New Makita BL1830 battery

[tradepro123]

I recently bought a Makita BHP453 cordless drill. it only came with one battery so I have been on the look out for a second one.
although this isn't my first Makita drill, it is my first Makita drill with a lithium ion battery. do I need to make sure I buy a genuine Makita battery or will I be able to buy one of the cheaper replica batteries as is available on ebay or amazon?

Has anyone ever bought one of the replica Makita batteries, are they as good as the genuine batteries, do they hold their charge as long, do they last as long? will the replica batteries have any ill effect on the drill or the charger?

 

[catlad]

I have had a few off this company and all are still working which is more than I can say for the originals. Global batteries.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Yes. My 3rd party supplier is Tools Down, who are also on Amazon. Worth checking that the battery will work on the original Makita fast charger - these do, some others don't

 

[tradepro123]

Does anyone have any more information on these batteries?
usually with such products, they are made in the same factory as the genuine item but might have failed certain quality control aspects. they are then branded differently and sold elsewhere for less.

Is there any risk to your charger or tool by using these cheaper replica batteries?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I'm not sure what kind of information you need. You seem to be implying that these batteries are seconds, but I don't think that is so. So far as I know the firms who make power tools specialise in just that and (with probably the sole exception of Panasonic who actually manufacture battery cells for the general market) simply buy-in their battery packs from third party battery manufacturers. I don't know if the same firm who supplies Tools Down actually supplies Makita or anyone else, but I do know that the cells used inside the packs look identical to this inside an OEM pack. What I also know is that the three BL1830-equivalents I've had from Tools Down haven't blown up, overheated, failed or destroyed the charger since I got them and that the oldest is now 2 years old and still going strong. Subjectively performance is pretty much identical with the Makitas I have. It also cost me a lot less than buying from Makita.

To me your choice seems simple; either take a (slight) chance by buying one on a credit card (to get their cover) and try it out OR buy Makita batteries and wonder if you are paying over the odds forever more

I have no affiliations with Tools Down other than being a satisfied customer

 

[Belle427]

id like to think the clone batteries use the same cells as originals but there is so much cheap crap floating around on ebay its hard to make a decision.
As said its probably worth the risk if its just one you need, personally i wont touch them with a bargepole again after a bad experience using them.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

its probably worth the risk if its just one you need, personally i wont touch them with a bargepole again after a bad experience using them.

Who did you buy from, though? Some of the cowboys with really cheap batteries require their own chargers (because the Makstar charger will destroy them).

 

[tradepro123]

By Makstar, do you mean the star mark on the Makita battery?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I might be wrong but I've seen the chargers for Li-Ion batteries referred to as "Makstar chargers". That's what I meant.

 

[Belle427]

its probably worth the risk if its just one you need, personally i wont touch them with a bargepole again after a bad experience using them.

Who did you buy from, though? Some of the cowboys with really cheap batteries require their own chargers (because the Makstar charger will destroy them).

i bought nimh batteries from an online seller, stayed clear of ebay. i made sure it specified original charger could be used as it would be a pointless exercise buying new batteries and a charger.
Lasted just over a year