# What kind of cells do I need for this drill? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 3, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cells-do-i-need-for-this-drill/555953 "2010-10-03T22:35:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2010, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cells-do-i-need-for-this-drill/555953/1 "2010-10-03T22:35:28Z")
I have an older model of this drill: > **[Amazon.com: DEWALT DC742KA Cordless 12-Volt 3/8-Inch Compact Drill/Driver :...](https://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DC742KA-Cordless-12-Volt-Compact/dp/B000X1TYPS)** > > Product Description The product is 12V Compact Drill Driver. Easy to use. The product is manufactured in China. Amazon.com Engineered to satisfy the demands of professional contractors, the cordless DEWALT DC742KA... But it takes the same battery. The old NiCd cells are completely epleted and will not hold a charge any longer. Instead of chucking it, or spending $100 for a set of new batteries, I thought I might try replacing the cells myself. Problem is, I don’t know what kind they are. The cells are kind of old and it is hard to get any legible writing off of them. I suspect they are sub-c battteries, but it appears there are at least a couple sizes of subc to choose from. Anyone know? Also, I checked into a couple of those palces that rebuild the batteries, and they are almost as much as a brand new battery…if you have better links, let me know, but at 44 bucks each I’m still almost better off buying a brand new drill with brand new DeWalt-warranted cells. I can get a new 14.4v compact for 99 at Lowe’s right now. ---
**Author:** ![dzero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5f9b8f/32.png) [@dzero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dzero)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cells-do-i-need-for-this-drill/555953/2 "2010-10-04T03:45:40Z")
I’d go for the new drill - preferably with lithium ion batteries. They hold a charge much longer, are smaller and lighter. I think they also last longer per charge. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 9:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cells-do-i-need-for-this-drill/555953/3 "2010-10-04T09:32:59Z")
It’s a very popular battery. Here are all the crosses [http://www.batteryship.com/htmlos/htmlos.cgi/batteryship/catalog.html?item=DC9071&model=DC742KA&adsrc=goog12905&gclid=CJ\_A7PTxuKQCFYs65Qod111NyA](http://www.batteryship.com/htmlos/htmlos.cgi/batteryship/catalog.html?item=DC9071&model=DC742KA&adsrc=goog12905&gclid=CJ_A7PTxuKQCFYs65Qod111NyA) Re this Compatible Part Numbers: DC9071, 397745-01, DE9037, DE9071, DE9074, DE9075, DW9071, DW9072 Using “DC9071 battery” in ebay yields batteries that sold for (least) $23.00 shipped to around 45.00 shipped. If you can get (say) a 29.00 deal shipped it really does no make sense to try and rebuild the battery pack. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cells-do-i-need-for-this-drill/555953/4 "2010-10-04T13:24:59Z")
> [@dzero](#): > > I’d go for the new drill - preferably with lithium ion batteries. They hold a charge much longer, are smaller and lighter. I think they also last longer per charge. Well, a new drill of the same type uses NiCd cells. You don’t even want to know the price of the Li-Ion DeWalt products. ---
**Author:** ![crazyjoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@crazyjoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crazyjoe)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2010, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-kind-of-cells-do-i-need-for-this-drill/555953/5 "2010-10-04T14:24:33Z")
> [@astro](#): > > It’s a very popular battery. > > Here are all the crosses > > [Dewalt DC742KA Battery Replacement](http://www.batteryship.com/htmlos/htmlos.cgi/batteryship/catalog.html?item=DC9071&model=DC742KA&adsrc=goog12905&gclid=CJ_A7PTxuKQCFYs65Qod111NyA) > > Re this > > Compatible Part Numbers: DC9071, 397745-01, DE9037, DE9071, DE9074, DE9075, DW9071, DW9072 > > Using “DC9071 battery” in ebay yields batteries that sold for (least) $23.00 shipped to around 45.00 shipped. If you can get (say) a 29.00 deal shipped it really does no make sense to try and rebuild the battery pack. A 23.00 battery sound nice, but I have been burned before by replacement batteries sold through e-bay, even by vendors with high feedback ratings. The problem is that batteries that are just on the edge of death can be made to work for a few charge cycles (enough to get positive feedback) and then fall off rapidly. This is why I would like to just buy the cells myself. Unless you know of a reputable vendor on e-bay that you’d like to recommend?