Cordless Tools and Tips to Increase Battery Life

There are a number of ways you can increase battery life with your cordless tools without requiring a lot of extra effort. Summarized below are tips for increasing the battery life of cordless tools.

First, heat is a killer when it comes to batteries. I remember when I moved to Arizona during the middle of the summer years ago. Within two months both my vehicles had dead batteries even though the batteries were only about 3 years old. This said, if you want increased battery life with your power tools make sure to charge and store the batteries in cool places. Leaving them on the back of your truck in the middle of the summer is simply a recipe for being forced to pull out the corded tool or even worse the hand tool. Also, when charging the battery, use a fan to cool the battery and battery charger while the battery is charging. The battery can build up quite a bit of heat as its being charged.

Second, electricity and water do not mix. Again, leaving a cordless tool, battery packs and battery chargers on the back of an uncovered pickup truck is a recipe for frequently buying new cordless tools. If the tool gets wet at all dry it off immediately. If it begins to rain on the jobsite and there is no cover protection, then call it a day or wait until the rain stops before using the cordless tool again. Third, to increase battery life, take care of the battery packs. Though they are well constructed and dense they are not indestructible.

If they are cracked due to an inadvertent drop they may no longer be chargeable or only partially chargeable. When not using a battery pack and the pack has been fully charged make sure to store it in the cordless tool case and make sure to put the plastic cap over the battery electrodes to prevent accidental discharge.

Fourth, always use the correct charger with your battery packs. Mixing voltage ratings and different vendors’ battery packs and chargers could lead to damaged chargers and batteries at worse, and uncharged batteries at best. If in doubt check the owner’s manual on what replacement batteries should be purchased for your cordless tool and associated battery charger.

Fifth, to increase battery life, always have two batteries with one in the charger and one in the tool. When the battery in the tool runs down to the point the tool is no longer functional, then pop it out and swap it with the battery in the battery charger. Sixth, for increased battery life, always fully expend the energy in the battery prior to recharging it. Some argue that this is not necessary, however my personal experience has shown that I seem to get a longer charge if I fully discharge the battery (use the tool until it no longer operates) before putting it on the charger.

Lastly, once the battery is fully charged take it off of the charger. Though there are protection circuits in the battery charger so that you don’t overcharge the battery it is a wise idea to take it off when it fully charged.