Which Batteries To Put In The Screwdriver

Types of batteries for Makita screwdrivers Detailed information about which batteries are in Makita screwdrivers, how they differ, and how to choose a battery for your power tool and not be mistaken online store of batteries, power packs and power adapters MegaBattery.Ru

Types of batteries for Makita screwdrivers

Replaceable energy storage devices allow Makita screwdrivers to function for a long time without a direct connection to the mains. Periodically, such elements require replacement. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly which batteries are in the Makita screwdriver in order to choose the right replacement for the failed part.

Removable battery classification

  1. NiCd nickel cadmium. It features large dimensions, low price and memory effect. Due to the latter feature, it requires storage in a completely discharged form. Has a large number of charge and discharge cycles.
  2. NiMH nickel metal hydride. It is lighter, but does not tolerate work at negative temperatures (the charge drops rapidly already at 2C). Also endowed with a memory effect (but not so pronounced). It should be stored in the same way as the previous type of battery.
  3. Li-Ion lithium-ion. The most demanded and popular type of tool storage. It retains its charge over a long period of time and does not have a memory effect. Its weight is significantly less than that of previous models.

Choosing the right battery for Makita

Having figured out which batteries are produced in the Makita screwdriver today, you need to understand how to choose the right battery itself. The main indicators when choosing are:

  • Battery capacity. The duration of the device functioning between recharges depends on its value. For home use, it is enough to purchase a battery with a capacity of 1.3-2 A / h, for professional use with a capacity of over 2 A / h.
  • Charging speed. The speed at which the charge level is replenished depends on the battery type. The fastest charging is a lithium-ion battery.
  • Voltage. The battery for the screwdriver can have a voltage from 3 to 36 W. The higher the voltage reading, the longer the tool will operate at full power (without derating when the charge drops).
  • Influence of weather conditions. Only NiMH batteries are affected by temperature changes.

If the screwdriver is used in large-scale production, then preference should be given to elements of the NiCd type. They will provide trouble-free operation for a long time, and will function normally at any temperature. In order not to interrupt the work for recharging, it is recommended to purchase a spare energy storage element.

For home use, the best option would be to purchase a Li-Ion battery (it is important to understand that it will not be suitable for models of equipment with high power). Small size, light weight and no need for a complete discharge contribute to efficient and convenient homework with a cordless tool. Despite the fact that such batteries have the highest cost, they fully pay for themselves with smooth operation and long service life.

When choosing which batteries for a Makita screwdriver are suitable for a particular model, you should pay special attention to the quality of the cell. The lifespan of the drive depends on it, and its efficiency

Buying a removable drive. Removable battery classification

  1. NiCd nickel cadmium. It features large dimensions, low price and memory effect. Due to the latter feature, it requires storage in a completely discharged form. Has a large number of charge and discharge cycles.
  2. NiMH nickel metal hydride. It is lighter, but does not tolerate work at negative temperatures (the charge drops rapidly already at 2C). Also endowed with a memory effect (but not so pronounced). It should be stored in the same way as the previous type of battery.
  3. Li-Ion lithium-ion. The most demanded and popular type of tool storage. It retains its charge over a long period of time and does not have a memory effect. Its weight is significantly less than that of previous models.

Types of batteries for Makita screwdrivers

Replaceable energy storage devices allow Makita screwdrivers to function for a long time without a direct connection to the mains. Periodically, such elements require replacement. Therefore, it is necessary to know exactly which batteries are in the Makita screwdriver in order to choose the right replacement for the failed part.

How to choose a cordless screwdriver: 6 tips and a rating of 5 cool models

A screwdriver is essentially an electrical substitute for a screwdriver. It performs the same functions as its younger brother, only makes the process of tightening / unscrewing screws and bolts much faster. Such a tool is especially effective if there are tens or even hundreds of screws. The device can not only twist the screws. By installing a special drill, you can make holes in wood, plastic and thin metal with a screwdriver. Powerful devices even take bricks and concrete. In general, the tool is indispensable in everyday life and during repairs.

