What do you do with your batteries? - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

randomkiller · 10-05-2007, 06:41 PM

Since I am with my new employer I have a ton of cordless tools in my truck. Do you guys bring them inside at night of leave them in the truck? I am wondering if there is an adverse effect on them from the cold. I know I have a few months or so to think about it but I was thinking of how to do this easily. I must have 20 various batteries in the back of my truck. Not to mention the ones in my meters.

KillerToiletSpider · 10-05-2007, 06:43 PM

I have never noticed an adverse effect on batteries to cold weather.

Celtic · 10-05-2007, 07:07 PM

Where do the cordless tools get stored on a jobsite...a heated shanty or in a gang box?

daArch · 10-05-2007, 07:24 PM

Most rechargeable batteries "self discharge'. Ni-Cads are the worst as they loose charge the quickest. Ni-MH are relatively stable on the shelf. Li-ion are very good. Storing any battery in a cool dry environment slows down the rate of self discharge. Keeping them in a VERY cold environment is not necessarily bad for them, but they do need time to warm before using to allow current to flow properly.

do not charge in the cold as the auto shut-off of the charger senses heat build-up. If the cells are artificially cooled during re-charge, they can easily over charge. Ni-Cads are good at taking the abuse of over charge and over discharge . NiMH and Li-ion are very sensitive to either and WILL die as a result of either, even once. BTDT.

RobertCDF · 10-05-2007, 10:53 PM

I keep all mine in my trailer and put a heater in it in the winter months. Keeps all the tools warm and they all function better warm than cold.

Celtic · 10-06-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobertCDF

I keep all mine in my trailer and put a heater in it in the winter months. Keeps all the tools warm and they all function better warm than cold.

You don't use the tools in the winter?

In the winter, when you are using the tools for 8 - 12 hours per day ....how do you keep them warm?

bobcaygeonjon · 10-06-2007, 12:41 PM

The most harm caused by leaving your cordless tools and batteries in your truck is usually caused to your truck by the local yo yo's and crack addicts breaking in.

Chris G · 10-06-2007, 03:32 PM

I have to warm up any Lithium tools before it they's work at all. So you might want to keep any Lio-on batteries warm overnight. It gets frustrating walking around with all your drills tucked down your pants. Sometimes I can warm them up by s l o w l y pressing the trigger until it gets up to speed and heats itself up.

Celtic · 10-06-2007, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris G

It gets frustrating walking around with all your drills tucked down your pants. Sometimes I can warm them up by s l o w l y pressing the trigger until it gets up to speed and heats itself up.

Do you run them s l o w l y while they are in your pants?

randomkiller · 10-06-2007, 04:14 PM

I have both lithium and nicads and wasnt sure how the cold effects them. I ruined a $400 Fluke a few years back leaving it in the truck over night, luckily they sent it back repaired FOC after I sent it back to them.

Chris G · 10-06-2007, 06:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

Do you run them s l o w l y while they are in your pants?

I should try holding down the triggers with tape, then I'd be 'alerted' when they were ready to go. "I got happy pants!"

Nail banger · 10-08-2007, 01:20 PM

I have a tone of DeWalt cordless tools and found that when its cold the battries have no charge in the morning. Solved this by wiring my trailer with a retractable extension cord that feeds 10 chargers, and a heater in the winter. Keeps paint, caulk, tools and everything else from freezing.

RobertCDF · 10-08-2007, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Celtic

You don't use the tools in the winter?

In the winter, when you are using the tools for 8 - 12 hours per day ....how do you keep them warm?

When they are in use they keep warm. When they sit over night for 12 hours they get cold and oil and such does not like to move.

Plank · 10-11-2007, 10:03 PM

Depends on the time of year and the weather conditions....Most cordless batteries will be fine, but once it gets below freezing you will start to notice the performance suffer...

Li batteries are better in the cold the Nickle cadium, or nickle-metal hydride...

All batteries will discharge...Ni-cad Ni-MH will deplete faster than Li...It is not wise to leave your Nicads or Ni-MH on the carger 24-7 as they will charge to 100%...charger shuts off, they run down, Charge again..and so on and so on..Each time this happens it is 1 life cycle on the battery. The average Nicad NiMH gets about 450-600 charges, where as the Li gets around 2000.

Dewalt recommends that you leave there batteries on the charger, but at $80-90 a pop I am still not sure If i buy into that, or if they are just trying to sell more batteries..