Cordless drill is fantastic for portability and different usage ability. It’s greatly reliant on their battery and charger. But what would happen if you suddenly discovered the charger was not functioning or got damaged somehow? If you don’t have the opportunity for replacement and still have to complete the task, learning how to charge a cordless drill battery without a charger can be a lifesaver for you.
A battery charger is the first and foremost option for charging a drill battery. But ultimately, it’s an electronic device that can lose its work-ability at any time, even during the project. In this situation, considering an alternative way can let the battery get enough charge to complete the task.
4 Easy Ways How to Charge a drill Battery without Charger
We will discuss multiple alternative ways to help you charge the drill battery without using a charger. These methods are easy and quicker, which don’t require many tools and skills. So any DIY enthusiast can apply these methods safely and get the vital run time for drilling and driving.
It may seem ridiculous, but you can charge a drill battery without a charger even if you aren’t a DIY enthusiast. However, we do recommend replacing the faulty battery or charger as soon as you can. Until you receive the new units and don’t have an option, follow these ways to complete the emergency task.
Charging a Cordless Drill Battery using a battery unit
Before applying this method to learn how to charge a drill battery without a charger, make sure you have another power source. It will produce the power that will have to be supplied to the drill battery. Let’s learn how to charge rechargeable batteries without a charger:
The accessories will require:
- A stash of batteries with a charge
- Electrical tape
- Standard electrical wires
- AA batteries with charge
Though electrical tape isn’t essential, it will help keep the charging unit held jointly Collect a conductive electric wire that allows you to transfer electric current through it. Besides, select a battery which voltage matches with the drill battery voltages. Check the battery instruction manual to identify its voltage. Usually, an AA battery includes a voltage of 1.5V. So if the drill battery has a 15V voltage, you will need 10x AA batteries.
Assemble the Battery
The next step is to assemble the charging rig which will test your DIY skills. The concept is to connect the AA batteries to the drill battery via a conductive wire. In this way, the lithium unit will draw current from the AA battery and get charge. But you have to connect the AA batteries in series to create a unit; otherwise, it won’t offer enough power.
More importantly, make sure you have connected the AA batteries positive to negative for current flow. Besides, don’t forget to connect them firmly without any gaps for proper flow.
Now securely connect the positive end of the first AA battery to the negative end of a second battery and fasten them using electrical tape. Continue the process until you get a chain of connected AA batteries.
Connect and Charge!
Almost done. At this stage, the vital thing is to remember is that you have to connect positive to positive and negative to negative, opposite to the previous step.
Connect the positive terminal of the drill battery to the positive end of the AA chain and the negative terminal to the negative end of the AA chain. Now you have created the complete connection and the power from the AA batteries will instantly start transferring into the drill battery.
Though you can hold the connection by hand, it will be tiresome and you can avoid it more safely by using electric tape. Moreover, you should remain present during the process to check the lost connection and avoid the danger immediately. Finally, it will take a few minutes to get a full charge.
Charge a Li-ion Battery Using a USB Port
Many handymen have a cordless drill with a Li-on battery. So they should know how to charge a li-ion battery without a charger. Using a USB port is a smart way to charge a lithium-ion battery to complete an urgent project. Besides, it’s a hassle-free method that doesn’t require a charger. All you have to do is take a USB cable, just like a smart phone charger and connect it to any compatible electronic device.
It can be a PC, printer, laptop, camera, or anything that supports the USB port. Now take the drill battery and connect it with the charging end of the cable. Finally, power on your electronic device and you will find the drill battery is charging smoothly.
Charging Lithium-ion Battery with Solar Panel
You may wonder how it is possible to charge the Lithium-ion Battery with a Solar Panel. But it is true. Even you can apply this method to charge the lead-acid battery. But the device you will need for this process is a charger controller. So, firstly, you will need the best quality solar inverter or a solar charge controller. Once getting the device, you can directly charge your battery.
Charge a Lithium-ion Battery from a Car Battery
If you have a driving car, you shouldn’t be worried about charging battery and using the drill. You can use this handy option to charge your drill battery. Simply connect your Lithium-ion battery with the car battery that includes a lead-acid battery.
