Ok - I've been mulling over my options for too long - its time to make a decision.
I'm looking for opinions, but just sort of thinking out loud, too
I have about a dozen power tools that use Sub-C Nicad power packs.
About half of those are Craftsman C3, the rest each have a different pack shape/charger.
I'm mostly concerend w/ the C3 stuff - the others I don't use enough to wear out.
I've gone through 6 C3 packs in 2 years (if you include buying 2 Harbor Freight 18V batteries, taking the cells out and putting them in the C3, then addinig the best one from the old pack).
This is a major PITA - running all the old cells from a pack through a full discharge/refresh on my BC700 takes a LONG time and has also taught me that the charge they take (the mAH of the last charge in a series of discharge/refresh cycles) doesn't necessarily mean the cell will maintain that charge, or have a decent discharge rate.
So - what to do next. I'm done w/ the NiCads...
Good NiMH Sub-Cs? lots of capacity, very safe, should work ok in stock charger. but...still heavy, still lots of cells, so one or two go and I'm back to trying to rate each one and rebuild a pack
5xProtected CGR18650CH? Make my own spring loaded holder, wire that inside the stock battery pack case. To charge I could take them out of the case/holder and charge them in parallel w/ my hobby charger - or wire a balance connector (never take them out) and use the hobby charger balance board.
LiPO RC pack? wire inside stock case, use hobby charger to balance charge.
all three of those options cost roughly the same...ie lipo is probably the most expensive, but also the easiest...i think...
I would suck it up and buy the craftman C3 lithium packs - but w/ charger and 2 batteries I'm looking at well over $100...and I doubt the charger will maintain batteries as well as my hobby charger...
ideas? opinions?