Third-party packs are unreliable, can ruin your tool, and won’t have good battery life.
Cordless power tools are available from several big-name brands, each using its own expensive battery system.
Walk down any hardware tool aisle, andtake your pick.
But no matter whatpower tool brand you use, you shouldn’t buy off-brand battery packs.
If you’re asking yourself, “do my tools need official batteries?”
the answer is yes.
No one wants to spend $100 or more for a pair of battery packs, myself included.
The most widely-available battery is lithium-ion (Li-ion).
These days, you’ll want Li-ion.
You have no clue what the actual battery pop in is.
In case you didn’t know, not all lithium-ion cells are created equal.
You could even kill a knockoff battery while it’s on the charger.
More importantly, each power tool manufacturer has specific battery voltages for each tool.
Some are 12V, 18V, 20V, or even 40V.
Those voltage levels are important to the overall experience.
I’ve seen a no-name battery start melting, killing itself and the power tool.
And the second battery in that “affordable 2-pack” I bought online failed within the first month.
I learned that the hard way, so take it from me, get official battery packs.
You’ve been warned.
it’s possible for you to take several steps to ensure they last longer and work their best.
First off, don’t overcharge your power tool battery pack.
Many owners leave a battery on the charger 24/7 and only take it off when needed.
That’s a habit you’ll want to break.
Leaving the battery on the charger all the time can lead to overcharging, additional heat, and degradation.
But don’t store it on empty, as that’s bad for the battery too.
All power tool brands recommend letting the battery pack cool between use and charging.
The same goes for the cold.
Bring it in the garage, or better yet, inside the house with a 60-80% charge.
The same happens to power tool batteries, so take care of them.
