Cordless Tools: Tips To Increase Battery Life

If you've ever went to use your favorite cordlessa battery. I've experimented with different way
tool and found the battery dead or took theof recharging my batteries and have come to
battery off the charger and have it go deadone conclusion.For modern batteries, it doesn't
prematurely, then you know the frustration thatmatter whether you run the battery completely
comes along with owner cordless tools.Tip #1.down or not. By completely down I mean until the
Heat is not a battery's friend. Heat will kill atool does not perform adequately. As soon as the
rechargeable battery just about quicker thancordless drill won't screw a deck screw in all the
anything I can think of. It also reduces theway, the battery goes on the charger and a
battery's life span. If it seems you're constantlyfresh one is popped in.I've known some people
buying battery's or if it seems you're not gettingwho would clamp the trigger down and fully
good usage times between rechargings, take adischarge the battery but I have never seen it
look at how you're charging your batteries.Keepmake a difference.One thing I never do is leave
the recharger in a cool place. Recharging yourthe battery on the recharger for an extended
batteries in a 100 degree garage is a good roadamount of time. Even with the tools that don't
to a short battery life.During recharging, try andget used that much, once the battery is charged
keep a fan on the charging unit. Batteries can buildit is taken off the charger.Tip #5. Always have a
up a lot of heat during recharging and they needbackup You just never know when the battery
help disapating the heat.Tip #2. Battery packs arewill go. Always have a back up ready to go. This
not indestructable. I'm constantly amazed at howusually means a third or fourth battery. It's cheap
careless many people are with theirinsurance against having to work with hand
battery's.Crack a housing and you might as welltools!Tip #6. Make Sure You're Using the Correct
open the wallet back up. Store the tool andCharger Another one of the things you'd think
battery in the case it came in if at all possible. Ifwould be common sense, however I see people
no case is available, then a soft sided tool bagtrying to recharge their Makita batteries on their
with some cushion will protect the tool andDewalt chargers all the time and wonder why it
battery until it's time to use it again.Tip #3. Waterdoesn't work.Recharging your battery on the
is a Killer of batteries You'd think this would bewrong charger is certain death for your cordless
common sense, but I see cordless tools laying inbattery. The battery and the charger should tell
back of pickups and on the jobsite during wetyou if they are a match or not. You can also find
weather and just have to wonder how manythis information in the owners manual for most
battery packs the owner must have had totools.Don Lawson is the Tool Guru at You can find
buy.Keep the battery pack dry and clean. Wipemore information on a wide variety of cordless
any moisture off as soon as it gets on the tool. Iftools and battery packs at his website. is a
it starts to rain, it's time to take a break. Tip #4.website that brings readers discounted tools,
To Drain Completely or Leave Some Chargecoupons and closeouts on a wide variety of tools.
There is some controversy about how to charge