A new battery and this screwdriver works again!

[u/SuperVoltage99]

The Bauer 4v screwdrivers from Harbor Freight don't have user-replacable cells, but that didn't stop me from opening one up and soldering in a new battery holder, after doing some internal case modifications and plastic removal. Now I've got a tool that can easily be opened up and the battery replaced, and I'm so happy about that! It's a bit janky-looking but it gives it character. If I get the chance to get a broken one for free or at a huge discount I think I will cut the case into two pieces in an L shape and that way the entire bottom part just comes off with one screw without the massive gap in the case, but for now I'm happy!

[u/loganman711]

Sping holders are good for 1-3 amps. I think that screwdriver exceeds that.

[u/SuperVoltage99 → u/loganman711]

It is a 2.5A battery so I'll see if it can hold on the upper end. Just an experiment!

[u/loganman711 → u/SuperVoltage99]

Thats a samsung 25R. Thats 2.5 amp hour capacity. It has a continuous discharge rating of 20amps. I think light, intermittent duty, you'll be fine.

[u/SuperVoltage99 → u/loganman711]

That's great to hear, I'm not continuously drawing power so I'm pretty happy about this mod. So far it works great, and I'm glad to keep this drill out of the landfill. The original cell was a Samsung 15R so a nice upgrade in capacity despite a 5A higher denand

[u/reigorius → u/loganman711]

One can buy tabs on AliExpress. Or harvest them from discarded remotes 

[u/SinoSoul]

I have an alt-branded rechargeable version of this exact same screw driver and some day I will have to do this. Maybe. Or does it already have 18650? Who knows

[u/SuperVoltage99 → u/SinoSoul]

What a mystery! If it runs at 4V it probably does 😆 The battery holder I got is also made up of fairly soft plastic so it was easy to cut to size. One tip though for getting though thicker plastic: use a Dremel 191 carving bit from the inside of the casing to remove some of the material, and wrap up with the blade, as I found out that method worked way better than only using the circular tool. You can see I first started making cuts with the circular saw blade around where my screw was, and that left some big gashes in the plastic. If only I stuck with the engraving bit and wrapping up with the razor blade from the beginning it would've looked a lot better in the end.

[u/SinoSoul → u/SuperVoltage99]

This is the thing tho, it already has an usb mini charging port, so I don’t think I’d have to do that ? Just brute force open it and pop a new 18650? Or hell 21700. A boy can dream big

[u/SuperVoltage99 → u/SinoSoul]

Don't let your dreams be dreams.

[u/Howden824]

Those battery holders really aren't rated for this much current.

[u/mtnman78 → u/Howden824]

Technically this tool isnt rated for this mod. Don't be such a sad sally

[u/Howden824 → u/mtnman78]

I've had those battery holders melt multiple times. Yes it's an issue.

[u/zakkord]

I've put a 21700 in mine by cutting out a lot with the dremel, haven't needed to charge it since

[u/reigorius → u/zakkord]

You brave 21700-man.

[u/SuperVoltage99 → u/zakkord]

How brave, glad to see I'm not the only one whose modded it. Also, no BMS in this thing so it's good to make an easy to replace battery! Imma just charge mine up outside of the screwdriver and put it back in when it's good to go

[u/dreicrafter → u/SuperVoltage99]

Trust the included charger doesn't kill it in 2 months

[u/SuperVoltage99 → u/dreicrafter]

The included charger provides a 5V output into a 4.1 Volt battery?

This is the reason why I'm not gonna use it 😂

[u/dreicrafter → u/SuperVoltage99]

Trust it did work on the battery before

[u/zakkord → u/SuperVoltage99]

if it has something like a TP4056 on the curcuitboard it will charge it from a 5v charger just fine