Which Batteries To Put In The Screwdriver

Tool chucks

Buyers often ask: How to choose the right screwdriver for the home, focusing on the type of chuck? The answer is to remember the information and learn to distinguish one type of cartridge from another. There are 3 of them:

  • The key drill in it holds a device resembling cams. The two sides of the chuck are connected with the fastening side to the center and in this way clamp the tool. The chuck nut is tightened with a special key that comes with the kit. It takes some time to replace the rig, but the hold is strong and secure, ideal for working with hard material.
  • Quick-clamping one- and two-clutch. The main difference is that in single-cartridge cartridges, the nozzle changes with one hand to press the cartridge, remove the equipment, put the other. For two-clutch ones, you will have to use both hands, which is already inconvenient.
  • Hexagon. A special socket for bits, which are necessarily included in the tool kit with such a chuck.

Looking through the assortment of cordless screwdrivers with different cartridges, it is difficult to answer which one is better. Here, rather, you need to look at the diameter of the hole in the chuck, it depends on it what kind of equipment can be used when working. In household tools, nozzles no more than 1 cm thick are used.

Rotation frequency

To choose the ideal device for specific purposes, you should pay attention to the number of revolutions. The manufacturer calls this parameter speed or rotational speed. It is adjusted by pressing the trigger, the harder you press, the greater the speed. In addition, the frequency shows whether the tool will be able to drive a screw into a dense material and what is the approximate diameter of the hole if the screwdriver replaces the drill.

If the customer is confident that the device will only be used for tightening screws and bolts, 500 rpm is more than enough. Screwdrivers, which act as drills, operate at 1200 rpm.

Nuance: there are models with 1, 2 and 3 speeds on the market, where one is for self-tapping screws, the second is for drilling small holes, the third is for working with metal or other durable raw materials.

Everything about battery-powered screwdrivers: pros and cons

The main difference between the cordless screwdriver and the network model is the absence of a cord. Autonomy of work and non-attachment to an outlet are the main advantages of a tool with a battery inside.

The advantages of the device also include:

  • Mobility. The tool and the charging battery are in the same housing, no additional elements are needed for operation. It is enough to take the device in hand, and it is already ready to work. Can be transferred to any location.
  • Compactness. Typically, household autonomous screwdrivers are small in size. This makes the device especially convenient in hard-to-reach places.
  • Versatility. Technique replaces screwdriver and drill.

In practice, a cordless instrument is indispensable in objects without electricity, when it is necessary to frequently move or climb to a height. The device can be operated outdoors or indoors.

The only drawback here is the need to periodically charge the battery. Manufacturers are trying in every possible way to solve this problem, for example, offering 2 batteries with the tool. While one is in the working process, the other restores energy.

Voltage and other parameters

For an ordinary buyer of a screwdriver, it is enough to know:

  • For household appliances, the voltage ranges from 10-14 V;
  • For professional, the indicator should be more than 18 V. Some instruments boast a level of 36 V.

The next characteristic is power. The parameter informs the user about the speed of the device. It is logical that the higher the power, the faster the screw will be screwed in. But you should not overdo it, for household purposes and do-it-yourself flow repairs, a 500-700 W model is quite enough.

In order not to send the device for charging every half hour of operation, you should pay close attention to the battery. Modern screwdrivers use:

  • Lithium-ion batteries are not subject to self-discharge, the most common. They can be charged up to 3000 times, and at any stage and discharge level.
  • Nickel-cadmium are not afraid of cold, they work efficiently at subzero temperatures. However, there is a slight downside to self-discharge. You need to store such a battery with 0% charge in order to save capacity to the maximum.
  • Nickel-metal hybrid eco-friendly batteries found in some European brands. These batteries are compact and lightweight, but they are frost-resistant.

When comparing battery specifications, it’s also worth looking at capacity. The autonomy of the device and the number of possible recharges depend on it. Over time, the capacity decreases, this also needs to be taken into account.

Manufacturer focus

The hackneyed truth is a brand beyond competition. Yes, branded tools are more expensive, but they have a quality guarantee and service centers for repairs, and the screwdrivers themselves are made of durable components.

Quite good screwdrivers with a removable battery are also offered by Varo Kreator, Sparky, Dnipro-M and others.

Lithium-ion batteries

Li-Ion batteries significantly outperform other types of batteries. The advantages of lithium-ion batteries include the following:

  • Almost complete absence of “memory effect”;
  • You can recharge the lithium-ion battery at any stage of discharge, without fear of loss of capacity;
  • No power loss at low battery charge;
  • The effective service life is 5-8 years;
  • Low self-discharge;
  • Takes little time to charge;
  • There are no toxic elements;
  • High power with small dimensions.

Cons of lithium-ion batteries:

  • Sensitivity to impacts (may explode with strong impacts);
  • The battery does not tolerate a full discharge and overcharge from this battery fails;
  • Discharges quickly at low temperatures;
  • High price;
  • Service life is lower than that of nickel-cadmium batteries.

