Milwaukee Red Lithium USB Battery Repair and Upgrade to 3.0Ah

[@colinwheeldon4130]

Thanks for the video. I was able to replace a dead battery using your advice. I didn't have a spot welder so I soldered the contacts to the battery and that worked fine. I didn't glue the plastic end cap but simply put that in the screw down part that screws down over the battery and holds the battery in place.

[@JV-wl6ex]

Nice retrofit! I like to do upgrades to my existing depleted battery packs. One thing I learned on one of my USB 3.0 battery’s was to treat them the same as you would if it was just a bare bones 18650. What I mean by that is my 3.0 was reading at 2.7V and knowing that the charger won’t charge if it doesn’t read at a higher voltage. So I used an existing 18650 and bridged the positive and negatives together for 30-45 seconds, or until it reads 3.3v or higher and the charger took it from there. I’ve read a lot of people having this issue and it seems like the BCM doesn’t cut off the power usage as quick as it should so it doesn’t get rejected. Peace!

[@HéctorHernández-c1k]

Nice video. Just what I was trying to figure out.

[@tizben]

you have an awesome channel. Thanks for teaching us

[@camilo8cheryl]

Great vids! Learned a lot from your diy dissecting 👍 I’m using a Panasonic 18650 3,400mah on minegood phone charger on mg work truck.

[@alwinkchan]

Awesome video and great work !

[@sutahpurcell9344]

Your video is super helpful, I appreciate u and iam definitely going to upgrade my dead 3.0 batt. Super helpful like I said and I am now a subscriber.

[@codycurry91]

So it’s a 18650 the same cells that are in the power tool batteries. I’m definitely going to do this now that I know for sure it’s the same cells. I have 3 of these that just don’t work good anymore.

[@southern_merican]

Excellent video ! Quick clamps would work well for regluing end

[@jeronstevens8491]

Great video! I wanted to make a few myself with 3D printed casings and my own battery’s. What exactly is on that circuit board, just a temp sensor? Think it will work without it?

[@jordanhenson626]

That's my question too, because I could have a bright light with endless batteries but I haven't taken action cuz I'm worried I'll do all the work to make all the bats and no worky lol😂

[@alyusmuse3839]

Thank you bro, I just bought the rover light with one of these batteries, that would definitely help me to save money in future since I already have a spot welding machine and all needed tools! You can count me as a subscriber in ure channel, keep up the great work, cheers!

[@abdielernesto9051]

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[@julianarmani3104]

@Abdiel Ernesto Yup, have been using Instaflixxer for since november myself :D

[@tehpunisher4568]

My question would be if we could make an adapter to "hot swap" these cells. I have a bunch of USB rechargeable cells and really like the form factor of the flood light that uses this battery. Would be sick if we can adapt it

[@OnePointLander]

What was the result of the runtime test?

[@mhsvz6735]

Thank you.

[@Alex300zxTT]

Do you have a link to these cells please?

[@mikesierra1872]

Great video man.

[@bridoc519]

I put a streamlight (samsung) 2600mAh cell in my 2×AA rover #2108. Dremeled out a hole for the usb port on the cell, and used a longer spring covered in shrink tube to push the cell tightly into the positive contact. The spring touches the cap and makes the negative connection on the battery. No adhesives were used/needed. It has a run time of 7 hours and change. Might make a good video if you're looking for ideas. I didnt lose my end cap, but many others have. Maybe you could show them a way to still make use of the light by soldering the spring in place and glue the hole shut 🤷‍♂️

[@tetradgroup]

That is really cool. I can't believe Milwaukee still makes lights that are not rechargeable. Good solution

[@FknNefFy]

Thanks

[@danielsweeney8164]

Thanks!

[@Alex300zxTT]

Where do you get quality LG cell? Have you tested capacity by chance?

[@Yellwolf]

Excellent help Thanks

[@gangsterHOTLINE]

Awesome video! Been thinking about refreshing all my dead redlithium USBs. Can you link to that little spot welder you got? Edit: Found your video on it :D

[@br5747]

I got my battery to slide out of the case about 3/4" and it will not move anymore. Can't believe it is that tight.

[@operator8014]

Nice, I have 4 or 5 of these old 2.5ah cells that still work great, and 3 of the 3.0ah cells that are all dead and refuse to charge. Might go ahead and take these suckers to the chopping block as you showed.

[@delagto_5340]

I think all the 3.0s take a shit

[@JQuizzle]

I damaged the temp thing anyway around using it?

[@ensidfkgnur]

It's been 3 years, is the LG still going strong? I get the feeling when it dies you'll be cracking it open and re-celling it LOL! Hard not to. If it matters: the new models appear to use USB-C if that's a consideration.

[@drugtalk101]

Should have used a 3.5 or 4.0 while you were in there..! Can this be soldered?

[@drugtalk101]

Should have finished the video before I asked LOL

[@bobufo5729]

I’m gonna put some molicel 2600 mah 35 amp battery’s in a 2.0 m12 pack to upgrade it and also the Xc 4.0 . I’m doing it cause I think that higher amp hours will be nice but also because the extra amps for high draw tools . I’m trying to make something like the m18 HO for the m12 . Think it will work properly?

[@bobufo5729]

They got Samsung 20rs in rn

[@bobufo5729]

I thought about hg2s also . Might do some of those in another pack

[@rodowen478]

Too bad you don't offer your services to folks whose expertise isn't at your level, I'd gladly ship my light to you for repair! Or do you?! If I don't get a suitable answer from Milwaukee I may try this repair with a soldering gun since that's all I have. Thanks for a great video!

