How to recharge old batteries using a cordless screwdriver


Learn how to recharge your used batteries with a cordless drill/screwdriver used as a charger for batteries, even alkalines.


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15 Responses to “How to recharge old batteries using a cordless screwdriver”

  1. 1 nick

    Uhh… DONT try this with alkaline batteries please. They will most likely explode after a bit, which is bad. Seems like a cool trick otherwise though.

  2. 2 Bill Vincent

    Indeed, good trick t remember, and wholeheartedly agree, don’t try to charge alkalines. Not worth the risk.

  3. 3 Caleb

    This was an extremely interesting video. 10 seconds of cranking for half an hour of charge, that’s amazing.

    Although I’m curious about a couple things:

    Would it really make alkaline batteries explode?

    If you can recharge regular batteries, how come rechargeable batteries are more expensive?

  4. 4 Nate

    Why not use another drill to turn this one? All in all a trip to Radio Shack or your corner store to buy a cheap charger sounds best to me.

  5. 5 Caleb

    Using another drill requires power, I think the idea is that if you didn’t have any power, or you wanted to create your own energy to save on money or for environmental reasons, you could use this method.

  6. 6 Eximus

    Alkaline batteries typically have a strong base in them as an electrolyte for the reduction of zinc at the anode. When you perform electrical work on them a fair amount of energy is converted into heat, and pressure can build and pop the cells. You don’t want that strong base to spill on anything, certainly not yourself. You CAN recharge alkaline batteries, but you increase a risk of injury.

  7. 7 Skeptical

    I don’t think that this is legit. The light just comes on like it has been switched on, not as if the battery is being charged. Ultimately, I don’t think that it is worth messing with this rather than buying a charger.

  8. 8 Dwayne Charrington

    Very interesting video. I’m not sure if I would try this though. I’ve done something similar before and the results were pretty dangerous the battery popped, luckily it was only a button cell battery but it still made a loud pop and nothing much more happened. Remember you have the same risk of exploding battery if you put it into a fire or something as well.

    Just be careful because battery’s are quite dangerous when you mess with them.

    - Dwayne,
    http://www.dwaynecharrington.com

  9. 9 Shade

    Nice video but the hands kinda look like a vampires :)

  10. 10 showing some love...

    I love your blog… so much cool stuff… however, the constant usage of metacafe videos is annoying. Most of the metacafe videos you post are not even worth watching. Especially the Kip Kay ones. Are you getting a kick back for mentioning his videos or are you secretly tie in with him and share on the producer rewards?

    The net has so many cool sites with how to or DIY ideas you don’t need metacafe to look cool. Let’s try and do a little more research on the net instead of your old trusty side kick Kip Kay….

    Don’t get me wrong I still love your blog….

  11. 11 Mark

    “If you can recharge regular batteries, how come rechargeable batteries are more expensive?” It’s called convenience. You can recharge “non-rechargeable” batteries. However, due to the manner of their construction, when you recharge them, you can’t leave them in the charger as long as you do the more expensive type. You have to monitor the recharging process more carefully to avoid explosions, or whatever. They won’t hold the charge for as long as a battery designed specifically to be recharged, so you’ll likely have to recharge them more often.

    Therefore, the average person isn’t going to bother. They’re going to go out and pay more money for batteries specifically designed to be recharged easily and with less fuss. Then again, landfills are chock full of “non-rechargeable” batteries, which is kind of a shame, because a lot of conservation-minded people would not so cavalierly throw them away if they knew they could recharge them and get more use out of them.

    So, you’re really paying the extra money for purpose-specific rechargeable batteries for your own convenience. It’s like the difference between buying microwaveable rice and rice you have to cook in boiling water. You pay more for the microwave rice because it’s “easier”.

  12. 12 Jonas

    aTuTJYr9UfysP

  13. 13 Diesel
  14. 14 KevinZA
  15. 15 vosnul

    Thumbs down for A. begging for thumbs-up, you pauper and B. no video appeared.

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