Good information on the pack construction. I found 4 batteries of the same specification for $30. I'm not sure if it's worthwhile as they would cost about the same to fully replace the batteries. I would suggest that you individually charge all the cells to the full 4.2 volts before reassembly. I have had very good luck getting close to the original capacity doing that with my 5 year old batteries.
Nice. My mower will variably run 15-30 minutes depending on it's mood, although the indicator only shows one bar when it stops. Kobalt is proud of these packs, and cheap aftermarket assemblies are still $120-$150. Maybe I'll both get a replacement and rebuild the old one so I can have two batteries.
I once did something similar, although I decided on breaking the plastic shell holding the batteries at the edges, instead of desoldering/resoldering everything since I'm usually on a time crunch. Then I covered the holes I left with electrical tape, worked like a charm although on hindsight highly unprofessional and risky.
@@Housebarons heya there, I did that around 2y ago. It lasted a good 4months until I had to change more batteries that were failing, at which point I just replaced all batteries in the pack to avoid dealing with issues further ahead, haven't had an issue since.
(1:24) "These are LG batteries and they're [a] very specific battery-you have to get the discharge rate and size battery. You can't mix and match!" sooo... I'm going to install into my battery pack two dissimilar unbranded Chinaseum-made knockoff 18650 batteries whose discharge rate is unknown. Still, it worked! Thanks for posting! Gotta repair my Greenworks batteries in a similar fashion.
Hey loth.., Yes. Size and discharge rate matters. The batteries I used are identical to the originals. We’ll see how long they work. One report from a viewer did the same and got an extra season out of his repair till other original batteries died. For $5 repair - it’s worth the risk! And don’t ALL batteries come from China / Asia along with 90+ % of everything else! It would be nice if we made a little more stuff in USA! Thx for watching!
@@Housebarons I think Project Farm battery reviews have taught all of us that Chinese labels are never reality. I bet the original cells are still pretty decent and the new ones are still the limiting factor. (I know I'm 10 months late for this, but I'm doing something similar with my Kobalt battery today).
Nice video, thanks for sharing. The low cells can also be re-balanced by charging them manually with something like a remote control hobby battery charger. Connect the power leads the same way you did to measure the voltage. All cells have slightly different internal resistance so they charge/discharge slightly different over time and the battery management circuitry doesn't seem to manage this wear perfectly. I have restored a few "dead" batteries this way and they work like new afterwards and have continued to do so long afterwards.
Great job! It's always fun to beat the man. 😀 You probably already thought of it but a little tape or paper when you were prying on the tabs would have saved the short.
Hey Jeff, The original cells in my Kobalt 40 battery are LGABHE41865 2500mAh batteries These 18650 batteries are - high discharge batteries ( 20 Amps continuous discharge rate ) w/ a 3.6 volt nominal voltage. 18650 = 18mm wide, 65mm tall 41865 and 18650 designations are the same I believe. I got mine from the 18650batterystore.com The Samsung have better reputation, but they were out so I used an off brand ( Eve ) There are MANY choices on the site. Make CERTAIN you do not use the wrong type/size/spec battery as they are not all the same - risk of fire or explosion from what I’ve read. Hope that helps.
Hey Pad…, Batteries are a bit complicated. I’m a novice at this so don’t take my word as gospel. Here is how I understand it. I have a 40v 2.5ah lawn mower battery. It is comprised of (10) 3.6volt batteries connected in series to equal (36+) 40 volts at 2.5ah. I also have a 40 volt 5ah battery. That one has 2 banks of (10) 3.6v batteries. Each bank is hooked up in parallel making it a 40v battery with double the runtime (5ah). So my 2nd battery is doing what you are referring to. You just have to make sure you wire it correctly as batteries can destroy as easily as power. Do your research well before you start! Thx for watching!
I have the same batteries and one of mine won't charge and will only power each of my tools for a few seconds before they power down. My lawnmower gives 2 beeps when it powers down like it thinks the battery is dead even though it still gives 2 or 3 lights for the charge level. Could this be my issue?
Hey Kyle, That sounds a lot like my previous battery issue. A low single cell ( or more) will interrupt battery performance while showing lights like it has more power available. You battery is only as good as it’s weakest cell. It seems like a lot of steps. But after my repair I’m more than ready to take on future repairs. I’m guessing it will get easier the more I do! Thx for watching.
