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In my last post, I tried to answer the question, “Are Greenworks and Kobalt Batteries Interchangeable?” The answer is yes and no. Greenworks and Kobalt batteries are incompatible out of the box, but they can be made compatible with a few minor modifications. In this post, I am giving you a tutorial on how to use Greenworks batteries in Kobalt tools.
This tutorial will also work for Snapper, Victa, and Powerworks batteries. I will be demonstrating using Snapper and Greenworks 60V batteries.
Note: This post is provided for informational purposes only. If you decide to make any modifications to a battery, do so at your own risk. The author takes no responsibility for your personal choices. Warranties may be voided by modifying original equipment, and personal injury may occur through the use of power tools. Electrical equipment is dangerous. Fire or equipment failure can occur if attempting to use parts not certified by the manufacturer or if batteries are damaged. You have been warned.
Why Would I Want to Use a Different Brand of Battery?
Several situations can make using a different battery brand attractive. I was able to get a Snapper 60V battery recently that was just 1/4 the cost of the Greenworks version of that model! Unfortunately, that price cut may signal the the 60V Snapper line, which is Walmart exclusive, has been discontinued. It already appears Walmart started selling Powerworks 60V outdoor equipment to maintain an alternative. Victa also eliminated their 80V line, so owners of these tools cannot get new Victa batteries. Whether saving money, replacing parts no longer available, or receiving a weed eater as a gift that is a different brand than your mower there are several reasons to use a different brand battery.
Why Can’t I Use a Greenworks Battery in a Kobalt Tool?
Kobalt and Greenworks batteries have different slots or grooves on the side to match the tools from that brand. I took a picture of my 60V Greenworks battery next to a 60V Snapper battery to show the difference, and there are similar differences between 80V Greenworks and Kobalt batteries.
The guide rails the battery fits against are visible inside the mower’s battery cover.
How Can I Make a Different Brand of Battery Fit?
There are two possible solutions to this problem.
- Cut or grind the rails out of the mower.
- Cut the case on the battery to fit different rails.
I chose option 2 so that I could get more tools using the battery system without modifying each one. I have seen pictures of lawn mowers modified with option 1, and the battery bay plastic fits the battery exactly. It seems like removing each rail leaves a hole in the battery bay, exposing parts to moisture that are normally sealed. I didn’t want to risk damage by cutting permanent holes in my mower.
I modified a Snapper 60V battery to fit Greenworks equipment, but the method applies to the 80V batteries of this style. Double check everything for yourself before cutting! Fixing a mistake is much harder than preventing one.
Which Batteries are Potentially Compatible?
As I discussed in my previous post, batteries made by Global Tools using their design should be compatible with modifications. There is not an official list of these batteries, so I have gathered one below. It is possible more exist, so let me know if you spot one I missed.
These 60V batteries all appear to be compatible with case modifications:
- Greenworks
- Snapper
- Powerworks
These 80V and 82V batteries all appear to be compatible with case modifications:
- Greenworks
- Kobalt
- Snapper
- Victa
- Powerworks
What Tools Do I Need?
- Dremel, Saw, or other tool capable of cutting plastic
- Optional: Dremel Drill Press Work Station
- Silver Sharpie Marker or way to make visible marks
- Ruler
- Screwdriver with size 10 Torx (star) security bit
Procedure to Modify Battery To Fit Another Brand
Step 1: Measure & Mark
Every battery I could compare seemed to have the same upper slots, and both sides had the same slots. The easiest way to measure and mark where to cut is to use a battery that already works!
TIP: Be sure to match the battery cases top to top and bottom to bottom, because it is easy to accidentally flip one battery the wrong way.
I marked length and width of the slot against the Greenworks battery using a silver Sharpie and a metal ruler to create full guide lines on the Snapper battery.
Step 2: Remove the Cell Pack
Open the battery case before cutting anything to remove the cell pack. This step prevents accidentally cutting a cell, which is a fire hazard.
