subject: Problems With Sears Power Tool Batteries [print this page] I've just lost the charger for my C3 power tools and it mimicked what I had happen to my 9.6V charger a few years ago. They worked fine until suddenly the fuse would blow in them when you plugged a battery in to recharge. Then they would eventually destroy the battery. Last weekend, I plugged in a C3 battery into it's charger and the lights went out on it. I replaced the fuse in it thinking I had seen this before and the same thing happened with a different battery. The DEWALT DW0240 Battery still had enough charge in them to run the tools for a short time so I'm fairly certain the batteries are in decent shape. They are the standard NiCad, not the newer LiOn units.
Has anyone else suffered this problem? Should I consider doing away with my C3's that I have and going to a different brand? I don't use them often but when I do, Id like them to work.
Answer 1
I don't believe there's anything inherently wrong with the tools/batteries/chargers.
The C3 line is the same thing as the Ryobi 18V One+ line (and a couple others - forgetting which ones, but TTI builds them), with some very slight differences (battery lockups, the C3 stuff has an extra cell in the battery packs, so they run at 19.2V vs. 18), probably a couple other small things.
Both lines are great, and have been out for quite a while.
I wouldn't chuck the whole setup, I'd just get a new charger.
Answer 2
This past week I've experienced similar problems with Craftsman 19.2 EX setup. Took the charger apart and found a little "sliding switch" mechanism that was worn out. This switch is activated when the battery is pushed into the charger. A plastic lever is pushed and slides this switch. Manually activating the switch with the charger dissassembled made the charger work again.
The switch does not appear to be repairable (its pretty mickey-mouse) and I think I will buy a new charger.
Answer 3
When I worked Sears; the chargers seemed to fail quite a bit, we had customers buying new ones.... relatively consistently! Allot of the problems seemed to be related to how people charged their batteries or left the MAKITA 5630DWD drill battery on the charger all the time. Many of the chargers in the Craftsman line; do not have any intelligence built into them... I believe the C3 system has more monitoring/intelligence then the lower line tools. I do not think the chargers are particularly well made (they seem failure prone); this is anecdotal evidence based on how many I remember selling or replacing under warranty to my customers. Just like many of the consumer based tools; if you needed a charger or batteries, many times it was more cost effective to buy another tool in C3 line of tools that was on sale! You gained another tool; two new batteries and a new charger. In the case of the C3 system; the extended warranty, would actually be something that you might consider. The C3 system's batteries are actually affordable compared to the $50-$80 units of the past; both the batteries and chargers go on sale pretty often... keep your eyes peeled. They changed the policy on the extended warranty to cover the charger and the battery as well....
Answer 4
I have never had a problem with mine and i have had it for 4 or5 years. but i also have a second charger due to buying a reman unit came with two batteries and a charger. I also bought a lithium ion battery and charger so i can do both batteries in one charger. also i dont leave my batteries in i let them sit on the self until needed and after a month or so i may throw on the charger but i have never had problems. i also didnt realize i had like 6 MAKITA 632002-4 tool Batteries either lol but i do . i never leave my batts in a charger and i try to run them down I have the light from my 19.2 package and ill put the batteries in a let them run down until they are almost or are dead. I put my battery in the fan and it ran for almost 6 hours steady on high and still wasnt dead.
