Choose the correct drill battery charger for your power tools guide

Cordless power tools are also available in battery mode, which has further improved its usage and practicality. Choosing a right  power tool battery platform can be much more difficult. From 12-volt to 18-volt and prosumer to professional, Today AussieBatt battery experts share a handy guide for selecting the battery platform that’s right for your drills.

12V and 18V cordless drill battery platforms which are the most popular and widely available power tools.We can limit the battery selection even further by removing nickel-cadmium (NiCd), nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries from the list and focus on lithium-ion (Li-ion). Unless you are looking for something cheap, lithium-ion batteries make the most sense as they are lighter and offer more runtime.

How To Select The Right Power Tool Battery Platform For Your Cordless Drills

Stick To One Manufacturer and Battery Type

Invest in a power tool platform that you can afford to expand on. Don’t blow everything on one tool that is so expensive you have to switch manufacturers to round out your tool collection. Cordless power tool batteries are not cross compatible among manufacturers. If you go Makita then you are stuck with them unless you start over with another company. If you’ve already got a cadre of NiCd tools, it makes the most sense to stick with that manufacturer if their chargers are backwards compatible and can charge both NiCd and lithium-ion. Dewalt has taken battery technology a step further with their wireless charging systems, while remaining backward compatible with their current lithium-ion lineup.

Select Battery Voltage Based On Your Job

Pro users make a living with their drills and can’t afford to have them break on the job, which is why they pay a premium for better tool construction and battery technology.

Everyone else is a DIYer, whether your skill is zero or very advanced. A 12V power tool will fit the needs of most handy types who can install a screen door or put up hooks in the garage. 12 volts won’t drive many deck screws but they are small and lightweight enough for most users to handle. 12V Makita 1202 Power Tool Batteries have the most expandable options, as they can be used in vacuums, lights, radios and heated gear, as well as drills, circular saws and impact drivers.

Weekend warriors who plan on building sheds or cutting sheets of plywood, though, will need to step up to 18V battery power. If it’s just a few weekends per year, you can save money by going corded for bigger jobs. No need to spend the money on an 18V cordless power tool that sits on the Makita 1433 battery charger most of the time. If you can handle the heft and the cost, 18V tools give you the most flexibility as they can handle all of the smaller jobs with ease but can also be used to power recip saws, hammer drills and grinders.