Customer Reviews

DEWALT DC9071 XRP 12-Volt 2.4 Amp Hour NiCd Battery

5 star:		(44)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I owned an old DeWalt drill that did not have the extended run batteries and apparently, a charger that kept them in shape. After owning this drill for several years, it, the batteries and charger were stolen. Based on the wonderful service from this old drill and its' batteries, I purchased a new drill w/XR batteries and charger.

The batteries worked great when new, but quickly degenerated and were both dead in a little over a year. I wrote a letter of complaint to DeWalt and they replaced the whole thing. The replacement batteries also quickly degenerated and in less than a year one of the replacement batteries failed and a couple of months later the other one was completly dead.

I suspect it is not the fault of the batteries. but the charger. On the old drill/charger, I could leave the battery in the charger and it would be ready to go when needed. When the new battery was left in the charger, it was always dead when I needed it.

I imagine that if you used these in your job and charged and used them regularly they would be fine. but for a homeowner who goes long periods between use, these new bateries/charger just don't make the grade.

I thought it interesting that the reviews that slammed these batteries were not rated as helpful, but the reviews that raved about them were rated as useful.

I really like the drill, but it is totally worthless without functioning batteries.

I will buy a new battery anyway, and the DeWalt tune-up charger. Maybe with this charger, it will work as well as the old one. I hope so, as 2 batteries and the charger cost more than the whole kit with case, drill, 2 batteries, and charger.

If this works, (and I'm sure DeWalt knows whether it will) DeWalt should put the tune up charger in every kit they sell and junk their name destroying, and in my opinion defective standard charger.

If it doesn't work, it is good bye DeWalt, and hello Porter Cable or Millwaukee.

The only reason I gave this battery 2 stars instead of 1 is because I strongly suspect that the battery is fine, but the charger is junk.

Update 12/22/08 still performing well!

Used to cost $60 now selling for $50.

Purchased my first to replace the originals provided with the 12v XRP 1/2 drill/driver. This battery is better constructed and delivers good power for a long time.The original batteries lasted about a year and a half. The jury is no longer out on this unit. I just purchased my second unit. If you use your tools everyday - buy it - you'll like it. For someone who does not use their tools everyday it may be more cost effective to buy the DW-1214's at $28.00 per. So far the 12v XRP drill/drivers have remained unchanged so your batteries will still have value when your drill wears out.

This is the first serviceable battery I have seen from Dewalt; it is screwed together rather than glued. The packaging states that the battery has a 2 year, free service guarantee, which implies that the internal batteries can be replaced within 2 years for only the cost of parts. The packaging states that there is a 3 year limited guarantee on this unit, however there is no documentation that explains what the "limited" guarantee covers.

These 12v batteries can fit in and operate my 14.2v xrp driver - a good thing to know in a pinch.

What kept me from giving the unit 5 stars is the price. They are still rather expensive.

caslo cranston

I bought an extra one for my saw and drill combo to avoid the dead battery blues. With a third battery, I can always have one in the charger.

This battery will drive about 100 2-1/2" screws on a single charge. I can generally get a few hours in before I need to recharge. The charge power stays pretty consistent down to the last few screws. It dies rather quickly, once the depletion becomes noticable. It seems to hold a charge better than the ones that were shipped with my set a few years ago. I have upgraded to a "tune-up mode" charger also, which is superior to the old charger with any battery.

Whether you are adding to or replacing your battery collection, one of these will do the job!

The replacement takes longer to charge up but it also lasts longer and has more power than the original batteries that came with my Dewalt 12 volt driver/drill. I am totally pleased with it.

So the DeWalt drill was getting a little old. It had served so long (about 8 years) and faithfully that it was tough to have to start considering replacements. I mean, what difference could a new battery make Sure the two original batteries only hold a charge for an hour or so, and only that long if it is light use. And yeah, I seem to remember that it used to be more powerful, but... How much difference can it make, and it costs almost half of a replacement drill!
So - I tried the new battery anyway. Its like I got a new drill for [$$$]! The old drill is reborn.

I agree with reviewer Robert Harting. He describes the conditions I work under as a homeowner where I leave the battery in the charger for an extended period. After a year the batteries are worthless. I've bought two new batteries that similarly died but I stop at that.

It will be some time before I buy another DeWalt battery-powered product. DeWalt has plenty of very capable competitors who, hopefully, wouldn't foist this kind of inferior product on their customers. I'm about to buy a replacement product from one of them.

I have used this battery for over a month now. My drill is only 3 years old and the two batteries that came with it never had this much power and lenght of use between charges. I am very pleased.

There are few good reasons you're here buying replacement batteries. One reason for being here is your original battery died due to a brain dead charger that overcharged your batteries to death. Robert Harting talked about this 7 years ago (very useful review). The other and more likely reason is simply that you treated them poorly (and NiCd's are "sensitive" batteries). Caslo Cranston talking about his batteries lasting just over a year is likely but one of these issues - being just another customer being done in by a junk charger or simple pilot error. Here's a few reminders about caring properly for any NiCd battery: 1) Heat is an enemy, 2) Overcharging is bad, 3) Don't let them lie around fully charged for more than a couple weeks, instead run them out and then store in the freezer with a dessicant (and then make sure you run them dry after a warm up and full charge ... 10 hours in a smart conditioning charger could help some as well).

So, you may need to replace your charger (as Robert has long suggested) - check the model number (the discontinued DEWALT DW9116 7.2-Volt to 18-Volt Pod Style 1 Hour Battery Charger is cheaper than the newer but even more clever DEWALT DC9310 7.2 -Volt-18 -Volt 1 Hour Charger). With a charger that can sense when the batteries are fully charged and an owner that provides proper care, this battery should last for decades.

Otherwise, this is a good (abet a bit expensive - and why only 4 stars) battery. Now, a lithium-ion battery would provide more constant power - rather than dying off at the end like this one - and wouldn't have the memory problem at all (if only such a thing existed).

Oh, and don't let evil (or stupid) Amazon vendors try to pawn a DW9072 off on you as the same battery (this is a DW9071). The difference is a 1.3 amp battery vs a 2.4 amp battery (or something worth only half as much). But, I would recommend a DW9072 (like Pwr+ 12v 3000mah Ni-mh Replacement for Dewalt 2832k (Cordless Saws) Dewalt 2800 Dc Dw Series Power Tools Battery ; P/n 152250-27 397745-01 Dc9071 De9037 De9071 De9074 De9075 Dw9071 Dw9072) over the DW1214 recommended by Caslo (being another 12-volt rather than 14-volt battery) for those trying to save money (and for projects under an hour) as my drill runs hot enough as it is.

For what these Dewalt Battery Packs cost, they should at least meet their rated life. We have never gotten the kind of battery life that the ratings would make you expect. And neither has anyone else that we know. We are switching to Porter Cable, Bosch, Rigid and Ryobi. For the Dewalt cordless that we have, we are going to try non-Dewalt replacements as they cannot be any worse and they are a heck of a lot cheaper.

It's been a couple of months since I've purchased these and they are holding up fine. Good power and long lasting. I use them in a commercial setting and typically I have to change them every year anyway. This latest version of the 12 volt battery looks like it has screws holding it shut so it may be easier to refirbish them at the end of their life.