Replacing all the Bunnings XU1 cordless garden tools with Ryobi and happy to say they will be passed onto a family member and after 9 years (with my care) they are still in good working condition.
There are 4 batteries, two are good and the other two need repair which is what we are doing this afternoon.
Recovering 18650 batteries – Part 3
With one set of four batteries recovered and on charge for a while we can package with masking tape lol and see how it go’s powering the 12V Garden Sentry.
PIR Sensor for R&D of pest repellent devices-
Maybe directly control a irrigation solenoid or via a LDR control board. More to come…
Cell 5 charged OK; so did the whole pack. We now have a handy 18V@2A power pack for powering projects
Continue reading “Reclaiming the 3.7V 18650’s from a dead 18V battery pack – part 2”Note: The electronics in these things commonly monitor the individual cells and for this one (from top) cells 2 & 5 are not being charged correctly. The batteries should come up OK with individual charging.
Cells 2 & 5 are reading very low. I have already charged cell 2 and it’s come up to full voltage with current set to 350mA.
Continue reading “Reclaiming the 3.7V 18650’s from a dead 18V battery pack – part 1”Arrived home after the usual Monday shopping run with the shopping and – a bed 
As posted annual council collection is this week and that bed was only a few doors down so ran back in the rain to grab that – some nice timber there 
Now…a few doors down the other way someone has put out a washing machine so I’ll ‘borrow’ that with a hand trolley, pull out the motor and related electrical stuff – and return.
To help soften the blow I have posted this video of Al sharpening a chain saw blade 
Best viewed on a large screen TV with decent home theatre system and volume turned up.
We have two home security systems and both of them are from ALDI; the main house system and another one in the workshop.
The workshop DVR has HDD failures from time-to-time so it’s become a familiar routine to pull out the unit, remove the HDD and connect to workshop PC to fix it – but not format. Do that when it’s back in the DVR the connect a test camera to make sure it records OK before putting it back in the cupboard.
Al’s Workshop – condensation issues
Fortunately it’s down both walkways so not a big deal. Thinking about what I could use along those purlins to absorb the moisture?
ALERT – ALDI Workzone 4ah batteries.
Bought one reduced from $40 to $30 a week ago for the Workzone cordless mitre saw (needs 4ah not 2ah) so I don’t have to keep nicking one of the 4ah batteries from the teo cordless drills. Only went to use the mitre saw two day ago and the fully charged battery cuts !!! Checked the saw with both the other batteries – working fine. Gave the new battery another check and saw starts and then stops. Ok…exchanged that for another one yesterday and same thing – cuts out.
I suspect a batch problem so returned for refund and will wait for next time around.