A size 10 Torx (star) security bit works best to remove the battery case screws. It is possible, with care and effort, to use a standard T-10 to remove the screws, but the security bit is handy for many projects. The security bit is worth having to save frustration. I recommend a set like this one.
Step 3: Cut the Case
Inside the battery case on both sides the plastic is thicker. The extra plastic allows more slots to be cut without leaving a hole in the case.
I used a Dremel in the Drill Press Workstation, router bit, and a clamped cutting jig, but cutting can be done several ways. A table saw with a guide also would work nicely. If you are very confident and don’t need it to look pretty it is possible to hand cut with a Dremel or other tool. An advantage with the Drill Press Workstation or table saw is the ability to set a consistent depth and maintain a smooth line.
I set the depth using existing slots, while the Dremel was off, and put the bit down in the slot. Whatever you choose, take it slow and careful for the best result.
I cut the upper slot first, because it required more attention. The existing slot on the Snapper case crossed where Greenworks needed a notch to the bottom. I was able to switch to a cutting wheel for the lower part. After resetting the depth to match the wheel, the bottom was easy to complete.
Step 4: Reassemble & Test
Here is a look at the Snapper battery after I finished and cleaned it up. It doesn’t exactly look factory fresh, but it doesn’t look too bad either.
I have used the new battery in my mower. It works exactly like the one that came with it. At 1/4 the cost, it definitely was worth the time and effort.
Is It Possible to Create a Universal Battery?
It may be possible to create a “universal” battery for devices within a voltage family. Because only the bottom slots seem to change, a single large notch in the whole lower section could work. For more information on why this is possible see my post, “Are Greenworks and Kobalt Batteries Interchangeable?”
One downside is that the battery charger uses the lower slot to guide the battery when charging vertically, so charging horizontally would be required. I think that is the only issue.
Have you tried to convert one battery to another brand? Have questions? Please comment below!
James Duncan says
I successfully modified a Greenworks 60v string trimmer to accept my Snapper batteries. I put and shaped a length of #12 wire in my Weller 200w solder gun and cut out the bottom rail in the trimmer’s battery compartment. Also had to remove some bracing in the front of the compartment with this same improvised tool. Then I filed down the rough spots. This worked perfectly. Now I can use my multiple Snapper batteries in this Greenworks tool. Put the regular tip back on the solder gun and saved the custom new tip for any future such use.
Brad says
Thanks for the feedback! I was concerned about potentially letting moisture into my mower by using the method you chose, but it sounds like it worked well for you. Since I did this, I also got a trimmer, so having the battery work with both without additional changes is very handy.
James Duncan says
I have more batteries than I do tools, so modifying the tool was easier. Note that I used a melting rather than a grinding process. The walls of the battery compartment are totally intact and as strong as before. In effect, the “wounds” in the plastic were cauterized.
Charles says
I have a 60v 2ah Snapper battery that has died. It won’t fully charge anymore, and trying to find a replacement is getting harder since Walmart has abandoned the Brand. Since you have had these batteries apart, do you think It would be possible to Swap out the guts of the Greenworks, or Powerworks or Kobalt 60v 2ah batteries and put them in my Snapper battery case? That way I wouldn’t have to do any modifications except swapping the insides.
They look so much alike.
Brad says
That is a great question! I am happy to say that, yes, swapping the insides from one brand of battery to the other will definitely work. The cases are all from the same molds, and are compatible with each other. In fact, you could go up to a 2.5, 4, or 5Ah battery pack in the 60V line, and it would be fine, if the added weight is not a problem.
If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you could diagnose and replace the bad cells by following guides around building battery packs for RC vehicles, but swapping the shells for these packs would take less than 5 minutes, as long as you have the necessary security bit to make the process smooth.
