Ridgid 18v Batteries, Do They ALL Suck? Or Just Mine?

The Cali Ex-Pat

I recently bought a Ridgid cordless screw gun -- the big one with the screws that come in strips. One of the claims on the box was the "fast recharge cycle". Unfortunately, they forgot to mention the "evaluate" cycle. When the battery is warm, the charger sits and thinks about it for - ever until it starts charging. So, I'm trying to build a deck at my own house and it's taking me forever to install the decking because I have to stop every few boards and recharge the stupid battery@#$ I've started to take the batter out of the drill, put it in the freezer, and THEN the charger. I'd buy a back up battery, but they cost a fortune! Anyone else have any similar experience with this P.O.S. ?

bwalley

It sounds like you have a bad battery pack, you should be able to exchange it for another one at HD.

I have used Ridgid drills for years and only have 1 battery pack out of about 9 or 10 that has gone bad.

The Cali Ex-Pat

I have another Ridgid cordless drill that is like some kind of engineering miracle. It's one of the little ones, battery is about the size of an egg, but goes for hours! The bigger screwdriver, has a way bigger battery, but runs out after about three strips of screws! Useless!!

Warren

They suck!! I have had many ridgid batteries, and while none have gone bad, they all never really hold much of a charge. I know what you mean about the charger too. If the battery is warm when you put it on, it wont start charging until it cools completely. I have seen this take up to two hours before. Sometimes the dewalt will refuse to charge when hot too. If you pull it out, wait a minute, and put it back in, it starts up fine. The only ridgid cordless I still use regularly is the 18v jigsaw.

BCConstruction

The more you pay for your tools the better the batt tech will be. You can buy cheap 3000mah hours cells and expensive cells. This is the problem with ridgid as they use cheap battery tech and they are also underpowered for the type of tool so they do get to hot to quick. A lot of the new chargers have a built in colling system that blows air around the cells to cool them before chargeing and it can make a big difference. Chargeing a hot cell will only make it get even hotter as it cant accept the current your trying to push into it.

RobertCDF

Yeah, I have craploads of ridgid tools and batts... I also have a fridge in the trailer and we put the batteries in the freezer when they are hot. I have a number of bad ridgid batteries that I need to take apart and combine into a few working ones.
I have a new 18V makita LXT kit for ME and I like it way better. As we grow I will buy more for the trailer but for now they have the ridgids.

__________________
Robert Shaw
Colorado Springs Custom Decks
Colorado Custom Decks
Custom Composite Decks

Mike Finley

If you have what I think you have, you simply have the Senco/Rigid collated screw gun.

I can't imagine anybody using that for decks.

The Cali Ex-Pat

I was just thinking myself that maybe this is a tool designed more for sheetrock work?

kubie

yup the batteries go fast. then try to find some one close buy that will give you a new one. one of the 2 batteries lasted about 1 month....if even that. maybe we shouldnt have waited so long to get a new one and just took the drill back to HD

Gus Dering

Does Ridgid make anything that is top shelf?

I always have considered them as HO tools. Am I wrong?

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Every parent who has walked barefoot into their child's room late at night hates Legos

The Cali Ex-Pat

At first, it seemed pretty cool, and maybe I was just imagining things about the battery flaking out so fast. Then had an employee using it who kept telling me it was a piece of ----. Thought maybe he was just not liking doing decking. Now it's become all too clear that I should have returned this thing months ago.... Live and learn I guess!

__________________
Scott Alexander
Owner, TidyHome LLC
<http://www.tidyhome.biz>

The Cali Ex-Pat

Come to find out, you may be correct indeed!

I've always like Yellow and Black !

__________________
Scott Alexander
Owner, TidyHome LLC
<http://www.tidyhome.biz>

Mike Finley

That's the only thing we use that thing for.








Notice any similarities?

The Cali Ex-Pat

Actually, I don't know? Are Ridgid tool considered non-trade tools? I've just liked them because of the great warranty they offer.

__________________
Scott Alexander
Owner, TidyHome LLC
<http://www.tidyhome.biz>

The Cali Ex-Pat

What's the one on the left? Very similar indeed. Black and Decker? Mattel?

__________________
Scott Alexander
Owner, TidyHome LLC
<http://www.tidyhome.biz>

bwalley

I switched from Dewalt to Ridgid, and prefer the Ridgid, one reason was because the batteries on the Dewalt would not keep a charge, the Ridgid batteries last longer and will hold a chrage longer, also they charge in 20 minutes and have a lifetime service policy, that includes batteries.

Mike Finley

Rigid's portable table saw is one of the best, and they are a leader in plumbing tools without a doubt. We have two of these:

WNYcarpenter

This might not be the right time or place, but I've had battery problems with every cordless I've owned....I'd rather get a corded drill and mess with the cords if I'm doing anything repetive.

I have an 18V dewalt and a 14.4 makita.....I prefer my makita combined with a corded keyless $45 drill.

I haven't heard any worse about rigid than I have milwaukee, dewalt, makita or porter Cable. They all fail after time and abuse. I need a new cordless, but since I stpped using cordless for everything...I'm not sure I do.

I would only ever buy a 14.4 if it wasn't for the 1/2" chuck....

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"I knew I lost my wallet as soon as I threw my pants over the fence". -'lil jarhead bro when asking for a wire transfer...

Mike Finley

I don't buy into the "fail" mentality of cordless batteries.

They have a clearly defined life stated by the manufacturer. I now own about 30 18 vt dewalt cordless batteries and they have all done about what the manufacturer said they would in regard to how many charges you are going to get with them before they are die and need to be replaced or repaired.

Warren

I will second that on the dewalt batteries. We have used them for over ten years and they go after about 18 months generally. We have started buying the new Nano lithiums and they seem to hold up pretty well. Haven't had one die yet and we put the first ones in use about 18 months ago. They seem to have more power when they are fully charged than the XRP Nicads do.