Maintaining 'infrequent use' power tool batteries?

[Toxic_Avenger]

Does anyone have any tips for maintaining lithium ion power tool batteries that don't get used every day?
I like the convenience of cordless tools, but they are more expensive than their corded companions. I'm not keen on having something that is useless once the manufacturer stops selling / supplying batteries. Basically, looking for ways to maintain the tool 'investment' as long as I can.

So what's the best way to go? Run the batteries until flat once every 6 months or so, then fully re-charge them and store them?
Keep them fully charged and don't worry about it?
Or store them flat :eek: (although I'm pretty sure that's how they die!)
Or something else entirely?

[Slunnie]

Keep them charged and don't run them flat.

Actually, our newer ones will turn the machine off before the batteries get too low.

[Homestar]

Was told to keep the lithium batteries on my drones over 80% when not using them, so yes, looks like keeping them fully charged is the way to go.

[Aaron IIA]

From what I have read, to get the longest life from lithium based batteries, they should be stored at about a 80% charged state.

Aaron

[d2dave]

Lithium batteries have a very long shelf life compared to others, so if you have them charged they should be ok to sit around for 6 months.

Obviously if they are charged to 80%, which by the way is the best way to store them, the shelf life will obviously be shorter.

So your options are, charge to 80% and check more often or charge to 100% and check less.

And at the other end of the scale, for maximum life you should recharge at 50%.

[Hay Ewe]

I had similar thoughts when I needed to buy a new electric drill, I went with a mains corded type because I wont use it enough and don't have to worry about the batteries decaying and not being able to get replacement

Sure, the convenience is not there, but I have a long extension cable!

[Saitch]

One battery mob (Battery University) state for Li On batteries that they should be stored at 40% SOC & 15 deg C. A mate has quite a few batteries & has a little fridge in his w/shop for storage. Too warm for beverages though:mad:
Steve

[EastFreo]

I am with Hay Ewe. In recent times I have gone back to the cord and mains tools. Too many battery ones lost their charge. Admittedly none were at the top end. But I am only needing them every now and then.

[MR LR]

Buy a big name brand like Makita or Milwaukee, then your batteries are good quality, fit a hugeeeeeee range of skins, and you'll only need to buy two to run as many tools as you want.

On one of our sites we don't have any power, only thing we use a generator for is the drop saw and welder, the rest is Makita Li-Ion powered!

Leave the batteries on the charger when not in use, it will maintain them. Unless you are one of those freaks that think powering an LED will cost them their first born...

[Toxic_Avenger]

I had a chat today with a work colleague who previously worked for a big red Liechtenstein-based tool company.
Apparently there are only a handful of battery manufacturers who supply the power tool market, as none (other than panasonic) have vertically integrated into battery manufacturing. Most configurations of the 18604(IIRC) lithium cells, which are crammed into the various form factors of the battery packs.

Most of the time, the milwaukee's and the makitas of the world will go to such a manufacturer with a requirement for X batteries at Y voltage, for a range of tools that have Z Amp draw to come up with a battery solution for a reasonable run time at an acceptable cost. Much of the quality / obsolescence comes from the 'flavour' of battery the manufacturer chooses, economies of scale / buying power etc, rather than one manufacturer's battery being 'better' than another's.

So a little bit of food for thought on how it works in the tool factories.

There has been plenty of good advice on how to maintain / store the batteries, keep up the good info if there is any still out there!

[d2dave]

Makita and Hitachi use Sony cells.

Bosch, Milwaukee, Ryobi and AEG use Samsung cells.

[superquag]

Hmmm, that may say something... I've never had a Makita battery go bad... but both of my RYOBI and BOSCH cordless toys have had a shrt life.... :angel:

- never owned a HITACHI. - Yet...

[DoubleChevron]

Hmmm, that may say something... I've never had a Makita battery go bad... but both of my RYOBI and BOSCH cordless toys have had a shrt life.... :angel:

- never owned a HITACHI. - Yet...

I've got a Makita cordless drill. Maybe 3 years old. Both of it's batteries have dead cells and not much capacity for charging.

It's a fact of life, buy cordless... buy batteries :(

I try to buy everything with a cord, but damn that cordless drill is a brilliant thing. the power and ease of use is way beyond most corded drills.

seeya,
Shane L.

[BMKal]

I bought a Makita cordless drill a while back. Great drill, but their batteries are crap. Both batteries died after only a relatively short time, and the cost of replacement batteries was ridiculous. Will never buy Makita again.

These days, I stick with Ryobi. Great range of tools, all using the same batteries, and additional / replacement batteries are comparatively cheap. So far though (touch wood) - I have never had to replace a Ryobi battery - the original 4 I bought are still going strong. Not as much "grunt" in the Ryobi drill as the Makita, but good enough for what I need. Have to say though, that the Ryobi battery powered angle grinder is positively gutless. :o

At work (when I was working full time) - we buy Hitachi cordless tools. Have had a brilliant run with them.

Need to buy a new power drill though. I've had a Bosch hammer drill for years for the bigger jobs. Still goes OK, but the trigger / switch mechanism is knackered, and the only way to stop the drill rotating is to pull the power plug out. Have stripped it down and tried to clean / fix, but it's still erratic and past its use by date.

[d2dave]

I was using my Makita stuff today and it got me thinking as to how long I have had it.

I reckon it must be about six years. I started with two batteries and In this time I have had one fail.
When I replaced it about 18 months I purchased another two as I often found that I was using three tools at once,
as was the case today and constantly changing battery from one tool to another is a pain in the arse.

