Any luck with non-OEM replacement 18V batteries for power tools? Not me...! (1 Viewer)

[e9999]

Have used OEM Makita, Ridgid, Milwaukee, and more, batteries for years. Those are getting dang expensive.

Not too long ago, I decided to try some replacement batteries for my Makitas after watching a bunch of videos and reading reviews. I wasn't too confident that they would be OK TBH, but thought that if I didn't go dirt cheap and only got batteries with good (around 4.5/5) reviews on amazon, I might possibly be OK. I figured they would not last as long or be as good as OEM but if they are half the price, maybe it's worth it... At least some YT reviews suggested that.

So I got a pair of 6Ah 18V Makita replacements with high (and many) reviews.
Tested them as received with my electronic load. Discharged them at 1A to 15V - so not too demanding.

Get this: one tested at 0.9Ah and the other at 2.2 Ah!! For a claimed 6Ah! How is that remotely possible?
For comparison, all my 5Ah (not 6!) OEM Makitas, some used for more than 3 years, and some manufactured 5 or 6 years ago, tested at above 4.3Ah under the same test conditions.

Of course, I returned the replacement ones I just got. Kind of mind-boggling that they would be so far under specs. Generic low-bidder stuff and sketchy resellers I guess. Amazon is turning into a bazaar of cheap low quality chinese goods, IMO. And give something too many bad reviews, they just rename the goods and restart them on Amazon with some fresh fake reviews (check out how all the low count reviews hover around 5/5....)

Wild that those particular ones had such good reviews... Are people just not paying attention? Or are there so many fake reviews? I do tend to look only at the 1/5 reviews now to get a feel for how dubious the goods are on amazon.

Anyway, rant off... Have you had any luck with non-OEM batteries?

 

[peesalot]

Nope, replaced all my Dyson batts and tried the cheap route, garbage, got Dyson replacements, almost garbage. The only ones I like are my 25 year old DeWalt batts, I have gotten china replacements for those off ebay and they fit loose and discharge quicker under heavier load. I learned a long time ago to have 2 chargers and plenty of extra batts for the cordless stuff, tried to go all Dewalt, then the yard tools started in on electric, then the chainsaws...... I stick with my og Dewalt with back ups. The kids swear by the new huge volt stuff. I'm to old for those types of tools.

 

[e9999]

One more reason, I think, to pay attention to the quality of the batteries is when they are worked hard. I just did days-long sessions of chainsawing with my battery Makita saws. Continuous. Well, it's pretty striking how hot the batteries get, and probably the motor and wiring too. Probably don't want to skimp on quality of all that. The Makitas batteries and motors have overtemp protection, I believe. There is a thermistor in the batteries with a contact to the tool. And the tool will stop when the battery overheats or gets too low. It's probably best that they communicate properly. I'd rather not ruin my saws with generic batteries. Or have the batteries self-destruct because the tool overdraws them.

 

[peesalot]

I got the Oregon electric chainsaw, 2 batts, charge both and its enough to cut wood for a week trip, only used for camping forewood, never used it hard all day, how the Makita hold up ? does 1 batt last long enough to get other batt charged or need 3 batts to make continous run time ?

 

[e9999]

The Makitas are fantastic. Better than I expected TBH and I'm working them hard. I have not used any of my smaller handheld gas saws much at all since I got the electric ones. There is a large difference in power and weight between the very small 18V XCU06 and the larger 2x18V XCU08. I find myself alternating between them all the time, because the smaller one is much handier and much lighter so much better for small trimming and limbing jobs (like anything less than 3 or 4" but I need the bigger one for bigger limbs (from 4" up to about 8 or 10" or so (after that it's gas territory).
When I saw all day (mostly cutting down trees and limbing, but little hauling etc), I can barely keep up with batteries. I have four 5Ah that I usually keep for the 36V and those I can keep up with (I have 4 fast chargers) pretty much if I do mostly smaller trees and bushes so comparatively less use of the bigger saw. Unfortunately, I only have a 1.5 and a 4Ah for the smaller saw and those are not enough to keep up then so either I may have to wait or use one of the 5Ah which may mean the bigger saw may need to wait. It takes 50mins for the 5Ah to recharge, 40 mins for the 4Ah and so on. Basically, with these 6 batteries I can sort of keep up but barely. Need one more 5 or 6Ah really. Possibly I could organize the work better. And, of course, if I were to spend half the time hauling it would be fine. It really depends a lot on what I'm doing.
Altogether, very happy with the purchases.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

