| If you've ever went to use your favorite cordless | | | | a battery. I've experimented with different way |
| tool and found the battery dead or took the | | | | of recharging my batteries and have come to |
| battery off the charger and have it go dead | | | | one conclusion.For modern batteries, it doesn't |
| prematurely, then you know the frustration that | | | | matter 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 a | | | | tool does not perform adequately. As soon as the |
| rechargeable battery just about quicker than | | | | cordless drill won't screw a deck screw in all the |
| anything I can think of. It also reduces the | | | | way, the battery goes on the charger and a |
| battery's life span. If it seems you're constantly | | | | fresh one is popped in.I've known some people |
| buying battery's or if it seems you're not getting | | | | who would clamp the trigger down and fully |
| good usage times between rechargings, take a | | | | discharge the battery but I have never seen it |
| look at how you're charging your batteries.Keep | | | | make a difference.One thing I never do is leave |
| the recharger in a cool place. Recharging your | | | | the battery on the recharger for an extended |
| batteries in a 100 degree garage is a good road | | | | amount of time. Even with the tools that don't |
| to a short battery life.During recharging, try and | | | | get used that much, once the battery is charged |
| keep a fan on the charging unit. Batteries can build | | | | it is taken off the charger.Tip #5. Always have a |
| up a lot of heat during recharging and they need | | | | backup You just never know when the battery |
| help disapating the heat.Tip #2. Battery packs are | | | | will go. Always have a back up ready to go. This |
| not indestructable. I'm constantly amazed at how | | | | usually means a third or fourth battery. It's cheap |
| careless many people are with their | | | | insurance against having to work with hand |
| battery's.Crack a housing and you might as well | | | | tools!Tip #6. Make Sure You're Using the Correct |
| open the wallet back up. Store the tool and | | | | Charger Another one of the things you'd think |
| battery in the case it came in if at all possible. If | | | | would be common sense, however I see people |
| no case is available, then a soft sided tool bag | | | | trying to recharge their Makita batteries on their |
| with some cushion will protect the tool and | | | | Dewalt chargers all the time and wonder why it |
| battery until it's time to use it again.Tip #3. Water | | | | doesn't work.Recharging your battery on the |
| is a Killer of batteries You'd think this would be | | | | wrong charger is certain death for your cordless |
| common sense, but I see cordless tools laying in | | | | battery. The battery and the charger should tell |
| back of pickups and on the jobsite during wet | | | | you if they are a match or not. You can also find |
| weather and just have to wonder how many | | | | this information in the owners manual for most |
| battery packs the owner must have had to | | | | tools.Don Lawson is the Tool Guru at You can find |
| buy.Keep the battery pack dry and clean. Wipe | | | | more information on a wide variety of cordless |
| any moisture off as soon as it gets on the tool. If | | | | tools 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 Charge | | | | coupons and closeouts on a wide variety of tools. |
| There is some controversy about how to charge | | | | |