Which Battery Is Better For A Screwdriver

Battery for a screwdriver What batteries are better for screwdrivers: lithium or nickel. Service life of screwdriver battery. Comparative ratings of batteries. Is it possible to convert a screwdriver for a different type of battery.

Testing and repairing ni cd battery

An 18 volt battery typically contains 15 cells. To identify the faulty element, perform the following actions:

1. The multimeter lever is set to voltmeter mode.
2. Banks are taken out.
3. Remove the adhesive tape and unfold the batteries in one row.
4. Measure the voltage in series on each bank. If the tester readings are at least 1.08-1.7 V, then the batteries are in good condition.
5. Defective batteries are replaced with new elements.

Additional Information. The battery cells are spot-welded with nickel tape. Replacing unusable batteries with new cans should be done with a welding tape connection.

Li-ion

Lithium-ion batteries significantly outperform the above batteries. With the advent of Li-Ion cells, the memory effect problem was solved. You can charge batteries in any condition without fear of losing capacity.

The screwdriver does not lose power until the lithium-ion batteries are completely discharged. The service life reaches 5-8 years. In storage mode, the batteries are practically not self-discharging. Full charging takes place within 40-50 minutes.

The disadvantages of Li-Ion batteries include sensitivity to the slightest shock from the case. The battery may explode if dropped from a height. When operating in low temperature conditions, the batteries are quickly discharged. Their high cost should be noted.

Types of batteries for screwdrivers

Several types of screwdriver batteries can be found on the market. Each type of battery has its own advantages and disadvantages. Varieties represent such batteries:

• Nickel-cadmium;
• Nickel metal hydride;
• Lithium-ion.

Li-Ion battery check and recovery

The body is usually filled with 18650 lithium batteries. Testing takes place as follows:

1. The multimeter is set to ammeter mode.
2. The batteries are removed from the case and unfold into a tape. The batteries form pairs that are connected in series with each other. To.
3. The black probe is leaned against the negative terminal, the red wire is connected to the positive terminal of the battery.
4. A tester reading around 10 A will confirm that the batteries are in good condition.
5. The nickel strip is removed from the unusable element.
6. A new battery is inserted instead. The tape is spot welded.
7. The rows of batteries are rolled up in two tiers and inserted into the power supply case.

Additional Information. Not everyone has spot welding at their side. In this case, ordinary soldering is used. It should be noted, however, that the solder does not hold the nickel strip firmly against the can terminals. It is better to find a workshop with spot welding equipment.

Reducing the memory effect of NiCd batteries

To get rid of the battery memorizing the lowered capacity level as much as possible, proceed as follows:

• The battery is charged until the green light of the charger indicator turns on;
• A load is connected to the battery (you can connect 2 car bulbs from headlights) until it is completely discharged;
• The process is repeated 4-5 times; as a rule, the battery restores up to 80% of its original capacity;
• This method will be effective provided that the electrolyte is preserved in the battery banks.

Nickel-cadmium

Most screwdriver models are equipped with nickel-cadmium elements. These are the simplest low-cost high-capacity batteries. The NiCd rechargeable battery has established itself as a long-lasting battery. She has served for about ten years. Due to the stable tolerance of low temperatures, the screwdriver can work in the open air during the winter season without a sharp decrease in the charge.

Nickel-cadmium battery for a 12v screwdriver experiences more than a thousand charges and discharges during its entire service life. One of the advantages of a battery is that it can be stored completely discharged for a long time without losing its performance.

Important! They work with a screwdriver until the NiCd battery is completely discharged, without fear of a decrease in its quality characteristics.

Along with this, it is worth noting some of the disadvantages of nickel-cadmium cells. The battery pack is quite heavy. When working with it, the worker’s hand quickly gets tired. Also batteries of this type for screwdrivers are subject to the memory effect. If the battery is not completely discharged on the charger, it will remember the capacity level. Subsequently, the battery will lose performance, reaching this charge level.

Which battery is better for a screwdriver Which battery is best for a screwdriver The device and types of batteries for a screwdriver

• Date: 01-09-2015
• Views: 228
• Rating: 13

• Battery types
• Charging and storage features

The use of a cordless screwdriver does not depend on the presence of a nearby power supply, which increases the comfort of working with the tool. Screwdrivers are intended for professional and domestic use. Accordingly, batteries for them differ in quality, price and capacity. Recently, manufacturers have been producing rechargeable batteries (accumulators) with sufficient power for the tool with a relatively small size of the power source.

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The battery for a screwdriver is a set of elements (cans) connected in series at the bottom of the tool body. The supply voltage range for various models of screwdrivers is 9-18 V. The EMF of a professional tool can reach 36 V. The higher the voltage of the supply element, the more powerful the tool. The more capacity in each battery, the longer it can work without recharging. The battery capacity of household screwdrivers is within 2.7 A / h.

Battery types

How a rechargeable battery works is known to everyone from a school physics course. The power supply consists of 3 main elements: anode, cathode and electrolyte. When charging the device due to chemical processes in the electrolyte, the potential difference between the electrodes increases.

Most often, nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are used to power screwdrivers. Devices of this type have the following features:

Table of comparative characteristics of batteries for a screwdriver.

