Batteries & Chargers

If you have ever experienced working with a long, inconvenient power cord, you probably know how it can decrease your mobility and make your work less efficient. Having once faced this trouble, you will definitely appreciate working with cordless power tools that run on battery or battery pack, thus letting you concentrate fully on your repair, construction, maintenance, or DIY projects without constantly worrying of finding a power source.

Using cordless battery-powered tools, it is crucial to use only fine quality batteries that will not die the moment you need them most. When choosing batteries and chargers for your power tool, always consider the run time, life cycle, power and amperage parameters as they are important when deciding what kind of battery to buy. The run time defines the amount of work your tool can tackle before the battery charge runs out. Life cycle expresses the quantity of times the battery can be recharged. Voltage defines the power output of the tool equipped with the battery. The higher the amperage, the longer the battery will last.

There are three basic types of batteries most commonly used for power tools: NiMH (Nickel metal hydride), NiCad (Nickel Cadmium) and Li-Ion (Lithium-Ion) batteries. The NiMH battery boasts of light weight and improved capacity, however being less effective in cold temperatures and suffering a voltage drop at low charge levels. The NiCad battery has longer run time / life cycle, performs well at low temperatures and has no voltage drop at low charge, but it is rather heavy and shows “memory effect”, if not fully discharged and recharged again. The Li-Ion batteries combine light weight and high voltage/amperage.

Battery chargers are chosen depending on the type and voltage of the battery you are using. For additional convenience of use, chargers are also offered in corded and cordless configurations. These lightweight compact chargers can be easily moved and can thus recharge your battery whenever and wherever needed. They provide optimum charge level and fast charging time, protect the battery cells and extend the overall lifespan of your battery. Quality chargers feature an inbuilt fan that keeps the battery from overheating, an easy-to-read charge status display and often a USB port for charging compatible devices.