Charging Drill Batteries

Ni-Cd vs Ni-Mh vs Li-ion. Cordless Power Tool Battery History

2011-04-20T20:40:00.000-07:00

The name of the game is to have great mobility. Get rid of the ball and anchor that ties us to the power bar. That is why we are considering buying a cordless power tool. Battery power though, has to meet our production needs. It has to do the job! It has to be powerful, lightweight and long lasting.... and work in cold weather!

In the last 25 years, tool manufacturers like Makita, DeWalt and Milwaukee have invested huge research dollars to advance the technology. The main focus has been to produce a lighter cordless power tool. Battery weight has been the greatest challenge, and the greatest opportunity for improvement.

By studying the understanding the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of cordless tool battery, we can more effectively purchase tools that best fit our needs.

Nickel cadmium (NiCad): The "Ni-cd" is the mother of all batteries typically used for a cordless power tool. Battery production is relatively less expensive then other alternatives and these batteries have proven to be fairly durable and a cold weather friend.

Ni-cd batteries are more likely to take more charges then their Ni-Mh cousin but have a history of "memory affect problems." Some manufacturers dispute this, as second generation ni-cad batteries come onto the market, especially in the higher end professional grade cordless tools.

Cadmium is consider to be a hazardous waste and in this more environmentally conscious society ni-cad batteries do present some marketing challenges. They are also larger and heavier then the next generation of Ni-Mh batteries

As well, many feel that a ni-cd cordless battery pack has reached its peak performance within the constraints of acceptable weight. It has no more juice to give. As we demand more powerful cordless tools, so must follow the battery technology.

Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-Mh): these batteries were originally introduced as a more environmentally friendly and powerful battery option. But their design dictated greater internal resistance and its associated heat generation. It is this heat production that leads to it downfall.

In fact chargers for the Ni-mh batteries include fans onboard so the batteries don't overheat.

Heat causes the nickel metal hydride batteries to survive less re-charges and thus offer a shorter life cycle. This leads to a lot of consumer frustration with the ongoing need to purchase a new cordless battery pack. The higher amperage, lower weight and smaller size of the typical Ni-Mh battery is offset by its shorter life cycle and thus higher cost.

Metal hydride batteries were also not well known for cold weather performance, thus for any in the construction trade where outdoor usage was a factor, they tended to stay with the heavier but more reliable ni-cd batteries.

Li-ion: This is the new kid on the block that is promising to blow all other cordless battery packs out of the water.

lowest weight of the 3 for any given voltage
maintains runtime at the lowest temperatures

So what's the down side? Li-ion batteries require an electronic circuit to control the power movement both to the motor and from the charger, assuring that each cell receives and expels the same amount of power. This prevents damage to your Li-ion cordless battery pack. It also suggests longer re-charge times to allow for rebalancing cell to cell differentials and more sophisticated battery chargers. This all adds to the cost and complexity of the design.

Time will tell if this technology will be the winning one.

Some Generalities: #1 = best #3 = worst

	Ni-Cd	Ni-Mh	Li-ion
Lightest	#3	#2	#1
Cold Weather	#2	#3	#1
Best Price	#1	#2	#3
Run Time	#3	#2	#1
Shortest Recharge time	#1	#2	#3
Life Cycle	#1	#2	#1

Key Factors for Cordless Power Tool Battery:

Run time is the amount of work a tool can do, from one charge. As the battery reaches the end of its service life, you often notice a decline in run time

Life cycle is the number of times you can recharge the battery.

Amp-hour rating: The higher the rating the longer your tool will last, so this is the key to comparing two identical, say 14.4 volt cordless batteries to figure out which cordless power tool battery will last the longest.

Exactly What Power Tools Might Do For You.

2011-04-18T11:43:00.000-07:00

Recognizing just what you will will need the drill to carry out should certainly aid you choose the very best cordless drill meant for each project. Attempt to use a review pertaining to every one of the drills that you’re deliberating on. Doing this, you may make certain whatever cordless drill you have chosen is a good tool meant for just about any work you should do. In the event you have to have some additional intensity provided by their particular equipment, the best cordless hammer drill would likely be the perfect selection.Having a useful hammer operation, this kind of item of equipment allows the individual extra effect needed for the more challenging projects.A good Special Direct System variation will likely have the more robust hammer action if ever that’s just what you actually need to have.With all the additional hammer capability, and also the most suitable drill bit, it will be easier to drill into the most challenging substances. An integral part of any cordless drill is its battery power. Drill batteries are going to be provided any time you select the drilling or screwing tools, together with a charger. It is also beneficial to buy even more battery packs, so your drill is always available, irrespective of how many hours the project may take you. When you want to use your drill a whole lot, or possibly it’s a resource you have in your profession, you may potentially wish to give consideration to getting a number of spare parts to make certain you will be prepared for just about any little equipment failures. Often the battery is usually one of the key parts of your own drill, for that reason it’s a wise decision to maintain it. Finding out those actions you need to come to be making use of any drill to work on will let you determine what you need. This in turn allows you to go with unquestionably the top rated drill relating to the sort of work you’ll be getting hired to do.

A certain amount of customers could benefit from a compact device which often doesn’t always have to be very mighty. Where as many others may benefit from a product a good deal more mighty, for that reason the capacity created by a battery operated drill just isn’t as vital as its juice. The ideal cordless drill can certainly make any task simpler.

One of the better processes to pick out a battery-operated drill, as well as other cordless tools that you’re pondering over selecting, is simply to consider all ratings with regard to every one of them. Screwdrivers, jigsaws, not to mention belt sanders are to be found in cordless designs. Like drills, there’s an abundance of choice, hence it is advisable to embark on a detailed comparison prior to making a purchase.

28-volt battery delivers twice the run of 18-volt models with less weight.

2011-03-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd. of Hong Kong developed the V28™. This 28-volt battery delivers increased power and up to twice the run time of traditional 18-volt models, yet the battery weighs slightly less. This means the introduction of new tools like the world's first cordless band saw powerful enough for every day professional use. Containing no cadmium, the lithium ion battery has built-in fuel gauge that tells users how much run time is available. In addition, this battery is equipped with built-in Performance Optimizing Circuit to provide consistent, fade-free power throughout discharge cycle to ensure job power consistency.

Techtronic Industries (TTI) and its newly acquired Milwaukee brand has shown a new V28 lithium ion battery technology that will offer some useful functionality and additional oomph to cordless power tools. The new 28 volt battery delivers increased power and up to twice the run time of traditional 18 volt models, yet the battery weighs less and the amount of power on offer enables new first-timetools such as a cordless band saw.

The V28 line of tools also includes a hammer-drill, circular saw, Sawzall reciprocating saw, impact wrench, work light and battery charger. The V28 line will be available at participating distributors nationwide in the second quarter of 2005.

The new technology also offers a number of other benefits over traditional 18 volt battery technologies used in cordless power tools. In optimising the Lithium ion battery platform (most popular for its use in cell phones and digital cameras) for “high current draw” applications, Milwaukee has been able to achieve twice the in-use time of the tools between recharges, a built-in “fuel gauge” showing how much run time is available and some clever recording technology within the tool.

V28 “smart batteries” internally record the first date of product usage, and detailed information about the usage patterns of the tool. This will enable warranty claims to be validated more accurately and will contribute valuable data to improve future tool/battery designs.

Two new V28 product offerings will be announced in the near future - a rotary hammer and job site radio.

How to Recharge a Drill Battery with a Solar Panel

2011-02-24T11:32:00.000-08:00

How to Recharge a Drill Battery with a Solar Panel ?

When working away from a electrical outlet to charge your electric drill battery can be a pain especially when you really need to use your drill on an important project. Fortunately it is possible to use a solar panel to recharge that drill and any other power tool or electrical device’s battery. The question is how to use a solar panel to be able to charge these batteries?

The answer to this question is by connecting a solar panel to a 12 volt battery and then by using an inverter connected to the 12 volt battery you can charge the cordless drill battery and any other electrical device that you may need. Charging a cordless drill battery in this way may take longer than normal.

You can get help setting up this kind of solar charging system by visiting a boat supply store, many people around the world use this kind of solar charging system when living on yachts and its simple to set up, all the components can be purchased at a boat supply store and are the best quality but a bit expensive, you can also find an inverter and solar panel cheaper online to save some cash.

NiMH vs. NiCad vs. Li-Ion

2011-02-23T08:00:00.000-08:00

Making the Power Tool Battery Decision: NiMH vs. NiCad vs. Li-Ion

If you've ever wondered about the difference between NiMH vs. NiCad vs. LiIon you're not alone - there are thousands of DIY home improvement types out there wondering the same thing as you, and wondering how to make the best decisions for their next power tool purchase.

Here's a question you may be asking yourself: "What is the difference between NiMH and NiCd. How do Lithium Ion batteries work compared to the others?"

To tackle this question we have to look at the criteria for making the power tool battery decision. And then bring Lithium Ion into the equation to round out the choices when you're next making a power tool purchase decision.

Read closely - your power as a consumer lies in your understanding of the products available!

