I have a Black &Decker Dustbuster Plus DB350 that's only a couple years old. Lately it won't recharge. It's stored in it's holder which plugs into an outlet. The outlet works. I've emptied the dust out & washed (and dried) the filter. I've sanded the contact points. But when it's removed from the tray & turned on, it just gasps and dies. The search engines have not been helping me lately. Any ideas how to fix or sites to visit? TIA ~ RG
I had the same problem. These units are not made to last. I got satisfaction at the local dump.
My experience is that nicads last about two years. Doesn't much matter what you do with them. I used to have Black and Decker rechargeable drills, and also Skil rechargable drills.
Batteries last about two years. If you're a techie wizzard, rip it apart and solder in some new batteries. If you're a techienerd, externalize the battery pack and put on AA cells, so you can run nicads off the charger or alkalines if you want turbo boost.
Most likely the battery pack is dead You can probably buy a new vac for the price of batteries. They just don't last all that long. Ed
It's just failure of the nicad batteries due to leaving them continually on charge. This is just not the way to make them last but it is what B&D recommends, probably so that the batteries fail early.
You can replace the batteries for approximately the cost of a new dustbuster.
Rechargeable batteries must be kept charged. If you quit using the device and let the battery self-discharge and stay that way for a long time, odds are that it'll never charge again.
I've seen this too many times. The batteries can be used and recharged hundreds of times, but leave the device in a drawer for a few months and that's the end of it.
Had mine for six years so far and I use it three times a week. The problem with the Nicad batteries is if you use it a little and put it back on the charger, the batteries will not hold a full charge after a while. It just gets worse after time. With my shaver and my vac, it never goes on the charger until the charge is depleted. (My shaver is 12 years old or more.) Also, I only charge it for a day. never let the batteries cook on the charger. if you store it on the charging base, unplug the charger.
Proper care for your batteries and the device will last for years.
John
snipped-for-privacy@webtv.net wrote in news:17108-3F55014C-855@storefull-
2172.public.lawson.webtv.net:
Had this happen(after 10 years!),the local DeWalt service center replaced the battery pack for less than what a new Dustbuster would cost. It took a week,and $18.00US.
And that was cheaper than I could have bought the new NiCds myself. (they're special continuous-charge NiCds,see Digi-Key catalog)
TCS wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@turing.kaosol.net:
The Dustbusters with internal cells(not the VersaPacks)are designed to be left -on- the charger 24/7/365.
"donald girod" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@corp.supernews.com:
Mine lasted 10 years.And Dewalt service center changed the pack for less than a new DB cost. Digi-Key has NiCd cells -designed- to be left on continuous charge.)
If you are a little adventurous, it is generally not too difficult to replace the batteries, that no doubt are the cause of the problem. However you are likely to need the skill to solder them in place. You would start disassembling the device and find the batteries, take them out and bring them to a real battery store where they can find the correct or better replacements.
Note: Don't try to solder directly on the battery, they can't stand the heat, you are likely to see a battery that looks like a normal battery with some tabs on each end. Those tabs are electrically welded on, not soldered. You need to get the replacements with the same tabs on them. For under $10. You can have it back in service better than new. However if this all seems like it would be too hard, then it may not be for you, just buy a new one.
Nicads should neve be left in a charger unless it is a peak charger that shuts off. Jreigle has the maintenance issue worked out properly and that allows for longer life
I've had three of these now. They all have the same problem. The internal brass conductors that switch between operate and charge do not always make a good connection in the charge position. I have taken them apart, cleaned them, re-tensioned and aligned them and they still will not make good contact in the charge position every time.
The only successful way of putting the switch into the charge position is to wiggle the switch in the charge position and hope that the contact will work its way into a conductive state. So far it has worked 95% of the time with the two I have in operation right now.
if its like anything i have bought that is rechargeable its batteries are probably out of juice.. they died... the rest of the stuff had to be thrown out with the batteries.....
So?
################# It's called memory effect. Ni-cads suck for that reason. Thats why they came up with Li-on batteries....no memory BG
tnom suggested wiggling the vac in its charger to make sure it is making contact. Unlike shavers and mobile phones there's no light to tell you it's charging. And it worked! And this time the charge was completely dissipated & left to charge for over 24 hours, which is what the manual recommends when operating times start to shorten. So I think I will stay with these techniques in the future. Thanks for all your help. ~ RG
I had the same problem, same model # the battery pack inside looks like two "C" size. the replacement pack retails for about $20 bucks. A newer more powerfull unit runs about $30. TOSS IT.
I have the same problem with a one year old one. It seems the latching mechanism into the holder is poor. Even if it is slightly loose it will not make contact. I heated the tab and bent it to tighten it and that worked for a while. I then had to bend the contacts to achieve better contact.
My personal opinion is B&D products are not what they used to be.
Every B&D product I purchased in the past 10 years has been junk. THat includes power tools, small appliances, garden tools and this last B&D product I wll buy this cordless hand vac. I had a hoover cordless hand vac for 8 years and the batteries went which is understandable of nicads.
I just bought one of these for $2 at a thrift store. It wouldn't charge. I did a search about it and came across this discussion. I read about the contacts and what I did was wedged a piece of paper folded up to the right thickness on the opposite side of the contacts in between the charger base and the unit. Thought if this don't work I'm throwing it away. After as few hours of charging I took it off the base and turned it on and it worked!!! Yay!! Thanks tnom!!!!
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