One note, my Snapper pack has the front facing plastic attached to the battery pack’s board. Both Greenworks ones I have, 2.5 and 4Ah, are separate from the board and close it in. Regardless, they all fit the same, so this is no worry if you notice this yourself.
Charles says
Thanks for your quick reply. I had the Snapper 60v battery pack apart when it wouldn’t fully charge and it was a easy and straight forward job, since I already had the security bits. I’m thrilled that it appears to be a direct and easy swap of the insides. I have a couple of Snapper 60v batteries and swapping the insides will be quicker and easier than dragging out the Dremel. I think my Snapper 60v battery died a early death because it was left in the charger for a long time. Oh well, Live and learn….
Have you ever tried replacing individual cells in a pack? I looked at a few RC car sites that showed how they build batteries and with all of the cross strips on the tops and bottom of the batteries, it looks like a nightmare trying to remove and replace a individual cell or 2.
Brad says
I haven’t had a chance to make an attempt. Thankfully, I don’t have any with bad cells yet, but I have kicked around expanding the capacity of the 2.5Ah pack. Since writing these posts, I bought a house that needs 30 years worth of updates, moved across the state, and got a new job, so time has been tight. That’s also why I haven’t gotten more posts up.
I really have liked the idea of building a small spot welder with a battery and solenoid, which makes the job fairly straightforward, if you’re able to recycle the strips. It’s on my list.
James Duncan says
Thanks very much for this update. I’ll keep it in mind. I have various 60v Snapper and 80v Greenworks tools and batteries. Pretty complete set. I’ve been buying this equipment on close-out. For instance, the 60v Snapper batteries closed out at Walmart for $35 each. So I’ve wound up with 2 80v chargers, 2 60v chargers, 2 80v batteries, and 5 60v batteries plus numerous tools at close out prices. I have two acres that I keep clear, formerly with gas tools. Anyway, I know the day will come when I have battery trouble. They time out. So I like to know about options and am experimentally inclined. I’ll post myself if I figure out or learn about any new tricks as I did with my Greenworks trimmer modified to take Snapper batteries as proof of concept.
Scott says
Could you elaborate on this? ” I took a picture of my 60V Greenworks battery next to a 60V Snapper battery to show the difference”… and then you show a picture of both batteries. Unfortunately we can’t know which battery is which as the labels do not show. Basically I have a Greenworks 80v snowthrower, and Kobalt batteries, and I don’t want to grind out the tool guide rails of course.
From here and other blogs, what I understand I need to grind out the bottom channel so it’s 2mm wider. Unfortunately nobody has precisely stated whether you grind the bottom channel at it’s top edge or bottom.
Brad Scott says
I can see how it is confusing. I mentioned in my other post, where I also used this image, that the Greenworks battery is on the left and Snapper battery is on the right. As an illustration, comparing the two 60V batteries shows that the difference is not large, but application to a Greenworks 80V versus a Kobalt 80V is similar.
I don’t have these two 80V batteries to compare myself, so I am going by images I’ve found of each via Amazon. Your research has lead in the right direction, as only the bottom channel seems to differ between the branded versions in all cases I’ve found. From the Amazon pictures, I can see that the Greenworks battery has a lower channel biased toward the edge where it tapers inward. The Kobalt battery’s lower channel is more in the center of that section. To make the Kobalt battery fit within a Greenworks device, that channel would need to expand upward, and the 2mm you found in your research looks to be about the correct offset. You could check this by measuring where the top edge of the rail in your snowthrower sits compared to the corner where it tapers inward at the bottom, and mark that as the top cut guide on the Kobalt battery case.
Does that clear up where you were stuck?