Criteria for Making Your Power Tool Battery Decision
According to Building a Better Power-Tool Battery you should be looking at a battery's run time, life cycle, volts and amp-hour rating.

Run Time:
Quite simply run time is the amount of work a tool can do before its charge runs out.

Life Cycle:
Life cycle is how many times the battery can be recharged during its life time.

Volts (Power):
Volts will determine work output of the tool. John Sara, cordless product manager for Milwaukee Electric Tool, says "Individuals currently using a 18-volt NiCad battery, should see 2 - 21/2 times more work output from a V28."

Amp-Hour Rating
The higher the Amp-Hour rating the longer the battery lasts - be aware that power tool batteries of the same voltage will often have different Amp-Hour ratings.

NiMH vs. NiCad vs. Li Ion: Picking What's Right for You

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) Batteries:
I don't think I could define it better than wiki pedia: 'A nickel metal hydride battery, abbreviated NiMH, is a type of rechargeable battery similar to a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) battery but has a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the anode instead of cadmium. Like in NiCd batteries, nickel is the cathode.'

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) advantages:
-- lighter than NiCad
-- 2-3X capacity to equal size NiCad

Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) disadvantages:
-- fewer life cycles compared to NiCad
-- shorter run time
-- performs the worst in cold temperatures, so keep that in mind if you plan to use tools powered by NiMH outdoors in cold weather
-- higher self-discharge level than NiCad
-- voltage drop at near-discharged levels

Nickel cadmium (NiCd) Batteries:
According to Wiki pedia: the 'nickel-cadmium battery (commonly abbreviated NiCd and pronounced 'nye-cad') is a popular type of rechargeable battery for portable electronics and toys using the metals nickel (Ni) and cadmium (Cd) as the active chemicals.'

Nickel cadmium (NiCad) advantages:
-- longer life cycles
-- performs in cold temperatures (perform well to 20F)
-- lower self-discharge level than NiMH
-- no voltage drop at near discharged levels

Nickel cadmium (NiCad) disadvantages:
-- Heavy, making it harder to use for longer periods of time
-- May suffer from 'Memory Effect' or 'False Bottom Effect' if constantly discharged half-way and then recharged (wiki pedia)

The Lithium ion (Li-Ion) Battery:
The new comer to power tool batteries, Lithium Ion are hot because they have 'one of the best energy-to-weight ratios, no memory effect and a slow loss of charge when not in use,' according to Wiki pedia.

Lithium ion (Li-Ion) advantages:
-- High performance in cold weather - to 0F - great for winter outdoor use
-- Light weight. You can lift tools powered by Lithium Ion over your head all day.
-- Increased life cycles over NiCad and NiMH, so it keeps going past other batteries
-- more rapid charge times that get you back on the job more quickly

Lithium ion (Li-Ion) disadvantages:
-- less tested than other battery formats - in early stages of development
-- has a shelf life based on life of battery, not related to charge or charge time
-- can sometimes erupt or explode in high heat - hot cars, direct sunlight, etc, or sometimes after tampering. a more dangerous battery than the others
-- permanent damage to battery if stored at too-low discharge level, so be careful and keep these charged well

What battery is right for your power tool decision? Clearly there are many different options, and many different pluses and minuses for each battery type. That's why it's imperative that you come to your purchase prepared with knowledge that will help you make the right decision for your situation.

Plus you are certain to impress the guys at the big box tool depot when you display your knowledge about the different types of batteries and their different merits.

Now you know what to look for - life cycles, run time, volts and Amp-Hours and you know the three major battery types. I hope that with that information you'll be better equipped to make the decision between a NiCD, NiMH or Li-Ion battery!

Source:Garrett French:Editor for ToolCrib.com

How To Disassemble A Makita 18V Battery

2011-02-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

How To Disassemble A Makita 18V Battery by Thomas West

Here’s a pretty cool article I came across on how you can save money by opening the pack and replacing the individual batteries inside, instead of having to buy a new one. Again, I came across this article only and won’t take any responsibility of what could happen to you or your battery if you should take this route. Do this at your own will!

As with any battery, it will being to lose power over time. The Makita battery will begin to be depleted once it has reached it’s life cycle recharge time. Although Makita does state the 18-volt LXT battery produces 280-percent more lifetime work with 2-times more cycles and it could be charged any time with no effect on the battery. A self-discharge keeps the battery cells active and ready for use anytime. However, eventually the battery will lose its power and will not hold a charge, requiring a replacement.

Instructions (you’ll need a Soldering Iron with chisel tip):

Place the battery pack with the contacts facing upward on a work area. Install a chisel tip onto a soldering iron. Plug the iron in and let it heat up.
Push down gently with the iron and work around the entire perimeter of the top of the battery pack so that the tip cuts, or melts, through the plastic case without damaging the batteries or components inside the case.
Grasp the battery pack near the contacts at the top and pull it straight upward to separate the two halves. Pull firmly but gently to separate the batteries from the adhesive insulator sheet that holds the them into place in the bottom of the battery pack casing. Place the bottom portion of the battery pack aside.
Remove the batteries from the upper portion of the battery pack by heating up the soldered connectors with the soldering iron. Pull the battery away from the pack to release it from the adhesive insulating sheet. Remove all batteries (there are a total of 12) in the same fashion if necessary.
Unplug the soldering iron and let it cool.

The Makita LCT203W

2011-02-21T06:52:00.000-08:00

Makita Drill Batteries

Many manufacturers specializing in drills, drivers as well as fasteners are continually taking care of improving the performance of the products. An existing instance is the Makita lct203w which is a part of the company’s Cordless Combo Tool Kits. Cordless combo kits have become in reputation amongst professional builders and also among other do-it-yourselves because of its ease. Other than the fact that it is quite versatile when it comes to where you can utilize it (power or no power), additionally it is even more suitable as you don’t need to keep trying to keep that power cable out of your way.

The major specifications of the Makita LCT203W incorporate a quarter inch hexagonal shaft as well as the drill is driven by just a 10.8 volt battery. Among the advancements that Makita did on this certain cordless combo tool kitsbatteries is to use lithium-ion as an alternative to nickel cadmium. The down sides of the latter comprise it is a shortened usage time, along with other circuit complications. They are also claimed to have discharge issues. You need to bear in mind that if a battery is known for a short life time, it implies you need to replace it too often. Two other issues arise here, the cost implications over time and the environmental challenges of continuously needing to dispose of.

The lithium-ion batteries on the other hand have a number of positive aspects. The first needs to do with the shorter time it takes to fully charge coupled with the long duration it requires to discharge. This longer duration it does take to discharge holds true both when it is being used and when it is inactive. In reality, it takes as long as two years when it is not in use for it to shed its charge – nearly all batteries take less than six months. The Makita lct203w lithium-ion batteries furthermore weigh quiet low which implies the drill isn’t overweight to tire your hands when working. The negative effects of the batteries is of course the fact that they are higher priced to purchase and may even not work perfectly in winter months.

The Makita lct203w are 2 piece Cordless Combo Kits which are very compact and with extraordinary power for its weight. The drill is a dual speed item and provides a torque of up to 200 in.lbs. This is from the 1300 revs per minute which is extremely powerful actually. In addition to the 10.8 volt compact battery, also you obtain a charger with your purchase. You can adjust its options with a lever to provide 18 options as well as the grip is extremely tight so that you need not worry about it coming loose while you drill.

Eventually, you will get very good warranties which are in the selection of three years which can let you know how certain you should be about its caliber. So it’s a device you must think of whether you would like to drill, drive or fasten.

Source: agirlandagun.net

Improve Cordless Drill Battery Life

2011-02-21T06:43:00.000-08:00

Improve Cordless Drill Battery Life

Four steps to improve cordless drill battery life

Step 1

Improve a cordless drill battery and make it last longer by charging your battery completely when you first buy a cordless drill. Many people make the mistake of charging it for only 10 or 15 minutes. This actually lowers the life of the battery. Manufacturers recommend a full charge the first time you use a cordless drill because the battery has a memory. If it's not charged completely the first time, the battery's memory will consider that a full charge, and the battery won't last as long as it should on a charge.
Step 2

Keep your cordless drill battery strong and improve its performance by charging it completely after your battery runs down. The way to tell if your battery is fully charged is to look for a red and green light on the charger. When the red light is on, your battery is charging. When the green light is on, the charger has cut off and your battery is fully charged.
Step 3

Clean the cordless drill battery contacts as a way to improve its performance. Batteries usually have two contacts (one negative and one hot). Use a rag and clean away any dust or debris on the contacts. Make sure that your cordless drill contacts are also clean of debris.
Step 4

Know that you can improve a cordless drill battery by upgrading the battery that comes with the drill you've bought. Some companies have started making lithium batteries for your cordless drill. These batteries are stronger and last longer, therefore you can do more work with less charges.

Source: batteries-inc.com

I need a Drill Driver, but which one should I get

2010-12-20T18:09:00.000-08:00

A cordless drill/driver is very important in completing most home-improvement projects around the home. Whether you’re hanging curtain rods, building a deck or fence, running electrical wires, or installing shelves in a closet, you’ll need to drill holes and drive screws. You’ve gone to Sears, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Lowes. They all have at least 20 different cordless drills hanging on display. How do you decide which one is best for you?

Cordless drills have changed dramatically in the last two years and the newest generation features small size, powerful motors and fast charging lithium-ion batteries. Many of today’s drills are half the weight and size of the same power drill 2 years ago. Don’t let your husband or father tell you otherwise, these new cordless drills will do the work you need them to do. Today’s drill/drivers put enough muscle into your hand to tame even the largest jobs without wearing you out from handling them all day. Five important measures of a quality cordless drill/driver are size, torque, speed, batteries, and clutch.

Expect to pay $80 to $100 for a quality 180 inch/lb sub compact cordless drill/driver. $150 to $220 for a quality 320 -400 inch/lb compact drill/driver and $250 and more for a quality 500 inch/lb full size cordless drill.

SIZE – The physical size of the newest cordless drills is a lot smaller than the drills of just a year ago. The new sub-compact lithium drill/drivers weigh in at 2 lbs. The equivalent nicad powered cordless drill of just two years ago weighs in at 5.2 lbs. These new drills are easier to hold and allow you to get into tight places. All the new drills have lights to help you see inside of closets and work in normal household lighting situations. In fact many of the newest drills will easily fit in your kitchen drawer.

TORQUE – When I talk about a cordless drill’s power, I’m really talking about how much rotational force, or torque, it produces. I am not talking about the battery voltage. This rating, in inch-pounds will help you compare one drill to the other and decide if the drill is big enough for the tasks you want it to do. 180 inch/lbs is enough power for most drilling, screwing and repair tasks around the home, 320 inch/lbs is enough for most home construction and remodeling tasks. Only consider a higher torque full size drill if you have a lot of lag bolts to set when building a deck, holes to drill in concrete, or using a large specialty attachment like a bulb auger (for planting tulip bulbs) When you’re shopping for a cordless drill, read the box or go to the manufacturer’s web site and look for the torque numbers on the specification page.

SPEED – Today’s new lithium powered drills will have two or more variable speed settings. Usually a 0-600 rpm (revolutions per minute) and 1-1600 rpm. The lower speed is used for drilling large holes, driving large screws and precision tasks. The higher speed is used for drilling small holes, countersinking, and setting large numbers of smaller screws. When using your drill always start on the low speed setting and only switch to the higher speed when you get used to the task and find you can work accurately with the higher speed. Don’t buy a cordless drill/driver with just one speed. The one speed is usually too slow for most tasks and many times is an indication of a cheap, low quality drill.

BATTERIES AND CHARGERS – A few years ago, environmentally friendly nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries began replacing the popular nickel-cadmium (NiCd) cells that powered most cordless tools. Those batteries have now been replaced with the same type of battery found in your cell phone, the lithium-ion (LiIon) battery. The new lithium-ion batteries have equal or better run time, half the weight, no memory issues, and the ability to hold a full charge for more than a year while sitting in your kitchen drawer. Prices have dropped on the lithium powered tools so much that buying a NiCad is no longer worthwhile choice. You can now purchase a good, lightweight homeowner drill with a lithium-ion battery for as little as $79.00.

Today’s latest chargers are energy-star rated and are very efficient. The new chargers will also charge the batteries much faster than before. The newest chargers will charge a battery in 30 to 50 minutes. In most home repair projects one battery is all you need. With the new lithium batteries and chargers you can keep the battery fully charged and it will always be ready to work for you. For larger tasks, if you start a project with two fully-charged batteries, and always keep one on the charger, you’ll be able to work constantly as the new chargers can “fill up” a depleted battery as fast as you can drain the one on the drill. You’re probably not going to have wait for a battery unless you’re driving screws nonstop. In my experience, when building outdoor furniture I use one drill for the pilot holes and one for putting in screws. The new chargers will charge batteries fast enough that I only have to keep one extra battery on charge and I can work constantly without having to wait on the charger.

The cordless drill manufactures have yet to figure out that it would be beneficial to have the battery connect to the drill the same way so you could use the batteries on more than one brand, but a few retailers have developed lines of cordless tools that all work off the same battery. One manufacture has over 35 home repair and lawn and garden tools that use the same lithium battery. I personally would not even consider buying a NiMH or NiCd battery powered cordless drill anymore. Make sure you can remove the battery from the drill. There are a few cordless drills out there that have the batteries permanently attached to drill. This does not allow you to charge a battery while using the drill. This is another sign of a cheap drill.

CLUTCH CONSISTENCY – All of the quality cordless drill/drivers will have an adjustable clutch (A set of numbers between the chuck and the body of the drill.) A clutch stops the chuck from turning when it encounters a set amount of resistance. This prevents the drill/driver from destroying the screw-head, breaking the screw, or driving it too deeply into wood. Most quality drills today have from 16 to 25 clutch settings so you can fine-tune it and set your screws to the proper depth.

Paul is the owner of the great ToolBoxHero website. There you can find reviews and how to articles on hand tools power tools and using tools around the home.

Testing Cordless Tool Batteries

2008-12-27T08:39:00.000-08:00

Testing Drill Batteries

Using a multimeter / Volt meter to determine if a rechargeable battery still has enough voltage to hold a charge.

You will have to first charge your battery for at least an hour. Then set a multimeter to the voltage range of your battery. For instance if your battery is 18 volts then use the 20 volt scale on your meter. Your leads should be plugged into the Red and Black or Volts and Common ports and touch the two battery terminals with the probes. Fully charged, an 18 volt battery should test 1 to 2 volts higher than the voltage listed on the battery. In your case, the battery should show at least 19.0 ~ 20 volts and maybe even more. If it’s below 15 volts, its marginal. If it's below 14 volts, the battery needs to be replaced.

If your battery shows a high voltage but still doesn't run your Drill, then you probably have a problem with the Drill. The Drill motor can wear out and may need new brushes, but on most drills these are soldered in and can't be replaced easily. You can burn the motor by using a dull drill bit or non stop drilling for long periods of time.

The main reason that Drill batteries go bad is they’re run down too low before recharging. This can cause a polarity reversal in some cells, which is why they fail to recharge to their operating voltage when recharged. A power tool battery should be charged as soon as it begins to slow down. Let it cool, then put it in the charger at room temperature. You must also maintain the battery by recharging it every 30 to 90 days. It takes that long before it will self discharge down to a voltage that it should be charged. If you let it sit for several months, the battery Will drain completely and you will have to replace it.

Some battery distributors can replace the cells in the battery and with the rising cost of these battery packs, i would recommend going this route. You can specify the amp hour of the cells to use end up with a better battery pack than you started with.

Drill battery charger doesn't work

2008-11-24T10:07:00.000-08:00

posted by firemedic13 on Jul 03, 2007. at www.fixya.com

I have a new Hitachi portable drill that employs a lithium ion battery. The drill works fine, but the charger, that I have only used once with no trouble, no longer works. The red light went on went I plugged it in, and it stayed on, as it should of, when I put in the battery, but then soon mysteriously went off. There doesn't seem to be any power getting to the charger. I, of course, checked the outlet, in order to see if that were where the problem lay, but the outlet works fine with other electronic items. I also tried plugging the charger into a different outlet, but that too had no positive effect. Any advice that you might offer me regarding what might be wrong here, and how I might fix it, would be greatly appreciated.

Best Solution:

Hi Firemedic13;
Most chargers like yours have a fuse inside them. Remove the screws that hold the charger together. The fuse will be on the low voltage side of the transformer. Un-solder and replace it with one of the same value.
If the charger is not held together with screws (doubtfull) you will have to carefully cut along the seam where they were glued together. A dremmel tool works good for this. After repairing use some ABS pipe glue to re-seal them together.
If the fuse is not blown then the unit will require testing by someone that is proficient with a multimeter. Most times it is the transformer that has fried a wire. If the sides of the transformer have any burnt spots on it then it will be the culprit.
Hope this has helped.
Best regards; HELP2DIY

Cordless Drill Battery Blues

2008-10-22T10:32:00.000-07:00

Published by Duane Craig

I have a cordless DeWalt drill that came with two 12v battery packs. One of them died and won’t recharge - the charger light blinks continuously and according to information on the the charger that’s when the battery pack should be replaced. I got a little more life out of it by cleaning the contacts and then charging it overnight, running it down and charging it overnight again. But, after few more charges it wouldn’t charge anymore.

This drill has done a lot of work from deck building to siding to kitchen cabinets. So, I can’t complain too much but it kind of galls me that a new battery costs about half what the whole kit originally cost on sale. These batteries ought to be $10. According to DeWalt, 85 percent of Ni-Cd batteries are used in cordless power tools and the company estimates there are 431 million of these tools in U.S. households. And that number was from 2001. You would think that economies of scale would have kicked in by now and they would be cheap.

But the first step in any battery decision is finding out what to do with the old one. DeWalt recommends recycling the old batteries through Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC). Basically it tells you where to recycle your old batteries at a facility near you. So I put in my zip code and sure enough there were more than a couple of options including Radio Shack and Home Depot. So, now I can sleep better at night knowing the old battery will be dealt with so I don’t have the fate of the human race on my shoulders if I just throw it in the trash. But, I still need a new battery. Anyone who has ever used a cordless drill knows that if you want to use it for six or eight hours you need at least two batteries.

I read some opinions (expert testimony) regarding the concept of buying refurbished batteries and they were not favorable. If any of you have a contrary opinion I’d like to hear it, but by my readings refurbished is questionable. There is another option where you send in your battery and they rebuild it (isn’t that refurbished?). The one place I looked at, ToolBatteryRefill.com called it “Refilling” the battery and claimed the process they use gives you a battery that will run 20-40 percent longer than the original equipment. I used the form that narrowed down just what my battery was and the cost was $41.25.

An Internet search showed the battery available at a couple of places for $46 (I always round up since the whole 90-something-cent concept used to price things just means it’s going to cost the next dollar anyway).

So, shipping, handling and other expenses considered, buying new appears to be the way to go.

So, now I come back to costs. In a world that is well polluted wouldn’t you think people would be offering solutions that encourage you to recycle, or reuse your old batteries? The incentive comes in the performance, but the price has to match up as well. Okay, so maybe I’m being too stingy what with the costs of having to dispose of the waste material so let’s say it costs $20 for a refurbished or refilled, and I’ll even factor in another $6 for shipping and handling, both ways. That’s $26. If you know of someone who will deliver to my door a $26, 12v, NiCd battery that will fit my DeWalt drill, and that will last at least as long as original equipment, let me know. Comments are welcome for this post and all the others, too.

Convert a drill battery to wall power

2008-10-22T10:09:00.000-07:00

In the spirt of Instuctables, I'm adding some of the sugestions for improvement and why I didn't do things that way in the first place. Some I had considered, others i had not.

Q. Why not just put in new batteries?
A. Too expensive. The drill was $5 (with case, extra drill and 2 battery packs) and worked for a while. The wall wart was free at another garage sale. Brand new unit would be about $20 and be ready 'out of the box.' A new set of batteries and a charger for them would not be worth the time or money. If it was a good brand name on the other hand...
A. While trying to find out which cells in the battery were live and which were dead, I lost the parts. Thus, no battery shell to reload : )

Q Use a Zener transorb/5 f. capacitor/ect.
A Aint got one. Too expensive to go out and get some just to play with. I don't feel comfortable enough with electronics to risk the parts.

Q Use a more powerful transformer.
A Aint got one. That and i don't know how much I can pump threw the motor before it burns out. I may end up finding a bigger transformer, or trying it on AC current-but not untill I don't need this one any longer.

You may notice a theme here-this is a cheep fix with what I had on hand. Nothing fancy, not a lot of pre-planning to get in the way of getting something finished. Are there better ways to do this? Absolutely : )

Convert a battery drill to wall power

step 1Research!
wall transformer for project power supply http://www.instructables.com/id/EQ3VVA5ZVKEYF7HZ0W/ or Reuse "Wallwart" transformers http://www.instructables.com/id/EC1BYG2…

step 2gather your parts (and tools)

First, look at the drill. On the side it will (hopefully) have a description of the battery pack. If it doesn't, look up what a replacement would be. In this case, an ol…

step 3Void your warrenty

Open up the drill. It's useful to figure out which leads on the drill and power supply are which. If you don't, and the drill doesn't work, try switching leads around…

step 4Playing with fire

Cut the end off the power supply. If I had the parts, I might have put a jack in the drill. Instead, it's perminent. Strip and tin the ends of the wire. Sand, flux an…

step 5Conclusions

Put it all back together. It works! Well, it works as a drill, which is what i needed. It only overpowers the first setting on the clutch, otherwise I can stop the …

Articl from Instructables.com

How to Improve a Cordless Drill Battery

2008-07-16T06:23:00.000-07:00

A cordless drill can be an excellent tool for home improvement jobs or commercial jobs. There are many different volt sizes of batteries for a cordless drill. They come in 9 volt, 12 volt, 18 volt and some 24 volt. Of course, the higher the voltage, the stronger the drill.

1.Improve a cordless drill battery and make it last longer by charging your battery completely when you first buy a cordless drill. Many people make the mistake of charging it for only 10 or 15 minutes. This actually lowers the life of the battery. Manufacturers recommend a full charge the first time you use a cordless drill because the battery has a memory. If it's not charged completely the first time, the battery's memory will consider that a full charge, and the battery won't last as long as it should on a charge.

2.Keep your cordless drill battery strong and improve its performance by charging it completely after your battery runs down. The way to tell if your battery is fully charged is to look for a red and green light on the charger. When the red light is on, your battery is charging. When the green light is on, the charger has cut off and your battery is fully charged.

3.Clean the cordless drill battery contacts as a way to improve its performance. Batteries usually have two contacts (one negative and one hot). Use a rag and clean away any dust or debris on the contacts. Make sure that your cordless drill contacts are also clean of debris

4.Know that you can improve a cordless drill battery by upgrading the battery that comes with the drill you've bought. Some companies have started making lithium batteries for your cordless drill. These batteries are stronger and last longer, therefore you can do more work with less charges.

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

Drill Batteries

Drill Batteries

2008-04-08T17:29:00.000-07:00

Recently Bosch drastically reduced their price on the 36 volt Lithium tools to the point they are actually cheaper than some of their own 18 volt Ni Cd tools. In addition to these new low prices they have also supplied Ohio Power Tool with an additional FatPack 36 volt battery for every drill/driver kit and 4 piece combo kit sold. (Get the battery with kits, no mail-in rebates) I am having a tough time finding comparable brands that have a better deal on 18 volt Ni Cd Drill/Driver kit with three batteries.

My assumption is they are basically giving these tools away at little profit or most likely a lose. This is a common practice in other industries such as video game consoles where they lose money to get you into the system but then make up for it over the next few years with video game sales. Bosch makes exceptional power tools and the 36 volt Lithium tools are probably their most impressive line up. These tools have not however made their way into most peoples hands. People tend to be loyal to one brand until compelled to make a switch. I think Bosch is trying to make that compelling argument, a 36 volt drill/driver kit with 3 lithium ion batteries priced at $229.00 is pretty compelling. A full 4 tool combo kit with 3 lithium ion batteries is only $499.

Clearly the goal here is to get more 36V tools and more importantly batteries into the hands of as many consumers as possible. Bosch is looks to the future and plans to expand their Lithium tool line up. Future success with any cordless line is very much dependent on how many users currently have the batteries. Lose some money upfront, gain more users for years to come.

Bottom line is if you are looking to upgrade some older tools or looking for a completely new cordless combo kit, now is the time to take advantage. These tools give you the same power as if you were plugging strait into the wall and with 3 batteries there is essentially zero down time. The Bosch 10.8v tools also get a price drop PS20-2 to $119 and PS40-2 to $169.

If you have any questions about Bosch Tools or any other tools call the experts at Ohio Power Tool, 800-242-4424.

Get the Job Done with Drill Batteries

2008-02-15T06:47:00.000-08:00

By Ken Morris

Cordless drills of all shapes and sizes line the shelves of hardware stores and home improvement stores everywhere, and they are the must have tool for all kinds of DIY projects. With so many different kinds of cordless drills and battery drills to choose from, you'll have to do a little bit of shopping around to make sure you are getting the very best drill for you. Like all cordless tools, fit is the most important thing - you want a drill that feels comfortable in your hand and one you can use easily. However, there are some other factors you should consider, like the features of the drill.

Cordless Drill Features

If you want to be able to use your drill for a variety of different projects, then you will need to look for a drill with multiple speeds. Your hard materials will need a slow and steady drilling speed, while soft surfaces need to be drilled at high speed. Of course, you can take all of the guess work out of the equation by choosing a battery drill that senses what you are drilling and sets the right speed automatically.

The battery in the cordless tool is always a major concern. Tools require quite a bit of power, and you need a battery that can stand up to your needs. Drills that have two batteries are the best choices, because they extend the life of the drill. Also make sure you choose a drill with rechargeable batteries.

Drill Manufacturers

In wood working shops, Makita drills are the cordless drill of choice, and for good reason. Makita literally wrote the book on cordless drills, as they were the first company to create one. Makita drills are durable, dependable, and thanks to their two rechargeable batteries, they are long lasting. As the creator of the cordless drill technology, Makita always stays ahead of the curve when it comes to new drill features and functions.

Ridgid drills are another kind of cordless drill that is popular with users. These drills are known for their power - their inch drill packs a whopping 18 volts of power. Further, their batteries are among the longest lasting of all of the power drills out there, and the drills can be run on two speeds, depending on what kind of job you need to do. The only downside here is that some Ridgid drills can be extremely heavy, so make sure you test them out in the store before you buy.

About the Author:
Ken Morris publishes mainly for http://www.insidewoodworking.com , an online site with information about cordless drills and cordless tools. His comments on batteries for cordless tools can be found on his site . This and other unique content 'cordless drills' articles are available with free reprint rights.

2008-01-28T11:19:00.000-08:00

How to Choose the Best Cordless Tools in Today's Crowded Marketplace

The indispensable cordless tools, how did we ever get along without them? If your cordless tools are more than a few years old maybe it is time to take a look at the new breed of tools available.

The most noticeable advancements have been in the battery life, charging time, ergonomics, and torque. If your cordless tools are more than a few years old, maybe you should consider taking a look at what's new in the market. Over the years it's been my experience that when it comes to cordless tools, you actually get what you pay for! This does not mean you need to purchase the most expensive tool on the shelf.

So maybe you have decided to take a look for yourself? There are many factors to consider when it comes to cordless tools. Will it be used all day long or only once in a blue moon? If you are a homeowner and only use cordless tools around the house for minor projects and repairs, there is no need to buy the top of the line tools. However as I stated before you actually get what you pay for, with this in mind I would strongly recommend staying away from the cheaper tools.

Let's just pretend you are driving past the local Mega-lumber/roofing/tool store when you suddenly remember you have been wanting to stop in and check out a new cordless drill. You arrive in the tool aisle and you see a 25 ft. long shelf, three levels deep, with nothing but cordless drills. Aqua blue, black, bright orange, light green, putrid green, red, yellow, amongst others which I can not identify. Where does a person start?

Here are a few ideas to help get you started. Ask your dad, brother, brother-in-law, co-worker, father-in-law, or local handyman. Still do not have an answer, then please read on.

Battery strength is one of the most important factors when choosing any cordless tool. Be wary when evaluating battery strength, higher voltage batteries are not always the best. The type of battery plays a big factor in how the drill will perform over a period of time Nick-Cad (Good), Lithium-Ion (Best). Amp/hr is where the cheaper tools fall on their face 1.4 (bad) 2.4 (good).

Chuck size is another factor in determining the purchase of a cordless drill. For the average homeowner a 3/8" should be fine, however for heavier work a 1/2" drill should be considered.

Torque means how hard can the drill twist, the higher the better.

Weight of the drill can actually give you a good idea of how well its built, after all, steel gears are heavier than plastic ones.

Color can also tell you quite a bit about a drill, specifically, where it is manufactured. Aqua blue (Switzerland), red (Czech), yellow (Mexico), and sometimes the name will even give it away, Nissan etc.

Aqua blue is my color of choice. I realize there is no comparison between a watch and a cordless drill, but by the same token, there is no comparison between a Swiss watch and a Chinese watch either.

I purchased a cordless tool combo-kit of the 18-volt aqua blue variety in the late summer of 2006. The bag contained a quick 30 minute charger, two 2.4 amp/hr batteries, sawzall, circular saw, flashlight, drill, and a jigsaw. I took it home and fully charged the batteries as the manufacturer recommended. Within a couple of days I had to drive approximately 1,500 3" screws in treated lumber. My new aqua blue drill performed this task with room to spare, something that would have sucked the blood out of my yellow drill. As of this writing I have no complaints about my aqua blue tools, and would recommend them to everyone.

Rickie Bell of this article has 28 years experience working in the highly competitive housing market of the west and southwest suburbs of Chicago as a carpenter. His job titles have included Master Roof Cutter, Apprentice, and everything in between. Most of his experience is in the high end custom home marketplace, including all aspects of fine homebuilding

Article by Rickie Bell at
http://www.carpentry-pro-framer.com

2008-01-25T09:16:00.000-08:00

Lithium-ion battery wins over remodelers

More power, less weight improves tools' efficiency

Friday, January 25, 2008

You've no doubt heard about lithium-ion batteries by now, and have probably heard some of the claims about what an improvement they are over past battery technologies. So what exactly is lithium-ion, and is it really any better?

Ever since the first cordless tools were introduced and professionals and do-it-yourselfers alike applauded the convenience of no longer being tied to a power cord, manufacturers have been engaged in an ongoing search for batteries with more power and less weight. Lithium-ion, the latest generation of battery technology, offers just that -- and more.

Batteries made from lithium ions offer a lot of energy compared to their weight, resulting in batteries that can provide considerable power while keeping the weight of the tool down. And since much of the weight of a cordless tool is in the battery itself, lighter lithium-ion batteries have also allowed manufacturers to create tools with better balance and greater comfort, so you can use them for much longer periods without fatigue.

In addition to less weight, lithium-ion batteries have no memory, so they can be recharged repeatedly back to their full capacity, even if charged when not fully depleted. They recharge quickly, and also tend to lose less of that charge when not in use.

So, when shopping for a new cordless drill or other tool powered by a rechargeable battery, it definitely pays to look for lithium-ion batteries (sometimes abbreviated Li-ion) over nickel-cadmium (NiCad) or nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH).

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Having embraced the potential of lithium-ion batteries, there are currently several Li-ion tools on the market. Here are examples of some quality tools from different manufacturers that utilize lithium-ion technology:

Ridgid: A manufacturer of professional quality tools that are also very suitable for the home handyman, Ridgid has several tools in its lithium-ion collection, including the Compact 18-Volt Drill/Driver. This is an excellent drill for the pro and the do-it-yourselfer alike, and it really utilizes current lithium-ion battery technology to its fullest. The smaller, lighter lithium-ion batteries clip easily into the base of the handle, and make for a drill with less weight and considerably better balance than some older cordless drills -- something you're certain to appreciate when building a deck or undertaking other big home-improvement projects. You'll also find a tremendous amount of drilling power and driving torque; a battery that lasts a long time between rechargings; and fast, 30-minute recharge times.

Bosch: Another manufacturer known for professional-grade tools, Bosch also has several entries in the lithium-ion cordless tool marketplace. One way that it has taken advantage of the smaller, lighter Li-ion battery is with its great little 10.8-volt "I-Driver." This light, compact, straight-line drill/driver has a head that rotates to five different positions, from zero to 90 degrees in relation to the handle. Even in the 90-degree position, the drill head is only 3 1/2 inches long, so it will fit into even the tightest spaces, but still with enough power to get some real work done. It has an eight-position clutch, accepts any 1/4-inch hex bit, and has a comfortable, sturdy feel. Also in Bosch's lineup of light and powerful 10.8-volt tools are its "Pocket Driver" screwdriver and "Impactor" impact wrench, both of which are compact and light enough to drop into your tool belt, but again have enough power for real work.

Dremel: The small-tool champ, Dremel has used lithium-ion technology to create a nicely designed rechargeable screwdriver called the "Dremel Driver." It uses a 7.2-volt motor, and recharges continuously in its docking stand. At less than 5 inches in length, the Dremel Driver can go just about anywhere, but still has enough power to handle 3-inch screws. It's a great little screwdriver for electrical work, electronics and hobbies, and because it holds its charge for up to two years, it's ready anytime you need it.

Skil: Lithium-ion-powered tools are certainly not restricted to just drills and screwdrivers, which Skil has demonstrated with its new Power Wrench. The Power Wrench works with any 1/4-inch socket, and recharges in its own stand. At a weight of less than two pounds and having 400 inch-pounds of torque, it's great for carpentry work that requires lag bolts or nuts and bolts, as well as for automotive work, furniture assembly and other tasks where you used to reach for a socket wrench.

Craftsman and Sears Split

2008-01-23T05:02:00.000-08:00

By Chuck Cage
Craftsman, a century-old staple of Sears’ tool department may soon operate independently of its department-store master. According to a CNN report, “Sears Holdings Corp. plans to reorganize into several companies,” specifically it appears that they intend to split out the Craftsman and Diehard brands. CNN interviewed a Sears spokeswoman who said that the new structure would provide the “operating businesses with greater control, authority and autonomy.”

The combination of Sears and Craftsman has always been a real powerhouse in the industry, mating decent quality, inexpensive tools to an easily-accessible retail store — a task that other tool manufacturers (lacking their own retail facilities) have found daunting. Could this split mean that we’ll see Craftsman tools for sale in other retailers — even Wal-Mart? Or could this announcement lead to further inroads for other manufacturers into Sears tool aisles?

We can’t help but think that with its own corporate structure, Craftsman might choose to bring more design and manufacturing back in house — which might help to improve the some-are-great-some-not-so-much quality of their power tool and yard equipment lines.

One thing’s certain: if Craftsman retains their prominent Sears placement and expands to other retailers, hand tool manufacturers everywhere will be sweating this year.

We’ll keep a close eye on this story and will pass on any information as we come across it.

Sears To Break Into Several Companies [CNN Money]

New Milwaukee Lithium Ion Drills

2007-12-11T09:29:00.000-08:00

Check it out.

Storing your Craftsman Drill Battery

2007-11-26T09:59:00.001-08:00

Craftsman Power Tools Battery Tips: Craftsman Power tool batteries were designed to work with your OEM CRAFTSMAN battery chargers. Most aftermarket power tools batteries are made with the same Japanese battery cells used in OEM batteries, with the highest in industry standards. The batteries are designed to original manufacturer's specifications, and will meet or exceed original CRAFTSMAN batteries. You can maximize the performance of your CRAFTSMAN battery by several steps. First, keep the CRAFTSMAN batteries clean - It is a good idea to clean dirty battery contacts with a cotton swab and alcohol. Second, exercise your battery - do not leave the battery dormant for long time. You can use the battery at least once every two to three weeks. If your power tool battery has not been used for a long time, perform the new battery break in procedure described above. Third, leaving the battery in storage - If you don't intend to use the CRAFTSMAN battery for a month or more, store it in a clean, dry, cool place away from heat and metal objects. Last, prevent the Memory effect - Keep the power tool battery healthy by fully charging and then fully discharging it at least once every two to three weeks. Li-Ion batteries do not suffer from the memory effect. It will make your battery happy.

Rebuilding Drill Batteries.

2007-10-18T09:10:00.001-07:00

Rebuilding Drill Battery Packs

I’ve had my Craftsman 12 volt cordless drill for about 8 years, and I’ve rebuilt the batteries 3 times. The original sub-C cells were 1200 mAh, but I have been using 1600 mAh cells from Radio Shack. I’ve had fairly good results with them, but typically 2 or 3 cells would go bad long before the rest. A few have even leaked. Another problem has been the cells were just a bit oversize, and trying to get them to fit into the battery case has been a nightmare.

It was time to replace the batteries once again in one of the packs, and I discovered Radio Shack no longer carries NiCad sub-C’s. I naturally turned to the Internet, and found a number of outlets for NiCad batteries. One supplier, www.batterybank.net had the best deal: 10 1800 mAh cells for about $18, plus shipping. Batterybank.com didn’t list the manufacturer, but at that price I figured I’d give them a try. I place my order, and in a week my batteries arrived. The were well packed, in what appeared to be the orginal Japanese manufacturer’s box. There were no markings on the cells, but they did have long tabs, and each positive tab had a piece of heat shrink tubing, presumably to prevent short circuits during shipping.

Opening the battery case only required removing 4 screws. I made a sketch of the visible battery connections before removing them from the case, then I carefully removed the batteries part way, taped them together and then removed them completely. I made another sketch of the interconnections on the bottom, and I also noted where the temperature sensor was positioned. I unsoldered the leads from the two batteries at the end of the string and replace the cells with the new ones from batterybank.com. I positioned the tabs so I could solder them together without having to use any wire, then removed them from the case and wired the cells together on the bottom. A small piece of insulating plastic that was in the case was carefully repositioned, as was the temperature sensor (using a bit of ordinary masking tape to secure it). Because the batteries were the correct size, I had no problem reassembling the case. I popped the battery into the charger, and in about 2 hours my battery was ready to test. I drilled about 50 holes in hard maple with a 3/8” bit, each about 2” deep, and much to my surprise the drill was still going strong. I guess I’ll be replacing the cells in my 2nd battery pack, which I thought was OK, because the new batteries really outperform the ones in that pack.

Rebuilding a battery pack with cells from batterybank.com cost me less than half the cost of a new pack from Sears, and I expect better performance than from a replacement, given the new cells have a much higher rating than the originals. The total time to replace the cells was well under an hour, and only required decent soldering skills.

2007-04-18T10:21:00.000-07:00

The big question


Pistol Grip	T-handle	Right-angle

The most important consideration when buying any tool is: "How Does It Feel In My Hand?"

Any tool should feel like an extension of your hand. The tool may feel great while standing in the store aisle but try to imagine what it will feel like after a few hours of use. While in the store, make sure all controls are convenient, and check to see if the forward/reverse and high/low speed switches in particular are easy to use.

Drills come in three distinct handle styles. The most popular cordless models have the T-handle style where the handle is placed near the middle. The T-handle style distributes the weight for better balance and less wrist strain. Some people still prefer the more traditional pistol-grip style. The third style is the right-angle version, designed for use where space is restricted.

How much power do I need?

Average Weights of Cordless Drills
9.6V	3 lbs.
12V	3.5 - 4 lbs.
14.4V	4.5 - 5 lbs.
18V	5 - 5.5 lbs.
24V	6.5 - 10 lbs.

Cordless drills are measured in volts. Drills are available in everything from around 2 volts (for a cordless screwdriver) to the newest 24-volt tools. Higher voltage means heavier weight, so consider buying a tool that will meet 80-90% of your needs. Twelve to 14.4 volt models are the most popular, and they will usually meet most homeowner's work needs.

Corded drills are measured in amps. Generally, a higher amperage motor means more power.

What type of material will I be using it on?

Drilling softwood, hardwood, metal, and masonry all require different drill speeds. Harder materials or larger bits have to be worked at lower speed. Conversely, softer materials and smaller bits can be used at higher speeds. Look for a drill with variable speed. Variable speed allows the user to control the bit speed, indispensable when you plan on working different materials and accessories.

Consider choosing a drill with an adjustable clutch setting. The clutch reacts to the resistance of the screw, which changes as the density of the material changes, allowing you to drill holes of consistent depth. Adjusted properly on identical scrap material, a clutch can keep you from driving a screw too deep, which makes this feature indispensable for beginners. An adjustable clutch can also reduce the possibility of stripping a screw head or snapping a screw off altogether.

What about heavy duty drilling?

Corded drills don't depend on batteries for power. Their constant supply of electricity makes them better suited than cordless drills for tough jobs like drilling in masonry or boring large holes in wood. Corded drills are available with the same variety of features as cordless. For most homeowners, a 3/8" corded drill is a good choice.

What kind of chuck do I need?

The chuck is the attachment where the bit is inserted, having jaws that grip the bit. Drills come in 1/4", 3/8", and 1/2" sizes. This measurement is the chuck size and indicates the shaft diameter of the bits and accessories that will fit the drill. (For most homeowners, a 3/8" size should be sufficient).

Chucks can be keyed (the jaws are tightened or loosened with a key) or keyless (the chuck can be tightened or loosened by hand). Keyless chucks offer two major benefits. If you have ever misplaced or lost a chuck key, you already know one of them. A keyless chuck will also allow bits to be changed more quickly. A real plus when you need to change from a drill bit to a screwdriver bit repeatedly or if you happen to be wearing gloves on the job.

You can change the chuck in some keyless models with only one hand because the shaft locks when the trigger is off. In most models, however, you have to use both hands to turn the chuck in opposite directions. While you're in the store, change the bit on different drills to see what style of keyless chuck you prefer.

How long will the battery last?

"It depends" is the correct answer. Factors such as temperature, the material being drilled, whether the drilling is nonstop or intermittent, and the whether the battery is at full charge or not - all these will affect a cordless drill's battery charge.

The standard time required to charge a battery pack will vary from one hour to overnight, depending on the type of tool and charger.

Recharge when the drop in performance and power is noticeable. Don't wait until the tool quits working to recharge the battery.

Other features to consider

A reversible drill is a must if you plan on using the drill with screwdriver bits.

Torque is the term used to describe the rotational force exerted by the drill. Today's higher voltage cordless drills will provide nearly the same amount of torque as a corded model. Yes, bigger is better, but increased power almost always brings increased size and weight. Unless you plan on drilling with large self-feeding or auger bits, consider a more compact model with a lower torque. Because there is no industry standard for measuring torque, be aware that you cannot compare the torque ratings of drills from one brand to another.

Accessories for drills include bits for drilling wood, metal, ceramic, glass, and masonry. In addition to bits other accessories include hole saws, screwdriver bits, files, rasps, and sanders.

For gift giving, consider an all-inclusive drill set with attachments and carrying case. (Just think of all the projects that can be added to the to-do list!)

Ron. Article by Lowes.
Drill Batteries

2007-04-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

Many 14.4-volt drill/drivers pack all the power you need for a wide variety of chores. And higher-voltage drills can cost little more than less capable, lower-voltage models.

Battery packs with higher voltage and capacity allow today's cordless models to run longer and more powerfully per charge. The best can outperform corded drills and handle decks and other big jobs with minimum battery recharging. Recent tests also show that you don't have to spend $200 or more to get very good performance. Models in the 14.4- to 18-volt range that cost as little as $110 perform nearly as well as the most expensive drills.

You'll also see more impact drivers. While similar to conventional drill/drivers, impact drivers emphasize added tightening and loosening power, courtesy of a spinning internal hammer that strikes an anvil attached to the chuck to boost twisting force. Besides being lighter and smaller (most use 12- or 14.4-volt batteries), impact drivers don't twist in your hands under load. But they tend to be slower at drilling and require special drill bits for that task. All those we've tested have also been loud enough to require hearing protection.

WHAT'S AVAILABLE

Black & Decker and Craftsman (Sears) are the major brands. Along with Ryobi and Skil, they're aimed primarily at homeowners. Bosch, DeWalt, Hitachi, Makita, Milwaukee, Ridgid, and Porter-Cable offer pricier drills designed for professionals.

Most 9.6-volt models cost less than $100. At about three pounds, they weigh half as much as some 18-volt models. But unless you value low weight and low cost over performance, you're likely to be disappointed with a 9.6-volt drill. Many 12- and 14.4-volt models also sell for less than $100, and are more capable. Price ranges: Figure on about $40 to $100 for 9.6-volt drills, $50 to $130 for 12- volt drills, $60 to $200 for 14.4-volt models, and about $100 to $300 for 18-volt models.

Cordless impact drills are made by the same manufacturers who make conventional drill/drivers. Many cost $200 or more.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

A smart charger recharges a drill's battery in about an hour or less, compared with three to five hours or more for a conventional charger. Smart chargers also extend battery life by adjusting the charge as needed. Most smart chargers switch into a maintenance or "trickle-charge" mode as the battery approaches full charge. One drill has a dual charger that charges two batteries at once.

Most cordless drills 12 volts and more have two speed ranges: low for driving screws, high for drilling. Low speed provides more torque, or turning power, than the high-speed setting, which is useful for drilling holes. Most models also have a variable speed trigger, which can make starting a hole easier, and an adjustable clutch, which lowers maximum torque to avoid driving a screw too far into softwood or wallboard, or mangling its head.

Most drills have a 3/8-inch chuck, but some higher-voltage models have a 1/2-inch chuck, which can accommodate drill bits up to 1/2 inch. (Large diameter bits with a reduced shank will fit in smaller chucks.) Today's models are also reversible, letting you more easily remove a screw or back a drill bit out of a hole.

Still other features make some drills easier to use than others. Some models have a second handle that attaches onto the side of the drill so you can use two hands for better control when driving large screws, for example. All but the least expensive drills come with two batteries, letting you use one while the other charges.

Most cordless drills run on nickel-cadmium (NiCad) batteries, which can be recharged hundreds of times. Once they're depleted, though, NiCads must be recycled, since cadmium is toxic and can leach out of landfills to contaminate groundwater if disposed of improperly. Incineration can release the substance into the air and pose an even greater hazard. A few models run on nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries, which don't contain cadmium and are friendlier to the environment. In recent tests, Consumer Reports found that some NiMH-powered models ran longer than many 18-volt and 14.4-volt NiCad-powered models, yet weighed about the same.

Some drills are bundled with other cordless tools and sold as kits. The package typically includes a circular saw, a reciprocating saw, and'ï¿??ï¿??often'ï¿??ï¿??a flashlight and carrying case. Some kits are a relatively good deal. But as our reports have shown, cordless circular saws tend to be far weaker than corded models. And some kits are merely a collection of mediocre tools.

HOW TO CHOOSE

High value in the 14.4- to 18-volt category means there's little reason to buy a 12- or 9.6-volt drill/driver. You won't save much money, and power and run time are lower. You'll also find lower-voltage drills that combine ample drilling and screwdriving power for larger household projects without being too heavy for smaller ones.

Determine how much voltage you're likely to need for the drilling and screwdriving tasks you do most. Then ask yourself these questions while you're shopping for a new drill:

Are high-end brands worth it? High voltage isn't the only mark of a capable drill. You can purchase an 18-volt drill with a 1/2-inch chuck for thicker bits, versus the usual 3/8-inch chuck, letting you drill larger holes. But you may not want to pay the $200 or more typical for most cordless drills with that feature if your home to-do list doesn't include larger projects or heavier-duty drilling.

How much are replacement batteries? A cordless drill's battery can be discharged and recharged roughly 500 times before it must be replaced. While batteries can last five years or more, frequent use can deplete them sooner. At $20 to $80 each for many of the batteries that power drills, replacing them can cost as much as buying a new cordless drill.

Battery replacement may be less of a concern if you're buying a $250 drill you plan to keep for a while. And for models that cost less than $100, simply replacing the drill may make more sense than buying a new pair of batteries. Otherwise, consider battery cost along with the drill.

Are you buying other cordless tools? You're likely to be tempted by multi-tool kits, which cost far less than you'd pay for the tools separately, since the tools in each kit are powered by the same batteries and charger. But these kits can be less of a bargain than they seem; performance of some of the tools they include, particularly circular saws, has been mediocre in our tests, and you may not use all of them.

2007-04-10T21:01:00.000-07:00

Quick Guide to Memory Effect

Originally published 2002 in Atomic: Maximum Power Computing

Last updated 26/02/06.

I have, upon occasion, heard people explain that the nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery of cordless drill X is superior to the nickel cadmium (NiCd) battery of cordless drill Y, because NiMH has no "memory effect", but NiCd does.

I have heard other people talk about how the lithium ion battery in their laptop's better than NiMH because lithium ion has no memory effect, but NiMH does.

I have not yet heard anybody extolling the virtues of running your cordless drill from a truck battery, because lead acid batteries don't have memory effect but everything else does, but I'm sure someone has. Probably someone with an impressive collection of trusses.

People have all kinds of strange religious beliefs about the rituals that must be performed to exorcise the Memory Monster. If they were just dancing around their laptop, MP3 player or cordless drill waving incense sticks then I wouldn't care. But they're usually doing unnecessary charge/discharge cycles. Which is bad.

If you flatten a battery before you recharge it - some people flatten their batteries manually, and some chargers do it automatically - you greatly reduce the life of the pack. A given battery pack may last for 500 full cycles, or 2000 partial ones. If you're fully flattening the battery by actually using it, then fair enough. But flattening it as part of the recharging process is goofy.

"Memory effect" is now used as a general term for anything that makes a battery not deliver its full capacity. What the term originally referred to, though, is a phenomenon that's probably never actually been observed in consumer hardware.

True memory only happens in sintered plate NiCd cells (which aren't necessarily the sort of NiCd you're using, and are of course completely different from any kind of NiMH cell), and it only happens when you precisely discharge a cell to exactly the same level over and over again, and recharge it without any overcharge. True memory effect happens in satellite power systems, electronics test labs, and practically nowhere else.

Cheap trickle chargers always overcharge if you leave them long enough, and quality consumer NiCd chargers also slightly overcharge, because the slight voltage drop that happens when you do that is what they use to pick the end of the charge cycle. So even if you're using sintered plate NiCds, which you're probably not, your charger will cure memory effect anyway.

What people nowadays call memory effect is a combination of two things.

One - cell aging. Batteries don't last forever. The older they get, the less capacity they have. Live with it.

Two - "voltage depression". Voltage depression is a problem with NiCd batteries and, according to some sources, also with NiMH, and it doesn't affect the battery capacity much at all. Rather, the battery voltage drops unusually quickly as it discharges. Gadgets that monitor their battery voltage therefore think the battery's flat earlier than they should. There may be lots of capacity left at the slightly depressed voltage, but the gadget doesn't know that and flashes its "low battery" warning.

Fully discharging cells cures voltage depression, but if you fully discharge a whole battery then the stronger cells in the battery will "reverse" the weaker ones. The weaker ones go flat first, and then get charged backwards by the others. This is very bad for the weaker cells, and will kill a battery pack quick smart. So don't do it.

Fancier discharging hardware lets you set a voltage to discharge to - say, 0.9 volts per cell. A NiCd or NiMH cell that's down to 0.9 volts under moderate load has practically no charge left; it's very nearly dead flat. But stopping the discharge at that point, rather than letting the pack slump down to zero volts, should save weak cells in the pack from any significant reversal. Well, unless they're so weak that the pack's toast anyway.

There's still not a whole lot of point to doing this, though, unless you've got a scientific battery care regimen and want to start every charge from a precisely known state.

Radio control enthusiasts often cell-by-cell discharge their battery packs to nothing, in order to be able to achieve the absolute maximum super-punchy charge. But they often then go on to use that whole charge up in five minutes or less. Sometimes much less. If you've never welded a battery connector through overcurrent, then you're not in that class.

When people cycle their batteries for no reason and kill them early, they have a problem. Rechargeable batteries are hazardous waste. In most places, including here in Australia, you're not allowed to just chuck them in the bin. Instead, you're meant to take your dead batteries to a recycling centre.

Which, helpfully, doesn't exist.

Various places that sell lead acid batteries will accept them for recycling, but if you want to get rid of ordinary loose cells or consumer battery packs that use the other rechargeable chemistries, there's nowhere in Australia to go. The government requests that you just put your dead rechargeables on the mantlepiece, for the time being.

If you don't want to do that, and also don't want to break the law and make Australia's landfills even nastier than they already are, then the best idea I've been able to come up with is to subvert the Mobile Phone Industry Recycling Program. They send batteries overseas for recycling, and they're only meant to take old phones and their batteries, but I don't believe they have armed guards on their recycling bins. Since one NiCd or NiMH or LiI is much like another, you could just drop the lot in the phone battery bin when nobody's looking.

Ron Batteries

2007-04-06T14:56:00.000-07:00

Battery Conservation Tips

Are you always running out of battery power just before you take that perfect picture with your digital camera? Here are some tips to conserve your batteries when you are out "snapping away".

1) Turn off your digital camera when not in use. If you are in a situation where you must snap pictures quickly, this may not apply as turning digital cameras on and off take a few seconds, and may cause you to miss a picture-taking opportunity. However, if you are taking a leisurely stroll and can afford a couple of seconds before snapping a still subject, by all means, conserve your digital camera's energy!

2) Many digital cameras have a regular viewfinder and an LCD viewfinder. While the digital LCD viewfinder has its benefits, it can drain battery power. Turn it off when applicable and use your regular viewfinder for taking pictures.

3) Don't stop after taking every photo and look at the picture in your digital camera's playback mode. Granted, you sometimes need to look at photos immediately after shooting them in order to make sure your exposure is correct, the lighting is ok, etc., but doing this does use up your digital camera's battery power.

4) If you are using MicroDrive media, be forewarned that these miniature hard drives may take up quite more power than Compact Flash cards.

Taking care of you new battery pack

Normally, a new battery pack comes in a very low charge condition and must be fully charged before use. Refer to the user manual of your portable electronic equipment for charging instructions.

A new battery pack needs to be fully charged and fully discharged or "cycled" as much as five times to condition them into performing at full capacity.

Your equipment may report a fully charge condition in as short as 10 to 15 minutes when the new battery pack is being charged for the first time. This is a normal phenomenon especially for Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd) and Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH) chemistries. When this happens, remove the battery pack and let it cool down for about fifteen minutes then repeat the charging procedure.

"Conditioning" (fully discharging and then fully charging) is necessary so as to maintain the optimum performance of a battery pack, and is recommended at least once a month particularly for Ni-Cd and Ni-MH batteries. Failure to do so could result in reduced charge capacity and can significantly shorten the battery packs useful life. Lithium Ion batteries do not require conditioning.

It is normal for a battery pack to get warm when charging and during use. However, if the battery pack gets excessive hot, here may be a problem with the portable electronic equipments charging circuit and should therefore be checked by a qualified technician.

Rechargeable batteries undergo self-discharging when left unused for long periods of time. This is normal particularly in the case of Ni-MH and Li-ion chemistries. For best results, always store a battery pack fully charged. It should be removed from the equipment and kept in a cool, dry and clean place.

The amount of runtime a battery pack produces depends on the power requirements of components in your electronic equipment.

Don't let under-charged batteries keep you from taking great photos.

If you infrequently use your digital camera, you may think that you after you use your digital camera, recharge your NiMH batteries, wait a few weeks or months, then use your digital camera again, that your batteries will be charged and you'll be ready to snap photos, right?

Oops... Do that and you'll be stuck with a non-functioning digital camera or one that just blinks a picture showing a dead battery.

Rechargeable batteries don't stay charged forever. They tend to lose a little bit of their power every day. If you charge your batteries and frequently use your digital camera, you will probably never notice this loss of power. However, after a couple of weeks, the power loss may be noticeable, and after a couple of months or longer of non-use, those once ready-to-go batteries may have lost enough power to make them unusable.

Don't get caught in this trap. Always charge your batteries before every trip, and make sure to use a battery charger with a sensor that prevents over-charge.

Memory Effect

Ni-Cd batteries remember how much charge was released on previous discharges. It has a tendency to release the same amount of energy with every charge/discharge cycle. If a Ni-Cd battery is always partially discharged before recharging, the usable capacity of the battery will be reduced. The Ni-MH battery is also affected by memory effect but to a lesser degree. A periodic discharge to one volt per cell or "exercise" is essential for Ni-Cd cells to prevent the building-up of memory. "Conditioning" (fully discharging and then fully charging) a battery pack also helps minimizing memory effect. Batteries can be fully discharged by disconnecting the equipment from the AC power supply and letting the equipment run on battery power until it ceases to function. Conditioning the battery once a month will keep it performing at its optimum level for a long time

Ron Batteries

2007-04-05T17:51:00.000-07:00

The Past is Future

As our portable devices get more high-tech, the batteries that power them can seem to lag behind. But Joel Schindall and his team at M.I.T. plan to make long charge times and expensive replacements a thing of the past--by improving on technology from the past.

They turned to the capacitor, which was invented nearly 300 years ago. Schindall explains, "We made the connection that perhaps we could take an old product, a capacitor, and use a new technology, nanotechnology, to make that old product in a new way."

Rechargable and disposable batteries use a chemical reaction to produce energy. "That's an effective way to store a large amount of energy," he says, "but the problem is that after many charges and discharges ... the battery loses capacity to the point where the user has to discard it."

But capacitors contain energy as an electric field of charged particles created by two metal electrodes. Capacitors charge faster and last longer than normal batteries. The problem is that storage capacity is proportional to the surface area of the battery's electrodes, so even today's most powerful capacitors hold 25 times less energy than similarly sized standard chemical batteries.

The researchers solved this by covering the electrodes with millions of tiny filaments called nanotubes. Each nanotube is 30,000 times thinner than a human hair. Similar to how a thick, fuzzy bath towel soaks up more water than a thin, flat bed sheet, the nanotube filaments increase the surface area of the electrodes and allow the capacitor to store more energy. Schindall says this combines the strength of today's batteries with the longevity and speed of capacitors.

"It could be recharged many, many times perhaps hundreds of thousands of times, and ... it could be recharged very quickly, just in a matter of seconds rather than a matter of hours," he says.

This technology has broad practical possibilities, affecting any device that requires a battery. Schindall says, "Small devices such as hearing aids that could be more quickly recharged where the batteries wouldn't wear out; up to larger devices such as automobiles where you could regeneratively re-use the energy of motion and therefore improve the energy efficiency and fuel economy."

An article from ScienceCentral.com

Ron Batteries

977399-001 Craftsman Drill Battery

2007-04-05T14:10:00.000-07:00

977399-001 Batteries

Fits Craftsman :977399-001

Craftsman model Number: 977399-001

Powertool Battery

Battery stuff

2007-04-04T13:14:00.000-07:00

Rechargeable batteries have a lower capacity than disposable alkaline batteries.
This is really a huge challenge for all of us because you can see companies everywhere advertising their "battery fact" as rated capacity and what they are really doing is perpetuating the "battery myth" that disposable batteries have a greater actual or available capacity than rechargeable batteries. The actual or available capacity for a battery is way more important to actual usage but is also more complex to determine, because it really depends on what you are using the batteries for. (For more detail see battery terms page - "actual capacity".)
For most high drain electronic devices, like digital cameras, rechargeable batteries will continue to work much longer than alkaline batteries. In fact, in devices like digital cameras, NiMH batteries will run on a single charge for 3-4 times as long as they would on an alkaline battery.
Heavy Duty, Super Heavy Duty, High Capacity, Quick Charger, Rapid Charger, Ultra, Long Life, etc.

Since there are no real industry standards, many terms used by battery manufacturers have become misleading marketing hype.

"Heavy Duty" batteries are often the least powerful batteries you can buy and some "quick chargers" can take as long as seven hours to recharge a set of batteries!

I believe these terms didn�t start out as misleading. For example the term Heavy Duty battery was used to refer to Zinc chloride batteries which had about 50% more capacity than traditional carbon zinc batteries. But that was 50 years ago! Calling zinc chloride batteries heavy duty became misleading once alkaline batteries with 300% more capacity than zinc chloride batteries became available.

A similar situation happened with battery chargers. Originally NiCd battery chargers took anywhere from 12-24 hours to recharge NiCd cells. Later, chargers that could recharge NiCd cells in half that time were introduced. Unfortunately, calling these chargers "quick chargers" was a real disservice to the rechargeable battery industry. Anyone that purchased NiCd cells and a "Quick charger" only to realize later that a quick charge took seven hours must have been very disappointed. I know I was.

The good news is that it's now possible to buy a battery charger that can recharge batteries in less than two hours, and in some cases even as fast as one hour or less!!

Ron Batteries

Charging Drill Batteries

2007-04-04T11:52:00.000-07:00

Charging new Drill batteries can be frustrating. Most people have been told that they should charge their new battery before using it. Some of you already know that trying to charge the battery first does not always work. Depending on how long the battery has been sitting on the shelf is directly related to how much energy is left in the battery pack. Batteries are not shipped fully charged, but they do get an initial charge from the factory to energize the cells and test the integrity of the pack. If you receive a new or recently built battery pack, your charger may not recognize that the battery needs to be charged. Some chargers, sample the voltage of a battery pack to determine whether or not the pack needs charging and if it see the voltage where it should be like in the case of a freshly manufactured battery pack, it will not start to charge. The charger believes the battery is already at full charge and does nothing or it may light up momentarily and the stop. What is needed is to put the pack into the drill and run it down a little and then try putting it back into the charger. If the charger still will not charge the battery, then you may have a defective charger, but try this first.

Ron. Drill Batteries

Charging Drill Batteries

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977399-001 Craftsman Drill Battery

977399-001 Batteries

Fits Craftsman :977399-001Craftsman model Number: 977399-001

Battery stuff

Charging Drill Batteries

Fits Craftsman :977399-001

Craftsman model Number: 977399-001