It is difficult to say unequivocally which battery is better. Mainly, you must decide for what purpose you are going to purchase a screwdriver. If for home use, which implies infrequent switching on with long interruptions in work, then you need to choose a tool with a nickel-cadmium battery.

Lithium-ion batteries are the professional choice. They are designed for continuous, long-term and uninterrupted operation. The recharge time of the battery is also important for a professional tool. But it is worth remembering one rule: a lithium battery cannot be brought to full discharge.

How can you replace the “native” battery in a screwdriver

If the batteries in your screwdriver have worn out, they can be easily replaced. There is such a thing as battery interchangeability. For example, under the PowerPlant brand, batteries are produced that are compatible with most popular brands of power tools. They cost much less than the “native” batteries and are quite efficient.

But if this option does not suit you, then the batteries themselves in the unit can be replaced with new ones. To do this, you will have to disassemble the battery pack and remove the elements that make up it.

Nickel-metal hydride batteries

NiMH batteries were designed to overcome the disadvantages of nickel cadmium batteries. The positive characteristics of nickel-melall hydride batteries are as follows:

  • Have smaller dimensions and weight;
  • Have low toxicity;
  • The “memory effect” is poorly expressed;
  • Have high capacitive characteristics;
  • Resistant to mechanical damage;
  • The number of charge-discharge cycles has increased (up to 1500).

However, NiMH batteries have their drawbacks:

  • It is forbidden to use them at negative ambient temperatures;
  • The battery tends to discharge quickly;
  • Shorter battery life when compared with nickel-cadmium batteries;
  • High price;
  • Takes a long time to charge;
  • The battery does not “tolerate” deep discharge.

Thus, although NiMH batteries were designed to compete with nickel-cadmium batteries, they are significantly inferior in performance to the latter.

Which battery for a screwdriver is better to choose

A cordless screwdriver is a fairly convenient and demanded tool. The independence from the power supply makes this device mobile and allows you to work in hard-to-reach places. But despite all the advantages, the rechargeable battery (AKB) is the weak link in a screwdriver. Therefore, when choosing a power tool, you first need to understand what types of batteries exist, what is their difference, the pros and cons of different types of batteries.

Replacing batteries with similar ones

On some units, you can see the mounting screws that need to be removed. But on most battery blocks there are no self-tapping screws, since the body is glued together. To open such a block, you will need to carefully insert a screwdriver into the glued place (shown by the arrow) and press lightly to detach the walls of the case. The same actions need to be done around the entire perimeter.

After opening the block, you will see the batteries in it.

  1. You need to solder quickly, not allowing the battery to heat up, as it may become unusable.
  2. For connections, you need to use the “native” plates, desoldering them from the old batteries (they have the required section and resistance).
  3. It is important to correctly connect the plus and minus of the battery. The elements must be connected in series: the minus of the previous battery must be connected to the plus of the new one, and the minus of the new battery to the plus contact of the next battery.

After connecting all the elements, you need to equalize the potentials on all batteries, since they are different. Carry out one charge-discharge cycle: connect the charger to the battery overnight, then let it cool down for a day and measure the output voltage in turn on all cells. If everything went well, then on all batteries the indicator will be the same within 1.3 V.

Now the battery needs to be discharged by inserting it into a screwdriver and loading the latter to the maximum. The main thing is not to overheat the engine of the tool. Give him a little rest. Bring the battery to full discharge. This procedure should be repeated 2 more times (full charge and full discharge).

Nickel-cadmium batteries

This type of battery is the most common, although it is over 100 years old. NiCd batteries have good capacity and low cost.

Nickel-cadmium batteries have the following advantages.

  1. Durability. With proper operation, the battery can last 8-10 years.
  2. Ability to work at low temperatures. The battery power is practically not reduced, which allows using the tool outdoors in winter.
  3. A high degree of reliability and unpretentiousness to working conditions.
  4. The battery can withstand a thousand charge-discharge cycles.
  5. The battery can be stored for a long time in a discharged state.

Since NiCd batteries are not “afraid” of full discharge, you can work with the tool until it stops completely, that is, until the battery is deeply discharged. Only then can you put it on charge without fear that the battery capacity will decrease.

However, nickel-cadmium batteries are not without their drawbacks. The toxicity of the internal filling of the battery causes disposal problems.