Matt says
I’m here for the same project (new dremel and work station on the way) and have Kobalt/Greenworks so I wanted to contradict your hypothesis above with available data since I’m busy pilfering your idea. By my measurement it’s more like 4mm that the Kobalt needs to come up to match the Greenworks, and 4mm the Greenworks needs to come down to match the Kobalt. The channels themselves are about 8 mm wide, and they each hit each other right about the halfway mark. In a more interesting twist and I wish I could attach a pic, there’s a faint outline in the plastic of both that surrounds the area that encompasses both grooves about 14mm wide, with the top half cut out on the Greenworks and the bottom half for the Kobalt, so I’m pretty confident expanding into the opposite side on both will cause no issues.. I have two of each type so planning to widen a total of 8 channels to make them all universal across all tools and both chargers.
Matt says
One more note, project completed, and successful. Four total batteries now fit in both the Kobalt and Greenworks chargers. Black plastic shavings definitely covering a several meter radius around the dremel stand.
Brad Scott says
That is great to hear! I still think it’s likely possible to make “full universal” batteries in this form factor, by cutting a contiguous notch out of the bottom section. The challenge is that the thicker plastic doesn’t go completely to the corner of that section, so getting the top edge right is key. I don’t have the variety of tools and batteries to actually test this though.
Nabi says
Well, all so good, but I’ve found the 40 volt Kobalt chainsaw to be a pretty effective beast, cutting through even surprisingly large arbutus–14 inch diameter plus–in the rain forest where I live, very comfortable to carry around. I wonder if you know if the Greenworks 40 volt batteries can be modified to fit.
Brad Scott says
That is an interesting challenge. I haven’t got any of the 40V tools myself, but the Greenworks batteries are directly compatible with Crafstman, Victa, Poulan, McCulloch, and Sterwins 40V batteries, with a minor modification of clipping a tab or two on either side. Kobalt uses an unusual battery case for 40V, so that would be a challenge. There is a good chance that the connector assignment, or “pinout,” of both packs is the same. It would be possible to check this with a multimeter. Looking at the Greenworks 40V from above the Greenworks connectors, positive is the left side and negative is on the right. I haven’t found a pinout on the Kobalt 40V battery, but from what I can find, it appears that the pinout may be the same. If you can confirm they will match, there is high likelihood to get it to fit, if the cells haven’t been stacked too tall. Unfortunately, without a Kobalt 40V battery and device or a Greenworks 40V battery myself, I can’t offer more than theory here. A chainsaw would make getting a secure fit within the tool fairly critical, so beyond verifying electrical compatibility and size, some way to hold the Greenworks battery in the tool would probably be necessary. 3D printing could help in making an adapter.
Jonny says
Does anybody know offhand, if I were to buy a Greenworks battery, and modify the bottom grooves to fit Kobalt products, will the Kobalt charger work to charge the Greenworks battery?
Brad Scott says
Yes, it will work. Inside the case, the electronics are interchangeable. I have two Greenworks chargers that work well with a modified Snapper battery. Other readers have had success with different brand combinations, because they are the same inside.
Lee H says
I bought Kobalt 80v for my trimmer and blower, and would like to buy a Greenworks mower – I assume the same mods work in reverse and using the Kobalt batteries on the Greenworks mower (I have two batteries, so those would likely get some use). Also, I assume the Kobalt charger on my wall would accept and charge the Greenworks batteries? If so, would it charge them without modification? (I could see just getting the GW mower and an extra battery and just sharing the charger…)
Brad Scott says
Yes, the same is true across the brands that Global Tools manufactures, including Kobalt batteries on Greenworks tools, as long as you stay within the same voltage family of tools. Kobalt 80V batteries would easily work in the Greenworks 80V mower once modified and still operate their original tools. The Kobalt charger would work on the Greenworks 80V battery, BUT because the rails on the charger are set for Kobalt batteries, some modification would still be involved. If you modified the Kobalt batteries to fit the Greenworks tool and the Greenworks battery to fit Kobalt, you would have a completely interchangeable system!
I have seen tool only options and packages with the tool, one or two batteries, and a charger, so you may end up with a second charger anyway. I keep one in my basement and one in the garage so that I can rotate my 3 batteries a little easier.