If you've ever went to use your favorite cordless tool and found the power tools batteries dead or took the battery off the charger and have it go dead prematurely, then you know the frustration that comes along with owner cordless tools.
1. Heat is not a battery's friend. Heat will kill a rechargeable battery just about quicker than anything I can think of. It also reduces the battery's life span. If it seems you're constantly buying battery's or if it seems you're not getting good usage times between rechargings, take a look at how you're charging your batteries.
Keep the recharger in a cool place. Recharging your batteries in a 100 degree garage is a good road to a short battery life.
During recharging, try and keep a fan on the charging unit. Batteries can build up a lot of heat during recharging and they need help disapating the heat.
2. Battery packs are not indestructable. I'm constantly amazed at how careless many people are with their battery's.
Crack a housing and you might as well open the wallet back up. Store the tool and battery in the case it came in if at all possible. If no case is available, then a soft sided tool bag with some cushion will protect the tool and battery until it's time to use it again.
3. Water is a Killer of batteries You'd think this would be common sense, but I see cordless tools laying in back of pickups and on the jobsite during wet weather and just have to wonder how many battery packs the owner must have had to buy.
Keep the battery pack dry and clean. Wipe any moisture off as soon as it gets on the tool. If it starts to rain, it's time to take a break.
4. To Drain Completely or Leave Some Charge There is some controversy about
how to charge a battery. I've experimented with different way of recharging my batteries and have come to one conclusion.
For modern batteries, it doesn't matter whether you run the battery completely down or not. By completely down I mean until the tool does not perform adequately. As soon as the cordless drill won't screw a deck screw in all the way, the battery goes on the charger and a fresh one is popped in.
I've known some people who would clamp the trigger down and fully discharge the battery but I have never seen it make a difference.
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