subject: How To Tune Up Your Power Tool Battery [print this page] Make sure the power tool battery is securely anchored to the vehicle. An often neglected component of a power tool battery is its hold down straps. An unsecured power tool battery is an accident waiting to happen. The bouncing of a vehicle, especially a tractor over a plowed field, can cause a power tool battery to scoot around in its housing and possibly short out against another metal component, causing a fire. If not that, it can certainly break a terminal, cable, or case, or even turn over and leak. Purchase a power tool battery hold down kit and install it. It is cheap insurance against car, tractor, truck damage and will increase the life span of the DEWALT DE9095 power tool battery.
Invest in a power tool battery terminal remover tool. This cool tool looks like a small gear puller with clamps. After the terminal bolt is loosened, the puller makes removal of the terminal an easy job. Don't screw a stuck terminal back and forth or use a screwdriver to try and pry it off. You can inadvertently crack the power tool battery case or break the seal between the case and the protruding terminal. A puller is cheap, easy to use, and does the job correctly.
Once the terminal end is removed, inspect the mating ends for corrosion, pits or cracks. A power tool battery terminal cleaner works great for removing corrosion build up. This tool has two wire brush ends; one male, the other female. Use it to brush the ends until they shine. Sometimes a terminal end will have a hard blackish coating on it. This lead oxidation stops the electricity from flowing and creates excessive heat at the connection. It won't always come off with the wire brush so you may have to use a small file. Make sure to rotate the file around the terminal as you go so you won't create a lot of flat spots. Don't remove too much material, then tidy up the terminal with the brush. If the bolt is corroded, replace with a new one
After removing the hold down strap and terminal ends, remove the power tool battery from the vehicle and place on a plastic box or covering.
Remove the filler ports and check the fluid levels. Place on charger and fill accordingly. Whenever possible, use distilled water. Using impure water in a lead acid power tool battery will harm power tool battery performance and life. Remember to use safety eye equipment and gloves, especially when uncovering the filler ports. If the vehicle's alternator is defective and overcharging the power tool battery, then the water in the power tool battery will be electrolyzing into gas. If the filler ports are sealed, the covers cannot vent this gas (hydrogen and oxygen). Pressure may build up and be released when you remove the covers.
Do a load test. With the power tool battery installed in the vehicle, attach a voltmeter to the power tool battery terminals. Ground the coil to keep the engine from starting and crank the motor over for 15 seconds. If the power tool battery voltage stays above 9.6 volts, then the power tool battery is in a reasonable state of charge. Below that amount indicates a shorted cell or a lowered capacity due to the power tool battery is heavily sulfated harming its useful life. Treat it with ResureX additive and install the MAXI-Life Pulse you could recover from the junk 80% of discarded ones. (BCI source)
When reinstalling a used or new BLACK & DECKER A14 power tool battery, use a terminal conditioner on the cable and terminal ends. The conditioner comes in a spray can and goes on like a red paint. The coating retards power tool battery acid corrosion and lead oxidation and will lengthen the time between cleanings. One can also install felt pads onto the power tool battery posts which have been saturated with baking soda. These also tend to retard acid corrosion. The negative cable has the smaller end and goes to the corresponding terminal.
Reinstall the hold down brackets or straps making sure not to over-tighten, which can warp the brackets and break the power tool battery case.