Batteries of this type are quite heavy when compared to other types of batteries. In addition, they have a “memory effect”. This phenomenon occurs in a nickel-cadmium battery when it is prevented from fully discharging. If you turn on such a battery for recharging, then it will “remember” this value and during further work it will discharge exactly to this mark. This will lose a significant portion of the battery’s capacity. The figure below clearly demonstrates how the “memory effect” appears.

Varieties of batteries for a screwdriver

There are 3 types of rechargeable batteries on the power tool market:

  • (NiCd) nickel cadmium;
  • (NiMH) nickel metal hydride;
  • (Li-Ion) lithium-ion.

Nickel-metal hydride batteries

NiMH batteries were designed to overcome the disadvantages of nickel cadmium batteries. The positive characteristics of nickel-melall hydride batteries are as follows:

  • Have smaller dimensions and weight;
  • Have low toxicity;
  • The “memory effect” is poorly expressed;
  • Have high capacitive characteristics;
  • Resistant to mechanical damage;
  • The number of charge-discharge cycles has increased (up to 1500).

However, NiMH batteries have their drawbacks:

  • It is forbidden to use them at negative ambient temperatures;
  • The battery tends to discharge quickly;
  • Shorter battery life when compared with nickel-cadmium batteries;
  • High price;
  • Takes a long time to charge;
  • The battery does not “tolerate” deep discharge.

Thus, although NiMH batteries were designed to compete with nickel-cadmium batteries, they are significantly inferior in performance to the latter.

Lithium-ion batteries

Li-Ion batteries significantly outperform other types of batteries. The advantages of lithium-ion batteries include the following:

  • Almost complete absence of “memory effect”;
  • You can recharge the lithium-ion battery at any stage of discharge, without fear of loss of capacity;
  • No power loss at low battery charge;
  • The effective service life is 5-8 years;
  • Low self-discharge;
  • Takes little time to charge;
  • There are no toxic elements;
  • High power with small dimensions.

Cons of lithium-ion batteries:

  • Sensitivity to impacts (may explode with strong impacts);
  • The battery does not tolerate a full discharge and overcharge from this battery fails;
  • Discharges quickly at low temperatures;
  • High price;
  • Service life is lower than that of nickel-cadmium batteries.

It is difficult to say unequivocally which battery is better. Mainly, you must decide for what purpose you are going to purchase a screwdriver. If for home use, which implies infrequent switching on with long interruptions in work, then you need to choose a tool with a nickel-cadmium battery.

Lithium-ion batteries are the professional choice. They are designed for continuous, long-term and uninterrupted operation. The recharge time of the battery is also important for a professional tool. But it is worth remembering one rule: a lithium battery cannot be brought to full discharge.

Which battery for a screwdriver is better to choose

A cordless screwdriver is a fairly convenient and demanded tool. The independence from the power supply makes this device mobile and allows you to work in hard-to-reach places. But despite all the advantages, the rechargeable battery (AKB) is the weak link in a screwdriver. Therefore, when choosing a power tool, you first need to understand what types of batteries exist, what is their difference, the pros and cons of different types of batteries.

Replacement with lithium batteries

Replacing NiCd cells with Li-Ion is also not difficult. It is known from the school course that if the batteries are connected in series, then their voltage ratings will be summed up. For example, your screwdriver runs on a battery with a voltage of 14.4 V, which means that it can be replaced with four 3.3 V finger batteries. This voltage will be enough, because the lithium batteries do not “sag too much” when starting the device.

It is recommended to buy batteries from well-known manufacturers, for example, Sistem A123. The LiFePO4 battery of this company has a capacity of 2400 mAh, sufficient for the normal functioning of the screwdriver. If you buy batteries via the Internet, they will cost you less, around 900 rubles for 3 pieces.

You will also need to purchase soldering acid instead of alcohol flux. In this case, overheating of the batteries will be minimized. The soldering iron must have a power within 65 watts.

You can learn more about how batteries are replaced with lithium batteries by looking at this.

How can you replace the “native” battery in a screwdriver

If the batteries in your screwdriver have worn out, they can be easily replaced. There is such a thing as battery interchangeability. For example, under the PowerPlant brand, batteries are produced that are compatible with most popular brands of power tools. They cost much less than the “native” batteries and are quite efficient.

But if this option does not suit you, then the batteries themselves in the unit can be replaced with new ones. To do this, you will have to disassemble the battery pack and remove the elements that make up it.