subject: Best Cordless Impact Drivers - Choosing The Right Battery [print this page] The best cordless impact drivers and drills don't get their rankings entirely founded upon voltage. There are a variety of things which enhance the worth of cordless tools, and, aside from dependability, maybe the most significant one is the kind of power supply, or battery, which the tool uses. This document will explain what to look for while purchasing your future cordless impact drivers.
-- Battery Capacity --
For cordless tools, power is dependant upon battery voltage: the higher the voltage, the more power and torque the tool has accessible. Although far more energy and torque may seem like a thing people want, there are there are trade-offs. Along with maximum voltage rechargeable tools, and with the extra energy comes added cost as well as additional tool weight.
Here is a common comparison to demonstrate the idea. A standard 9.6 Volt cordless drill will usually weigh within the neighborhood of 3-1/2 pounds and set the buyer back anywhere from $35 - $150. As a comparison, a 19.2 Volt cordless drill may weigh up to 10 pounds and cost within the range of $125 - $300. If the elevated torque and energy of a 19.2 Volt cordless drill is truly needed, the added price might be worth it. Nevertheless if you are making use of your cordless drill to occasionally drive fasteners in your home, a 19.2 Volt cordless drill is possibly not worth it because it really is tougher to use (since it's heavy) and money not well invested. Should you really do not require the extra energy, a more affordable, light-weight cordless drill will almost certainly satisfy your needs much better.
-- Number of Batteries --
Another point to consider when buying a new cordless tool may be the quantity of battery packs that will come with the product. Should you plan on using your tool for longer amounts of time or even more frequently, you'll wish to just consider tools that come with two batteries. It is very annoying when your battery quits in the midst of something and you have to wait a couple of hours for your battery to charge so you can get back to what you had been working on. If you are buying a tool, ensure that it comes with two battery packs. In the event that it does not, look up the price of an extra battery and add that whenever you are evaluating costs between tools.
-- Battery Style --
Two varieties of batteries are for sale for cordless tools: Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH). Do yourself a favor by not choosing a cordless tool that makes use of NiMH batteries. Ok, it could be cheaper, but it is low-cost for a very good motive. NiMH batteries have concerns with memory (they must be totally discharged before they are recharged or they get rid of charge total capacity), they do not last for as many charge rotations (the battery packs die faster), and they have reduced power compared with equivalent voltage Li-Ion batteries.
-- Battery and Tool Storage --
Even when your cordless tool is off, it will draw a small quantity of energy from the battery. Whilst the amount of energy becoming drawn is slight, it could add as much as a considerable quantity more than the course of days, or weeks. So whenever you put away your cordless tools, make sure to remove the battery; this may assist make sure that the battery is charged once you want it. Do not maintain your battery in the charger for extended periods of time. Although there are some chargers that claim to be "smart" about this, but as a rule storing your cordless tool batteries inside the charger will lead to them dying sooner than in case you don't. When storing your batteries steer clear of storing them in heat and cold. Cold climate won't harm your battery long-term, however it will lower the quantity of offered energy when the tool is becoming employed. High heat can permanently ruin the batteries of one's cordless tools. Stay away from high heat, and do not charge your batteries in an region which is overly hot, this can permanently harm the battery.
--Charging Your Batteries--
Many higher-end cordless tools now include advanced chargers that allow the battery to be charged in a really short period of time; usually in about 15 minutes. For comparison, a regular charger can take up to 3 hours to charge the battery. If you want a quick-charging battery for your tool, appear into the charging possibilities that are accessible prior to acquiring a cordless tool.
-- Choose a Brand --
An effortless method to keep away from difficulties with battery availability is to decide on a battery size and brand and remain with it. If you consistently buy the same brand of tool with the exact same battery size when purchasing drills, trim saws, reciprocating saws, screwdrivers, and so on, you'll be able to share batteries and chargers between all of your tools. This can improve the number of offered batteries and it ensures that you will never ever run out of charged batteries.