Battery powered chainsaw

[WinterDeere]

Greenworks makes a DC-DC smart charger? I had no idea...tell me more!

Not that I’m aware of. The conversation got long, stretched over a few pages, but I was saying that I would want a vehicle-based charger to make a battery-powered saw a more practical replacement for my gas-powered saws. Then someone mentioned inverters (less efficient), and I suggested they’d do better basing it on a DC-DC converter, and skipping the 60 Hz inverter altogether. Then we got off on a tangent about battery capacities.

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Not that I’m aware of. The conversation got long, stretched over a few pages, but I was saying that I would want a vehicle-based charger to make a battery-powered saw a more practical replacement for my gas-powered saws. Then someone mentioned inverters (less efficient), and I suggested they’d do better basing it on a DC-DC converter, and skipping the 60 Hz inverter altogether. Then we got off on a tangent about battery capacities.

From what little research I did, lots of inverters are 95% efficient. The bottom line to me is for all day tree cutting I'd want gas, but battery is great for an hour or less work.

 

[two_bit_score]

Of course. Every supplier knows if something better comes along then they are out. Whining about it isn’t going to make things advance faster.

Really, you actually think anything said on here is going to make things advance or change at all?

 

[ning]

I know most people here hate regulations, even the ones that keep you alive (I see complaints about these here almost every day, believe it), but I for one would love to see tool batteries standardized so there's no brand lock-in.

 

[ArlyA]

I know most people here hate regulations, even the ones that keep you alive (I see complaints about these here almost every day, believe it), but I for one would love to see tool batteries standardized so there's no brand lock-in.

I use makita brand and there are many aftermarket batteries made for them. Does that count? I agree in general with your statement.

 

[WinterDeere]

I know most people here hate regulations, even the ones that keep you alive (I see complaints about these here almost every day, believe it), but I for one would love to see tool batteries standardized so there's no brand lock-in.

Trouble is, this would seriously slow innovation and improvement. Maybe Li-Ion battery tech has reached a level of maturity where that is okay, but could you imagine buying tools today on batteries that had been standardized ca.2000, knowing the effort to officiate that standardization would have probably had to start ca.1995? Yikes.

I used to work in the long-haul opto telecom industry (fiber optic), and they liked to use the Multi-Source Agreement (MSA) approach, essentially several manufacturers agreeing to adhere to a standard form factor or specification. No government involvement, it was essentially single large customers putting out spec's which would be negotiated and agreed upon by multiple suppliers. Trouble is, the tool-buying public is not a coherent entity, it would almost need to be driven by a huge customer like Lowes or Home Depot, which then gets you locked into a store.

 

[stevem5215]

The problem is a standard isn't always a real standard. minor variations cause problems with compatibility I've found.

 

[WinterDeere]

The problem is a standard isn't always a real standard. minor variations cause problems with compatibility I've found.

True, but packaging of batteries isn't exactly rocket surgery. While compatibility is a real concern, it seems the problems would be relatively easily overcome, in this particular case.

Power tool manufacturers are merely re-packing existing tech, not inventing their own.

 

[stevem5215]

True but how many aftermarket compatible batteries have you seen that were up to the quality of the OEM ones ?

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

My experience is OEM batteries are better and I have adapters so I can run, say, Craftsman 20v with DeWalt 20v battery.
Ebay sellers, they're about $20.

 

[WinterDeere]

True but how many aftermarket compatible batteries have you seen that were up to the quality of the OEM ones ?

Point taken, and I'll have to admit I've never bought aftermarket batteries. OEM ones aren't so expensive that I care to experiment, my time is worth more than the cost difference.

 

[ArlyA]

Maybe car batteries should be standardized?

 

[Grumpycat]

Maybe car batteries should be standardized?

Yeah! There are way too many different sizes!

 

[WinterDeere]

Maybe car batteries should be standardized?

They are. All brands conform to a range of standardized case sizes, capacities, post locations, etc. You can hop from an AC Delco to a DieHard or Interstate of the same case size designator, and know it will work. You are not locked into one brand, as with portable tool batteries.

 

[Grumpycat]

They are. All brands conform to a range of standardized case sizes, capacities, post locations, etc. You can hop from an AC Delco to a DieHard or Interstate of the same case size designator, and know it will work. You are not locked into one brand, as with portable tool batteries.

Oh, I didn't know Amazon wasn't flooded with DeWalt and EGo compatible batteries. Amazon is.

All automobiles and tractors should only use Group 24 battery(s). Too many darn sizes! They should standardize!

 

[xyz123]

I like 24 but sometimes the bigger batts in 78 needed. Most of mine call for them. 2 of 3 matter fact.
I tried to run 24 in all of them. Can tell come winter in cold though.
More CCA and reserve time with 78.

 

[Grumpycat]

I like 24 but sometimes the bigger batts in 78 needed. Most of mine call for them. 2 of 3 matter fact.
I tried to run 24 in all of them. Can tell come winter in cold though.
More CCA and reserve time with 78.

Then just use 2 or 3.

We have already established there is too much choice, too much variation.

Or perhaps we have established a need for multiple sized car batteries. And for each power tool brand to have it's own family of batteries?

 

[Fuddyduddy1952]

Oh, I didn't know Amazon wasn't flooded with DeWalt and EGo compatible batteries. Amazon is.

All automobiles and tractors should only use Group 24 battery(s). Too many darn sizes! They should standardize!

They couldn't do that because of the wide variety of engines and cranking needs. Tool batteries could be standardized based on voltage and AH capacity. Similar to AAA, AA, C, D & 9V are standard physical size.

 

[Grumpycat]

They couldn't do that because of the wide variety of engines and cranking needs. Tool batteries could be standardized based on voltage and AH capacity. Similar to AAA, AA, C, D & 9V are standard physical size.

So you are saying what we have now is exactly right. That Dewalt optimizes for their tools. Milwaukee optimizes for their tools, EGo optimizes for theirs, Stil optimizes, etc.

 

[LouNY]

So you are saying what we have now is exactly right. That Dewalt optimizes for their tools. Milwaukee optimizes for their tools, EGo optimizes for theirs, Stil optimizes, etc.

We sure as heck don't need any government bureaucrat to decide what would be the right choice.