Hack for B&D Versapak VP100 batteries?

[Joerg]

Hello All,

These Black&Decker Versapak VP100 batteries for portable tools are a bit
expensive at around $15 a pop (most tools need two). They are supposedly
NiCd, diameter 7/8" or about a C size but the cells must be shorter
since the whole battery section is only 3 3/4" long. They are 3.6V
nominal so there have to be three cells.

Is there a way to hack these and replace the innards with some good but
somewhat standard NiMH?

Two of mine are dead now, probably slowly overcharged since the charger
constantly dumps 100mA or more into them (which can be fixed, of course).

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

These Black&Decker Versapak VP100 batteries for portable tools are a bit
expensive at around $15 a pop (most tools need two). They are supposedly
NiCd, diameter 7/8" or about a C size but the cells must be shorter
since the whole battery section is only 3 3/4" long. They are 3.6V

This sounds like a normal sub C cell. Standard size, readily available.

 

[Joerg]

Hello Lewin,

These Black&Decker Versapak VP100 batteries for portable tools are a bit
expensive at around $15 a pop (most tools need two). They are supposedly
NiCd, diameter 7/8" or about a C size but the cells must be shorter
since the whole battery section is only 3 3/4" long. They are 3.6V

This sounds like a normal sub C cell. Standard size, readily available.

Sub C would be about 1.75" per GP data sheet so three of these wouldn't

fit into 3 3/4". Their diameter is quite close but a wee bit larger than
the Versapak.

Anyway, I just zapped them pretty good. Unfortunately that couldn't be
done per single cell. Let's see. Long term it would be better to have
something in there that isn't proprietary and thus less expensive.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

Sub C would be about 1.75" per GP data sheet so three of these wouldn't
fit into 3 3/4". Their diameter is quite close but a wee bit larger than
the Versapak.

I **strongly** doubt they are custom. Go to
http://www.sanyo.com/batteries/specs.cfm set chemistry to Ni-Cd, size
to "up through 23.0mm (SC)" and click Find Battery. Seem to be a few
possible candidates there.

 

[Martin Riddle]

Sanyo cells are the best, hard to find as replacements tho.
You can try http://www.plainviewbatteries.com/ he usually has cells, matched cells and packs.

Cheers

"Joerg" <notthisjoergsch@removethispacbell.net> wrote in message news:HIaJe.296$911.230@newssvr21.news.prodigy.com...

Hello All,

These Black&Decker Versapak VP100 batteries for portable tools are a bit
expensive at around $15 a pop (most tools need two). They are supposedly
NiCd, diameter 7/8" or about a C size but the cells must be shorter
since the whole battery section is only 3 3/4" long. They are 3.6V
nominal so there have to be three cells.

Is there a way to hack these and replace the innards with some good but
somewhat standard NiMH?

Two of mine are dead now, probably slowly overcharged since the charger
constantly dumps 100mA or more into them (which can be fixed, of course).

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Joerg]

Hello Lewin,

Sub C would be about 1.75" per GP data sheet so three of these wouldn't
fit into 3 3/4". Their diameter is quite close but a wee bit larger than
the Versapak.

I **strongly** doubt they are custom. Go to
http://www.sanyo.com/batteries/specs.cfm set chemistry to Ni-Cd, size
to "up through 23.0mm (SC)" and click Find Battery. Seem to be a few
possible candidates there.

I doubt custom as well. Qties at Black&Decker may be high but not high

enough for full custom. It could be something like the CP1700. But even
those are practically off limits for users since such niche batteries
are only available in very large quatities or at exorbitant prices.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com

 

[Joerg]

Hello Martin,

Sanyo cells are the best, hard to find as replacements tho.
You can try http://www.plainviewbatteries.com/ he usually has cells, matched cells and packs.

Thanks. Couldn't find any in there although the P-120SCJS almost would
have fit.

Regards, Joerg

http://www.analogconsultants.com