Makita LXT 18v Strimmer - Simple Mod to work with any 18V Battery (My Kielder Battery fit nicely)

LXT Strimmers, the one with the star symbol on them, have an electronically controlled switch, that means you have to use genuine makita batteries with it otherwise it doesn't work. Its not by-passable with a simple thermistor mod like a lot of tools are. There are 3 extra pins that need some form of communication on them to work. So bugger that all off and go back to old school switching, using the existing switch in the strimmer. Free mod. Now you can use any 18V Battery that you can get to fit. Thats up to you to make it fit. I got super lucky and my kielder battery just about fit enough to work.