Cordless power tools used for specific purposes are ruling the drill industry nowadays. When you buying cordless drill choosing the right power tool battery is a crucial point for the performance of your power tools. There is various Power tool battery types available, NiCd vs. NiMH vs. Li-ion vs. Li-polymer. Today AussieBatt battery experts tell you how to choose the best power tool batteries.
7 factors to consider when selecting the best battery for a drill
Cycle life
Number of charge/discharge cycles that a cordless power tool battery supports is also an important factor to consider when determining the quality of the battery. Typically you will require recharging your battery when it falls under its capacity. The nickel-cadmium batteries support around 800 cycles whereas lithium drill batteries support a higher number of cycles.
Power Tool Battery Capacity
Capacity is measured in ampere per hour and it indicates the how much energy battery can provide over a period of time. The larger the capacity the longer power tool will work. The capacity of 1.3 Ah is considered good for lightweight applications, while the recommended maximum capacity for a heavy tool is around 3.3. Ah. The good Makita 6012d power tool battery should be able to provide the sufficient energy for the intended work and should be able to operate for, longer hours without getting discharged.
Self-discharge
Under some high temperatures, a battery may not perform well. Because of internal chemical reactions, the battery may automatically use up the stored energy. So, self-discharge is the important factor to consider. Ideally, the good power tool battery should have low discharge rate. The metals like lead acid, nickel cadmium, nickel metal hydride are more prone to self-discharge than Lithium, alkaline, and zinc. So, consider the elements in the battery when making a purchase.
Voltage
Wonder what should be the suitable voltage for your tool? Voltage depends on the type of duty the power tool will do. For example, for light duty drilling tools, the voltage of 4v to 8 v is sufficient. For some high-performance screwdriver, you can opt for 7v to a 15v battery. The medium duty tools like hammers require a battery of 12v to 18v. The heavy-duty power tools like disc clutter, circular saws, and heavy drillers require a voltage in the range of 18 to 36. The best cordless drill battery type is the one with sufficient voltage for your device.
Function
When buying the cordless power tool batteries for many applications, go through its specifications and function like the kind of technology it uses, the protection it provides etc. The good Hitachi EB 1220BL drill battery will have built-in protection circuit to guard against any malfunction. Take into account the efficiency and structure of BMS or battery management system.
Drill Battery Charge Time
Charge time should be low for rechargeable batteries. For the batteries that require regular charging, it’s crucial that you choose a battery with low charging time. You can decide the charge time factor, by observing how fast your battery discharges. If battery discharge rapidly or has a high self-discharge rate then it will take more time to charge.
Weight
The lighter is the battery the more efficient it is to use and install. It should not happen that the battery is heavier because it has more power. In fact, high power density batteries are considered good when they are lighter. The nickel batteries are oldest power tool battery types and that is why they are not lighter.
