when drilling PCBs or heat sinks. Hope that helps

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