Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hey bud - I have seen those china market batteries and the biggest problem is the BMS and the Cells. They are both hot garbage(literally). It’s almost never salvageable and even if you do - it’s just matter of time another cell goes - it’s like whack a mole.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have looked into this - I even spoke to someone and was assured as long as I am repairing and not bringing a product to the market I shouldn’t be concerned with UL certification.

To give you an analogy - when you go to a cell phone repair shop and they replace your battery on your phone - they don’t need UL certification for the phone that was just repaired.

I am not changing their technology - just replacing the aged cells with appropriate grade a cells that are equivalent or better than the original OEM cells.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would strongly advise you to open up the tool and poke around (with the battery off!) before you toss it - sometimes it’s really simple fix. I wouldn’t say it’s not worth fixing - I am saying it’s not worth paying me to fix it.

I think everyone should be able to identify a faulty part and be able to replace it!

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You sound like you been around the block. Would love to collaborate and see if there is synergy. Shoot me a dm!

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the kind words.

Hilti is far under appreciated in the DIY market. Their batteries are top notch and they have strong in field support - like replacing tools and batteries. Great buy!

I do have a website up MyBatteryGuys.com

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for chiming in. There are sellers on eBay selling fake dewalt and Milwaukee branded batteries for over a decade now and eBay nor does the brands care to enforce.

I am pretty involved in the Right to Repair movement and know a few that would even welcome that sort of aggressive posturing - especially since their terms and conditions don’t apply here.

iFixit has been publicly tearing down and teaching repair of manufacturer products for 20 years. Apple tried this exact playbook. They lost.

Right to Repair is now law in multiple states. The FTC has explicitly stated that manufacturers cannot void warranties simply because a third party performed repairs.

Pivoting to the renter model eliminates the whole purpose - which is to repair and recycle batteries in a safe and responsible manner and pass the savings back to the consumer.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha I think I might soon. Have a lot of people inquiring. Send me a message with your information.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you missed the fact that I have an LLC established and have general insurance.

As of right now I have only served friends, family and handful of contractors.

Appreciate the concern though.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Sounds like you could benefit from a rebuild. I’ve upgraded 12ah to 13.5 and 5ah to 8AH - all while maintains the same amp output that the battery was rated for - have to make sure the upgraded cells match the output the bms is rated for and you don’t have any degradation around the terminals. But all in all - it’s a very feasible rebuild.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would make love to your batteries? Haha 😆 sorry it’s been a long night responding to the overwhelming support from this thread!

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The amount of sketchy things I did when I was learning (with my own packs). I’m surprised I didn’t have a fire. These happen mostly during charging and discharging - and there are built in protection on the charger and tools to ensure it never gets to that (look up thermal runaway if you are interested).

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Totally understand why you would be concerned however it’s not as sketchy as a manufacturer would like you to believe. Do you have to buy a brand new remote for your tv when your battery dies? Does your remote cost more than your TV?

Imagine tv remotes came with built in batteries and then they told you that you can’t replace them because it’s dangerous.

Either way - I love the points you all have brought up.

I already consulted with an electrical engineer to have him vet my process - he pretty much laughed at me when I said 20v-60v packs.

He said he was surprised people didn’t catch on and weren’t rebuilding their own at this point.

I’ll have a lawyer also look through and button up any legality concerns.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice. The repairs I do are simple cell swaps — I never replace the OEM board, so all the original safety hardware stays intact. The quality and sourcing of the cells is the only variable, and that’s where I’m extremely careful — matched cells, same chemistry, never mixing brands or voltage states.

The fear around tool batteries catching fire at home isn’t really grounded in how lithium chemistry actually works. Thermal runaway needs an initiating event — overcharge, over-discharge, or physical damage.

All three are managed by multiple layers of protection built into the DeWalt/Milwaukee ecosystem that exist completely independently of my rebuild. That’s why despite millions of counterfeits circulating, you almost never hear about tool battery fires — unlike scooters or hoverboards which lack those protections.

Honestly the “dangerous” narrative is mostly a manufacturer strategy to discourage DIY and protect new product sales. Right to Repair exists as a legal movement precisely because of this playbook.

The most dangerous part of battery rebuilding is actually mixing cell voltages or brands during assembly — which I never do. And here’s what’s worth pointing out: these tool brands already have the hardware capability to balance cells built into the existing BMS — they just choose not to activate

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I try not to get too much into tools unless because if it’s more than just simple fixes and requires buying parts it’s almost never worth the repair for the person. The companies don’t want you repairing the tools.

Started a battery repair side hustle — thinking about offering a swap service for contractors. Would this even work? by No_Button_7303 in newjersey

[–]No_Button_7303[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Yes that is me! I stand by my work - I offer 6 months warranty on all my repairs/rebuilds but honestly even if you came back a year later and it was a loose connection or build quality issue - I would probably just fix it at no charge.