I rarely use corded tools anymore. The only time I do is for heavy duty grinding and planning and an 18 volt planner is on the want list

[d2dave]

I've got a Makita cordless drill. Maybe 3 years old. Both of it's batteries have dead cells and not much capacity for charging.

seeya,
Shane L.

If you have a dead cell in an 18 volt lithium in a Makita it will not charge at all.

[Eevo]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbpbGWEZrSI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-XDpGdLKSk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSdGFVi0Pds

[Homestar]

I've got a Makita cordless drill. Maybe 3 years old. Both of it's batteries have dead cells and not much capacity for charging.

It's a fact of life, buy cordless... buy batteries :(

I try to buy everything with a cord, but damn that cordless drill is a brilliant thing. the power and ease of use is way beyond most corded drills.

seeya,
Shane L.

Just bought a new battery for my Snapon cordless drill - it's over 10 years old and has copped a beating and hard use. Good old nickel metal hydride batteries, not the new fangled lithium stuff - I still haven't seen one of those last as long as the older style batteries.

I'll live with buying batteries for it, it is brilliant, and can't be matched by anything with a lead. :)

[Judo]

How long is a new lithium battery expected to last from new? Any stats based on X usage etc? (Yes, I prob should just google it)

[MR LR]

How long is a new lithium battery expected to last from new? Any stats based on X usage etc? (Yes, I prob should just google it)
We have some that are 4 years old and have been flogged every day for that time.

Anyone that has issues is not maintaining them...

[DoubleChevron]

If you have a dead cell in an 18 volt lithium in a Makita it will not charge at all.

By dead I mean will not charge. I reckon the batteries are way down on voltage. It has little power and goes flat very quickly.

I'm pretty sure you can get the battery packs online though. here they are for $42 each including delivery

18V Battery FOR Makita Heavy Duty 93102 0 193140 2 193159 1 1822 PA18 4334D 5000 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/18V-Battery-for-Makita-Heavy-Duty-93102-0-193140-2-193159-1-1822-PA18-4334D-5000-/171988567233?var=&hash=item280b5144c1:m:mb7YnhZPpBG3ssIUZWdNyQA)

seeya,
Shane L.

[MR LR]

By dead I mean will not charge. I reckon the batteries are way down on voltage. It has little power and goes flat very quickly.

I'm pretty sure you can get the battery packs online though. here they are for $42 each including delivery

18V Battery FOR Makita Heavy Duty 93102 0 193140 2 193159 1 1822 PA18 4334D 5000 | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/18V-Battery-for-Makita-Heavy-Duty-93102-0-193140-2-193159-1-1822-PA18-4334D-5000-/171988567233?var=&hash=item280b5144c1:m:mb7YnhZPpBG3ssIUZWdNyQA)

seeya,
Shane L.
Those batteries are ancient history! They're Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium), Lithium batteries are about 30 years newer technology.

Not even comparable to bunnings crap.

[DoubleChevron]

Those batteries are ancient history! They're Ni-Cd (Nickel Cadmium), Lithium batteries are about 30 years newer technology.

Not even comparable to bunnings crap.

:D I'm pretty sure that is the battery the 18volt makita is. I'll need to double check. It's the right shape to fit.

[MR LR]

:D I'm pretty sure that is the battery the 18volt makita is. I'll need to double check. It's the right shape to fit.
That is the old makita cassette style, you can still buy some of it by special order, but it's been off the shelves for at least 5 years.

[DoubleChevron]

That is the old makita cassette style, you can still buy some of it by special order, but it's been off the shelves for at least 5 years.

drill wouldn't be 3years old :) I guess it's possible they were still selling old stock then.

[superquag]

Try here for an 18v LITHIUM - ION battery... package of 3, around $115.

I bought one of their batteries for a Makita... seems fine so far.

3X 3 0AH 18V Lithium ION Heavy Duty Battery FOR Makita BL1830 BL1815 LXT | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3x-3-0Ah-18V-Lithium-Ion-Heavy-Duty-Battery-for-Makita-BL1830-BL1815-LXT-/161799953938?hash=item25ac075e12:g:2J8AAOSwT6pV1Xd c)

[scarry]

I bought the very first 36V Bosch cordless rotary hammer,it must be at least 10yrs old.That drill has been hammered,we just charge the lithium iron batteries when they go flat.Dont worry about how often or what charge rate,and it still goes fine on the original batteries.

Same with our Hitachi 18V cordless drills and impact drivers,many are well over 5 yrs old,they are used every day.Same as the Bosch,just charge when flat.i have just replaced two Hitachi batteries,the others are fine.

The trigger assemblys wear out,that is an issue we find with any drill that is used a lot.

The biggest problem is the guys losing chargers.They put a battery on charge on a job and it gets forgotten about until it is needed a few days later somewhere else:mad:

[d2dave]

Try here for an 18v LITHIUM - ION battery... package of 3, around $115.

I bought one of their batteries for a Makita... seems fine so far.

3X 3 0AH 18V Lithium ION Heavy Duty Battery FOR Makita BL1830 BL1815 LXT | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/3x-3-0Ah-18V-Lithium-Ion-Heavy-Duty-Battery-for-Makita-BL1830-BL1815-LXT-/161799953938?hash=item25ac075e12:g:2J8AAOSwT6pV1Xd c)

Buying non genuine batteries is a real lottery. Often all they are is batteries that have been made up with either inferior or second hand cells.

I personally wont touch them.