[@victorcavazos2762]

That case for the 18650 battery looks just like the size of a 26650 cell . And obviously a 26650 can be an easy 30A and maybe 5ah in capacity

[@idjr2654]

where can i buy that battery?

[@divinicus]

Will a soldering iron do it ?

[@colinwheeldon4130]

Yes I soldered successfully. I first carefully prepared the joins by melting some solder onto the battery ends and the terminals. Then I attached the terminals to the battery and completed the soldering. Need to be careful not to melt the plastic.

[@jordanhenson626]

My cell did not "slide" out lol. It was a fight, we both lost. The three sets of tabs at the top the largest one became an amputee, should i just solder it back to the top of tge new battery? Edit... scratch that I'm dumb

[@nykid8849]

are these milwaukie usb 3.0 batterys regular 18650 , can I use the batterys on my fenix headlamp that's uses a normal rechargeable 18650 the battery ?

[@neonsean1983]

Should i sacrifice a battery to learn how to open these or check if anyone already done it on KZbin

[@neonsean1983]

Thanks for the info, now i gotta go back to get the link to the cheap spot welder 4:11

[@MrRydenn147]

What kind of software welder is that

[@MrRydenn147]

Spot welder

[@Jgabriel90]

Where did you buy the battery please .. I find it very expensive

[@kevinroberts781]

Did you add the capacitor to the spot welder?

[@tetradgroup]

I did not, if used probably it's does not need a capacitor. It's just a low voltage safety and I just use the proper battery and never had an issue. I did add a fan due to heat, gets hot quick above 50E.

[@kevinroberts781]

@@tetradgroup I contacted the seller I bought mine from. They are sending me a new one. I'm going to build a smaller battery for it this time. Only thing I can think that ruined mine is my 2000wh battery had to much current for it at 12.2 volts. It can push 440 amps max discharge rate safely. Not for that welder it seems Think I'll limit the new battery to around 130 amp discharge max.

[@tetradgroup]

@@kevinroberts781 Some people seem to think the unit will only use the power it needs so a bigger battery should be fine but I disagree. This is the third example I've seen where it blows using huge batteries as power supply, I just don't know why. There is a range in the instructions, my battery supply is just outside that range on the high side. I might hook mine to a large battery and see if it blows. Easy fix, I just want to know if it will blow a fet.

[@kevinroberts781]

@@tetradgroup I can kinda see it happening. The mosfets are rated for a certain amount of current or amps. 150 amps on some. 5 mosfets in parallel I thought would handle my battery. I'm still new to this. I made sure my battery had the prime voltage and made sure it had the ability to provide enough current. I explained this to the seller and they think it's a bad unit. They are sending me a new one. I also ordered a new one. I will test them both again. One with a battery capable of 130-140 amps and the other with my 440 amp discharge battery. I'm just not sure. I'm leaning towards my battery slamming to much current when the mosfets close. Nothing really in the welder to limit it.

[@tetradgroup]

@@kevinroberts781 I was going to order another one as well just to test it, please keep me updated I'm interested to know what you find

[@UnhumanNewman]

What’s the max ah that’s made that would work when replacing these cells?

[@tetradgroup]

4000mah is about max for an 18650 cell, any one claiming higher than that be very suspicious.

[@marshallburford8918]

HOW DO YOU GET THE BATTERY OUT OF THE CASE

[@tetradgroup]

Once you get the bottom red cap off you can push with a small pic or small screwdriver on the metal tabs at the top and it should slide it right out

[@FixerMerlin]

What’s the voltage of these little Milwaukee batteries? I can’t seem to find it anywhere

[@tetradgroup]

Nominal voltage of a standard 18650 is 3.7 volts and fully charged voltage of 4.2. Sometimes they are referred to as a 4 volt battery.

[@FixerMerlin]

@@tetradgroup awesome thanks! I just got the Milwaukee heated gloves and they are very disappointing to say the least. Wondering if there was some way to run off of m12 power supply to get more heat and better run time.

[@PersonaN007Grata]

Great video! But in my humble opinion, without USB-C, and with their proprietary battery, there’s no need to buy Milwaukee lights. Zebralight makes superior headlamps and hand held flashlights that use standard 18650. They even make a handheld that uses 21700. There’s no charging ports on the lights themselves but swapping batteries is trivial. You should check them out.

[@LightingUpTheAbyss]

you can realistically put a 21700 and heatshrink that mofo for 5ah

[@bobufo5729]

Let me know if you try. I’m tossing in some molicel 2600 mah 35 amp discharges instead . Should be kinda like the m18 HO but for m12. I want it for my high amp tools like the circular saw

[@Grey-Troll]

Looking at Milwaukee L400 neck light for general work purposes. It depends on design, but I think I'm going to just 'hack in' a 18650 holder into it under the hinged cover so I can just slap a fresh cell in it and put the dead one on a dedicated charger. Such a stupid proprietary design choice to go with the design they're using... pisses me off but then again I see no other neck lights that *could* use an 18650.

[@mikemorgan4607]

Cool!

[@99ekcouper]

Smart man

[@arbit3r]

For 25 bucks I would not bother with all that hassle. The 3.0s are around 50 dollars here in the UK and more expensive then a new headtorch

[@winstonhowl5473]

I have a bunch of Milwaukee stuff and the battery’s are always blinking red not holding a charge I do not recommend Milwaukee anything

[@TranTek]

Samsung 30Q is very unreliable

[@TranTek]

@kevin kump any newer date from december 2021, they switch to Sony VTC 6 which way better

[@TranTek]

@kevin kump Don’t think they ever tell us i just open plenty of them and start seeing a pattern what fail what are reliable either Milwaukee or Dewalt or Bosch or Ryobi they all use the same grade, same cells

[@TranTek]

really good video appreciated it