1. They are distinguished by their low cost and rather large capacity. Designed for 1000-3000 charges. The battery life depends on its model, compliance with the mode of use and charging.
2. The memory effect reduces the duration of operation of this type of device. If the cells are charged before they are completely discharged, the capacitive qualities of the battery deteriorate over time. In this case, crystals are formed on the contacts of the device, which also reduces the capacitance of the device.
3. Another disadvantage of a nickel-cadmium battery for a screwdriver is the toxicity of the chemicals used for its manufacture. In European countries, they refused to use this type of battery.

If a tool with a Ni-Cd power source is rarely used, then over time, the original performance may decrease by 3 times. With regular use of the screwdriver, the battery can last up to 2-3 years. In this case, it should be operated at an ambient temperature of at least 0 C and in the absence of high humidity.

Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries for a screwdriver differ from the previous type of battery in the following technical characteristics:

1. There is no danger to human health during their manufacture, use and after disposal.
2. They have much less memory effect than Ni-Cd batteries.
3. The disadvantages of this type of device include fast self-discharge. When left for long-term storage, they must be charged, and if the battery has not been used for a month, then it must be charged again.
4. The device is sensitive to work at maximum load. Fast discharge over time decreases its capacitive properties.

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The new generation of power cells includes lithium-ion batteries (Li-Ion). You can recharge them at any time, regardless of the degree of discharge.

The devices are environmentally friendly, but it is not advisable to work with a screwdriver with Li-Ion batteries at negative temperatures.

Tools with such a power source are not yet very common only because of the high price of the product.

After purchasing a nickel-cadmium battery, it must be charged, since during storage, its cells self-discharge. To acquire the device with the highest working capacity, it is better to perform three complete discharge-charge cycles. Subsequently, it is advisable to use a screwdriver until the power is reduced to a minimum. It is better to store it in the same condition.

The nickel metal hydride battery has a high self-discharge rate. When storing the tool, its elements must be charged; after a long inactivity, charging is performed within 24 hours. The capacity of the batteries will decrease after 200-300 recharge cycles.

The capacity of lithium-ion batteries is not so dependent on the memory effect, and it can be charged at any convenient time.

The process of recruiting the container should take place at a temperature of at least 10 C, but overheating of the elements is unacceptable. It is better to store batteries by disconnecting them from the screwdriver, 50% charged. In case of prolonged inactivity, the tool should be recharged at least once a month.

Li-Ion type batteries are equipped with electronic protection and are disconnected from the load when the temperature and voltage are exceeded. The number of recharges does not reduce the capacitive characteristics of the power source, the life of the screwdriver without replacing the power elements is about 2 years.

If you plan to use the screwdriver regularly, then it is more practical to purchase a tool with a nickel-metal hydride battery. The state of the batteries of the nickel-cadmium device will have to be monitored and charged periodically. It is better to have 2 sets of power elements and use them alternately when recharging.

Manufacturers are constantly improving the technical characteristics of batteries for construction tools. Perhaps the disadvantages of lithium-ion batteries will be eliminated as well (including the high cost), as well as the problem with their overheating. In this case, the future will remain with this type of autonomous power tool.

Battery types for screwdrivers

What is the best battery for a screwdriver and how to properly use a charger for a screwdriver? According to statistics, the popularity of cordless drills is growing, and this is understandable, because thanks to batteries, these tools are characterized by great mobility, the ability to work far from power sources, as well as safety when working, for example, in wet rooms.

Types of accumulators. The types of rechargeable batteries used in power tools from such leading manufacturers as Bosch, Hitachi, Makita, Black Decker, Metabo and others are nickel-cadmium, nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion.

Below we will look at the advantages and disadvantages of different types of batteries, as well as how to properly use a screwdriver charger to increase the battery life.

What is the best battery for a screwdriver? Let’s take a closer look at the popular battery options:

Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries are the most popular type of battery used in power tools. They are included in the set of drills such as Bosch GSR 12, Hitachi DS 12, etc. They are chosen because of their low price, the ability to quickly charge, and maintain a high capacity in the most difficult conditions, for example, at temperatures up to 20C. Their disadvantage is the memory effect, which is expressed in the loss of unused capacity when charging an uncharged battery.

Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries are a more environmentally friendly option compared to nickel-cadmium batteries. They are included in the Hitachi DS 18 screwdriver set. These batteries are distinguished by partially eliminated memory effect. Their energy density is 40% higher than Ni-Cd, and their capacity is higher. Because of this, they are more expensive. If we compare these two types of batteries in terms of self-discharge, then for Ni-MH it is 1.5 times higher. Lithium-ion batteries are the latest development of manufacturers and have more interesting advantages: the complete absence of a memory effect, which allows the battery to be charged using a charger at any time, regardless of the degree of its discharge, significantly lighter weight, high battery capacity, low self-discharge (approximately 5% per month).

A measure of capacitance is ampere-hours. Simply put, a battery with a higher capacity has a longer runtime under the same conditions within a single charge. In addition, the capacitance affects the power of the tool, since the larger it is, the higher the maximum current. As a rule, household models of power tools have a capacity of 1.5 Ah, while professional models have about 2.5 Ah.

The voltage is in a fairly wide range. From 2.4 V to 36 V. The most popular batteries with a voltage of 9 V, 12 V, 14 V. The first two are usually equipped with cordless screwdrivers and electric screwdrivers, and the last two are more powerful power tools, such as drills. Charger for cordless screwdrivers. How to properly charge the battery and how many hours it is desirable to charge it.

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-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.

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.

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.

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.

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.