The Makitas are fantastic. Better than I expected TBH and I'm working them hard. I have not used any of my smaller handheld gas saws much at all since I got the electric ones. There is a large difference in power and weight between the very small 18V XCU06 and the larger 2x18V XCU08. I find myself alternating between them all the time, because the smaller one is much handier and much lighter so much better for small trimming and limbing jobs (like anything less than 3 or 4" but I need the bigger one for bigger limbs (from 4" up to about 8 or 10" or so (after that it's gas territory).
When I saw all day (mostly cutting down trees and limbing, but little hauling etc), I can barely keep up with batteries. I have four 5Ah that I usually keep for the 36V and those I can keep up with (I have 4 fast chargers) pretty much if I do mostly smaller trees and bushes so comparatively less use of the bigger saw. Unfortunately, I only have a 1.5 and a 4Ah for the smaller saw and those are not enough to keep up then so either I may have to wait or use one of the 5Ah which may mean the bigger saw may need to wait. It takes 50mins for the 5Ah to recharge, 40 mins for the 4Ah and so on. Basically, with these 6 batteries I can sort of keep up but barely. Need one more 5 or 6Ah really. Possibly I could organize the work better. And, of course, if I were to spend half the time hauling it would be fine. It really depends a lot on what I'm doing.
Altogether, very happy with the purchases.

I'm a Makita guy. Which saw would you take camping to cut dead/fallen wood for a campfire?

 

[e9999]

^ hard question. If space in the vehicle is no issue, then I'd take the bigger xcu08, it can do everything the smaller xcu06 does, it's just bigger and heavier. And it will also deal with a fallen tree across the trail. But if you need to hike with the saw or if you'll be fine with smaller firewood (6" or less for practical purposes), then the xcu06 would be better/sufficient, IMO.

 

[peesalot]

Its like the batt management becomes part of the process like having fuel, bar oil, and a saw that starts, thats my main + for the elec saws, they start every time.

 

[e9999]

that's right. Admittedly, that is a weakness of the battery system, with some folks needing a bunch of expensive batteries. Or we need to come up with much longer runtimes with a better technology. But to be fair, the battery tools are just fine for most tasks nowadays. It's not like most people will spend 8 hours in a row using a battery chainsaw. And the batteries are indeed far better than 10 years ago.

But to be fair both ways, I don't really have much trouble with my gas saws TBH, especially if I use them regularly. It's the long inactivity periods that do a number on them IME. And I'm feeling bad for the neighbors when I run them. I've been thinking about selling some of my smaller gas saws, but I'll for sure keep the biggest one.


But back to topic , anybody has a success story with non-OEM batteries?

 

[Land Shark]

I have had a couple 'knock off" Milwaukee's over the last few years. I'd say the run time and number of recharges were not up to the OEM. No actually data just an observation. I had also seen a report that some of those non OEM batt's were catching fire. Sorry dont have that report on hand.

 

[KLF]

I know of 2 people that bought cheaper aftermarket batteries for their Makita tools, and both were very disappointed. No hard data but they just admit they don't last very long. So I wouldn't take the risk.

I have the 36v saw. Not happy with it. Kills the batteries faster then I think they should. I had one guy tell me it's the chain, gave me a part number for a better chain, but I just haven't done that yet.

I also have the 36v framing circular saw, the thing is a beast, but it was unusable when I got it. Even the slightest bind on the blade and the saw would stop, super annoying. Was gonna take it back, then just for the heck of it I tossed on a Freud blade, totally fixed it. I think the junk Makita blade had too thin of a kerf. So maybe there is something to the blade issue.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

If you think the prices for Makita branded items are high now I'm thinkin' that they'll be through the roof once the tariffs kick in. If they haven't already.

 

[e9999]

KLF, if you mean the XCU08 or 09, I'm surprised. I use two 5Ah batteries with mine and every time I am very pleased at how long they last. Much more than 2x the runtime of my XCU06 with a similar battery. Feels like I can cut at something like 50% duty cycle for about a couple of hours if not more.
However, I have to say that I ran recently into a problem with the bar wearing out faster than I think it should and the saw starting to cut crooked and binding. That is the 43 gauge OEM Makita one (made by Oregon). I am now switching to a 50 gauge Oregon to see if it makes a difference. It should. Oddly, the similar bar and chain on the XCU06 are fine after more use, but of course the XCU08 is more powerful and I put more stress on the chain..