Besides, you will need little light bulbs to manage the current flow. In this case, a question may arise: how many bulbs to use? Usually, it depends on the car’s battery voltage and your drill battery voltage. For example, if your car has a lead-acid battery with 13V and the drill battery has 6V, you will require 3 small light bulbs.
Now put the bulbs in a parallel way to continue the charging job. It will allow the battery to get charged without any trouble. The method will take about 15 minutes to offer enough charge to the battery. But remember, don’t leave the battery while charging, and don’t let the battery get fully charged. Otherwise, it could catch fire. Lastly, wear protective gear to ensure safe operation.
How to take care of a Cordless Drill Battery properly
So now you have multiple ways to charge the drill battery without a charger for further use. But it is not a well-excepted solution and should not be the earliest choice. Better if you properly maintain your battery and charger and enjoy long-term service. So the steps you can take are:
Purchase one or two standby Batteries
Though you have a working charger, an extra battery won’t hurt you. Furthermore, it will ensure the double run time of your best cordless drill. Purchase an official battery from the same manufacturer of the cordless drill even if it is a bit expensive. It will not only ensure high quality but also compatibility with a cordless drill, resulting in improved performance.
However, some third-party batteries are also allowed but there is no guarantee about the compatibility. Furthermore, it could void the manufacturer’s warranty of the drill.
Store the Drill and Batteries Properly
Many people, even some DIY enthusiasts, leave their cordless drill and battery carelessly anywhere. It can lead the drill to stop working and damage the battery. Rather than leaving the drill in direct sunlight, store it at room temperature. More importantly, keep the charger, battery, and drill safe from electricity.
Regularly check the Batteries and Charging Unit
Some people idly leave their power drill in the garage for months. It’s a surefire way to damage the power tool. Instead, check the function of the battery and the to alive its work-ability.
Helpful Tips for Using a Cordless Drill
Let’s have some effective and elegant tips so you can properly use your cordless dress and get the most out of each charge:
Set the drill based on the project
Different DIY projects demand different RPM speed and torque settings. So make sure you have set the drill setting based on the project requirement to avoid overheating and damaging the project. For example, you can drill a hole in brick using the same power setting that applies to wood. Moreover, using unnecessary higher settings reduces the battery charge quickly and leads to reducing its longevity.
Don’t use a battery with the lowest charge
Though many handymen continue the project till the last bit of charge, it can be damaging. Exhausting the battery completely can damage its poles and reduce the life span of the unit. Better, recharge the battery with a compatible charger and enjoy the improved performance for a long.
Don’t overheat the battery
Don’t mix the heat and the battery as it brings the way of disasters. Even it can end up as explosions. So never use the cordless drill extensively and lead it to overheat. Instead, take a regular interval and let the drill and battery cool down to complete the rest conveniently. Moreover, before plugging in the charger, make the battery cool first and try to start a project with a fully charged battery.
FAQs on How To Charge a Cordless Drill Battery
Is it bad to leave a drill battery charging?
It can be worse unless the manufacturer allows you to store the battery on the charger. To remove the battery once it gets full charge as overcharging can shorten the battery life span. Besides, the chargers don’t automatically shut off, which can damage the battery.
How long does a cordless drill battery take to charge?
A typical cordless drill battery can take 15 minutes to 5 hours on average to get a full charge. However, using a fast charger can help to get full charge quickly.
Should I remove the battery when not in use?
Powering off a drill and removing the battery helps preserve battery life. Besides, practice storing the battery in a cool and dry place at a normal temperature to increase its longevity.
Safely charge Cordless Drill Battery
Wish you never face a situation that forces you to charge the drill battery without a charger. But somehow, if you are, hope you can overcome it since you know how to charge a drill battery without a charger. Besides, don’t give these options more priority over the charger as some of these are quite risky and damage the battery’s longevity. If the charger isn’t functioning correctly, replace it and continue enjoying the drilling and driving task.
