Old c12, not living up to its once storied past

[Jonhilgen]

I have had a c12 now for about four years.  I first purchased it from a local vendor, and it was a demo.  Ran like a beast.  The batteries needed replacing, so I purchased a couple.  Fast forward a couple of years, and I buy a couple of more batteries (I do cabinet installs, so she gets used a lot.).

Well, it seems like I'm changing batteries every 10 minutes.  I cannot drill three holes in a sink base without having to switch out to a "fresh" battery.  These batteries aren't that old, five months tops.

Is it my charger?  Do I just need to swallow a 400.00 pill and buy a new c12 li?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Jon

 

[builderbob]

I have had a c12 now for about four years.  I first purchased it from a local vendor, and it was a demo.  Ran like a beast.  The batteries needed replacing, so I purchased a couple.  Fast forward a couple of years, and I buy a couple of more batteries (I do cabinet installs, so she gets used a lot.).

Well, it seems like I'm changing batteries every 10 minutes.  I cannot drill three holes in a sink base without having to switch out to a "fresh" battery.  These batteries aren't that old, five months tops.

Is it my charger?  Do I just need to swallow a 400.00 pill and buy a new c12 li?

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Jon

I wonder what could make the drill start to lag since the motors are brushless. Do you have the NiCad or NIMH batteries?  If you do decide to spring for the current C12, the catalog says its only a 1.5ah battery...strangely enough the T12 is a 3.0ah...not sure of its intentional or a typo. Check that out if that impacts your decision!!!

 

[duburban]

i bet you bought "new" old stock batteries that sat for too long

 

[mastercabman]

I just got a battery for my old c12 about 2-3 months ago(niMH) and it's been holding power.
My c12 is 8 years old.

 

[builderbob]

i bet you bought "new" old stock batteries that sat for too long

That crossed my mind...since the drills aren't in production any longer, are the batteries just Chillin on a shelf?  Who knows.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Bob,

They're Nimh.  So I'm wondering now if the batteries are bunk.  Gotta call the dealer and see what my options are (if any.)

Thanks guys.

 

[ScotF]

Just curious if replacement batteries are covered under the 3 year or does that apply to the batteries supplied with a tool when bought new?

Scot

 

[jimbo51]

See if you can borrow a fresh battery somehow to test the drill. My old C12 had a circuit board go bad. It might be that as soon as the battery loses some charge, the electronics get unhappy and the drill stops working.

 

[Jonhilgen]

Called festool service and they sent me a ups label for me to ship them in.  I have some oooold batteries laying around, so at least I have some backups.

Will keep you guys updated when I get them back.

Jon