DEWALT DC9071 XRP 12-Volt 2.4 Amp Hour NiCad Battery

Customer Reviews & Comments
I owned an old DeWalt drill that did not have the extended run batteries and apparently, a charger that kept them in shape. After owning this drill for several years, it, the batteries and charger were stolen. Based on the wonderful service from this old drill and its' batteries, I purchased a new drill w/XR batteries and charger. The batteries worked great when new, but quickly degenerated and were both dead in a little over a year. I wrote a letter of complaint to DeWalt and they replaced the whole thing. The replacement batteries also quickly degenerated and in less than a year one of the replacement batteries failed and a couple of months later the other one was completly dead. I suspect it is not the fault of the batteries. but the charger. On the old drill/charger, I could leave the battery in the charger and it would be ready to go when needed. When the new battery was left in the charger, it was always dead when I needed it. I imagine that if you used these in your job and charged and used them regularly they would be fine. but for a homeowner who goes long periods between use, these new bateries/charger just don't make the grade. I thought it interesting that the reviews that slammed these batteries were not rated as helpful, but the reviews that raved about them were rated as useful. I really like the drill, but it is totally worthless without functioning batteries. I will buy a new battery anyway, and the DeWalt tune-up charger. Maybe with this charger, it will work as well as the old one. I hope so, as 2 batteries and the charger cost more than the whole kit with case, drill, 2 batteries, and charger. If this works, (and I'm sure DeWalt knows whether it will) DeWalt should put the tune up charger in every kit they sell and junk their name destroying, and in my opinion defective standard charger. If it doesn't work, it is good bye DeWalt, and hello Porter Cable or Millwaukee. The only reason I gave this battery 2 stars instead of 1 is because I strongly suspect that the battery is fine, but the charger is junk.