Cheap Black & Decker 18Volt battery

So if you're like me with several aging batteries for you cordless drill and to cheap to pay the full price for a replacement
Then check this out.
 I have several Black & Decker 18 volt batteries, part #244760-00, that were at least 5 years old and only 1 good one.  I decided to try and find a cheaper alternative to the 35-45 dollar new battery price. I just happened to be at Harbor Freight one day and noticed there line of 18 volt cordless power tools.  The battery they use is Drill Master part # 67029, and is only 10 dollars.  I decided to just buy one, since it was cheap and took it home to do a comparison with a B & D battery.  They batteries are very similar in size and the way it is wired. 

Step 1 Comparing the batteries.

Comments

[RangerJ]

That's a good idea - something I have been wanting to do.

Another solution is to get a battery from the same manufacturer, but at a different voltage. For instance, I bought a 9 volt battery for a Black and Decker 12 volt screwdriver. It works fine, although lacking in top speed (I don't care about that) and possibly at a lower torque. (I haven't found it to be a problem.) I think the battery was on sale for half or less of the 12 volt battery. Considering that I bought the drill for half price, too, I am satisfied.

In order to use it, I did have to grind off a piece of plastic that kept the battery from sliding completely onto the driver, but it didn't hurt the battery and the drill was unchanged.

[burntbob]

I had the same problem with my BD batteries, thats a great solution and way cheaper! Very clear explanation!

[insanehognutt]

Great info!
I have several of the 18V Black and Decker power tools and a few bad batteries that I need to replace. I can fix the 2 bad ones I have using this idea for less than the cost of one replacement battery. I had already replaced 3 others with NiMh batteries I ordered online and they are fantastic but pricey and took 3 months to get here (ordered from need battery dot com and they shipped from china, slow to get here but cheaper than anywhere else). They look like the grey one in the background on your 1st picture. This will put a couple of the others I was holding onto back to work!
Thanks!

[insanehognutt]

OK, I rebuilt my two battery packs and they work perfectly. While I was there I saw an 18 volt drill master 1/4 impact driver on sale for $19.99. I have been wanting the Black and Decker one but it is 3x's that much so I decided to see if I could get the Black and Decker battery to fit it and I was with a little rewiring and a little grinding of plastic with my dremel tool!

If you already have the 18 volt Black and Decker batteries the Harbor Freight line of 18 volt Drill Master tools can be made to receive the Black and Decker Batteries and they have some pretty decent stuff to choose from. Here is what they have that can be made to work with the Black and Decker batteries:
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-quarter-inch-18-volt-cordless-impact-driver-67028.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-cordless-reciprocating-saw-67027.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-cordless-sander-67046.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-cordless-cutout-tool-67042.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-cordless-cutout-tool-67042.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-cordless-flashlight-67032.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-cordless-jig-saw-67044.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-3-8-eighth-inch-two-speed-variable-hammer-drill-67025.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-3-8-eighth-inch-cordless-right-angle-drill-67043.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-5-1-2-half-inch-cordless-circular-saw-67026.html

http://www.harborfreight.com/18-volt-3-8-eighth-inch-cordless-drill-with-keyless-chuck-67024.html

Here is the one I did: