Get the battery charge on

The pop myth is that National Aeronautics and Space Administration highly-developed

the 1st power tools so cosmonauts could cast free, drilling samples of the moon's surface.

But even National Aeronautics and Space Administration says they were invented by Black & Decker in 1961. Three years later, a minimum-torque wrench flew on Gemini missions. In 1968, a core-sample drill went to the moon on Apollo missions. There were no power cords to tangle, and even in zero gravity the tools dug holes and turned bolts rather than turn the astronauts.

Here on Earth, you'll feel the torque in your articulatio radiocarpea as a drill turns. Eliminating that is a costly piece of engineering still reserved for space. But fifty years later, power tool batteries pack a lot more power for drills,

circular saws, wrenches, leaf blowers, chain saws and for many jobs around the house, way more than you need.

Increasing power

The beginning power tools were powered by self-contained nickel-cadmium cells. They were heavier and bulkier than corded tools, had much less power, limited run time and extensive recharge time. But, maybe as the novelty if not the cordless convenience, people bought them anyway. In the 1980s 9.6-V tools showed improvement. In the 90s, as manufacturers raced to have the most powerful tools on the market, there were 12- and 14-volt systems. That's the low end of battery packs available on most full-size power tools today.

Capacity has climbed with efficiency improvements mainly from 2 sources: ni-cd batteries (ni-cad) and the more recent li-ion batteries (li-ion).

To save the weight and bulk in check, several companies offering ni-cad tool lines concentrate on 18-volts. Others carry ni-cads at 24-volts. Li-ion models have surged ahead, and several manufacturers at once offer li-ion tool lines with 28-volt power.

Comparisons

Among the biggest differences between the two battery types is in memory effect, a common problem with laptop and mobile phone, too. For example, by recharging before the dewalt battery is depleted, and repeating a recharge approach pattern, the battery basically loses track of its upper and lower limits, and capacity plummets. Nickel-cadmium battery can also lose strength to what's called lazy battery effect speedily discharging power when disconnected a problem due to repeated overcharging.

These issues are resolved by li-ion batteries. They have no memory effect.

Get the battery charge on

By: Darren.Chan

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