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Actually; I just got some new battery powered shop tools from Lowe's. However; that brought up the question of battery care. In this case I bought 18v NiMH battery powered tools. I had wanted to purchase the newer lithium tools – but decided against it considering the number of times I will use them.
The clerk at Lowe's told me that, if I wanted to get the best performance out of my batteries; that I should completely discharge them and then fully charge them. He claimed that many people make a mistake of bringing the batteries home and then recharging with a partial charge still left in them from the factory. He also told me that the NiMH batteries get only about four hundred charges and that I should never charge partially discharged batteries - because it still counts as one of the 400.
Well; I did a little research and am now almost as confused as before the clerk gave me advice. I have listed three sites that I have visited. Two of them confirm the clerk's information and the last one claims that you can damage a NiMH battery - if you discharge it lower than .9v. By the way; the one link claims that the newer Lithium batteries might only get 300 to 400 charges or maybe 100 charges less than the NiMH batteries.
All NiMh rechargable batteries perform better and last longer when they are drained completely before recharging. I've burned through hundreds over the last 12 years in construction. I won't use anything now except Lithium-ion.
All NiMh rechargable batteries perform better and last longer when they are drained completely before recharging. I've burned through hundreds over the last 12 years in construction. I won't use anything now except Lithium-ion.
I wanted to get the lithium – I know that they are considerably lighter. It is just that I will not use the tools, that I just bought, that much. It surprised me that the one website listed the newer lithium as a shorter life span than the NiMH batteries. Did you notice a shorter life span with your experience? By the way, with only 300 to 400 charges on a battery; does that mean that workers in the trades replace the batteries every year?
i had a similar question about a li-ion battery in a weed trimmer; the instructions for getting the most out of the battery were pretty complicated. yet i thought that these batteries had no 'memory' issues, unlike ni-cads
I wanted to get the lithium – I know that they are considerably lighter. It is just that I will not use the tools, that I just bought, that much. It surprised me that the one website listed the newer lithium as a shorter life span than the NiMH batteries. Did you notice a shorter life span with your experience? By the way, with only 300 to 400 charges on a battery; does that mean that workers in the trades replace the batteries every year?
We noticed no notable difference in battery life between the NiMH and Lithium-ion. However performance is definitely better. One 24 volt Lithium lasts about 1.5 times longer between charges than the the NiMH. Plus they are much lighter and the power curve is much more linear, meaning no wear down it performs all the way until the battery gives out and needs a charge.
We replace batteries about once every 1-1.5 years for each tool. Again we have two to three batteries and chargers for each tool to keep them working all day long depending on the job.
i had a similar question about a li-ion battery in a weed trimmer; the instructions for getting the most out of the battery were pretty complicated. yet i thought that these batteries had no 'memory' issues, unlike ni-cads
Well nicads are old tech in the cordless industry. Still in use on lower end power tools.
Well nicads are old tech in the cordless industry. Still in use on lower end power tools.
i know. but my point was about li-ion batteries supposedly not having a memory. for that matter, i've seen many claims that NiMH batteries don't have a memory, either:
Quote:
NiMH refers to Nickel Metal Hydride and NiCd refers to Nickel Cadmium. The major differences between the two types of batteries are is capacity, memory effect and environmental friendliness. NiMH batteries have high capacity, no memory effects and environmentally friendly. Battery_technicals
hard to know what to believe. if i had a bunch of extra cash lying around i would do a side-by-side experiment
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