Cordless drill is very handy in a pinch but don’t trick yourself into thinking that it can handle everything. If you ever get to the bigger projects you’ll need a corded set of tools. Such as deck building. Not a chance in hell that a cordless tool would have done much good in that situation.
Before you purchase a new cordless drill, it is useful to learn more about how the power tool batteries and charger work. This will help to ensure you are using the drill battery and charger correctly so that you can get the best performance from your power tools.
Power Tool Batteries and Drill Battery Charger Usage Tips
Can I use a 9.6V drill battery in a 12V Cordless Drill?
No, you cannot use a 9.6V battery in a 12V drill. The power tools are designed to run at the specific voltage provided by the battery pack. Too much voltage, as well as too little voltage, it can cause poor performance and life from the tool. The drill may run for short periods of time with the wrong Makita 1835 Drill Battery Pack, but it shortens the overall life of the product. This is the same reason corded products designed for 240V cannot be used in the U.S. where they have 120V outlets or vice versa.
Does the Battery Need to be Completely Discharged Before Recharging?
No. Just the opposite, you should stop using a power tool battery as soon as you feel a substantial decrease in power from the tool. Completely running down a Makita BL1830 Tool Battery may damage the power tool battery. Do not tape the trigger to run down the drill battery.
Why does my Power Tool Battery not hold Charge Anymore?
A drill battery may not hold charge for any of the following reasons:
- Poor charging practices
- The tool battery has reached the limit of its useable life
- A connection between the individual cells has broken
- A single cell or multiple cells have been overheated and have failed
- If the battery still runs, but with limited runtime, the cells may be unbalanced requiring charging through equalization mode to bring each cell back to its maximum charge.
Can you Leave Cordless Drill Batteries in the Batery Charger?
This entirely depends on the charger supplied with your power tool and you must read your owners manual to answer this question. In some cases serious damage can be caused by leaving your drill battery on charge, whereas in other cases it is recommended that you do leave your unit on charge. For example DEWALT chargers have a maintenance mode which allows batteries to remain in the charger, maintaining a fully charged pack until the user is ready to work. If the batteries are stored outside of the charger, they will discharge naturally, 15-20% the first 24 hours, 7-10% the next day, and about 1 % every day there after.
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