Dewalt 20 volt to 18 volt adapter.

[dodge man]

Anybody use these? How do they work. I have a drill and grease gun that are both 18 volt. You can still get the 18 volt batteries but I see the writing on the wall. The drill is getting some age on it but the grease gun is is just a few years old.

 

[jjeff]

Yes I have one #1 harder to remove batteries. #2 have to remove battery after use or for some reason it will completely drain it in a day when not in use. #3 difficult to remove adapter.

 

[Roadworthy]

I believe you'll find 18 volt batteries available for longer than you expect. All of my battery tools are 18 volt. Note that many of the older 18 volt batteries are Ni-Cad while newer batteries are Li-Ion. The battery chargers are not the same though newer chargers may sense battery type and operate accordingly. Many of the 18 volt batteries may be opened and new batteries (frequently "short C") used to replace the old ones. Stick with the right type.

 

[Buckeye Guy]

I just ordered some, will let you know what I think

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

I’ve had them for several years now. Since the new style “20V” Li-Ion battery system and tools came out. Dewalt had both Li-ion and NiCad batteries for the 18V system in essentially the same format, and no one would spend twice the money to get them.

Hence the “20V” system came out. it is actually an 18V system, it only has the 20V form a few seconds when freshly charged. Which is why the adapter which does nothing bu change the form factor works well on the 18V tools.

I had very real reasons for not going to the 18V Li-ion system. Mostly that the Li-ion batteries shut down at about 20F so you don’t hurt them, the NiCads will work at 0F without damage. And the Li-ion wouldn’t charge about 95F. I used to live in Vegas, and overnight lows would be in the mid 90s. So, you couldn’t charge batteries unlesss you had them somewhere climate controlled. I was the superintendent on a a couple of large subdivisions when the trades started buying th eLi-ion battery tools. I’d be walking ht site, and there would be diesel pickups, idling with their AC on, so guys could put their batteries in the truck to charge. I built a bunch of shelves in my job trailer with big long strip outlets so the guys could come in and leave their batteries to charge.

Later I bought half a dozen old refrigerators form the Salvation Army, and set them up on the pads next to the power meters we had set up so the guys wold have power to run tools. Greatly reduced the traffic in and out of my trailer.

 

[Oaktree]

I believe you'll find 18 volt batteries available for longer than you expect. All of my battery tools are 18 volt. Note that many of the older 18 volt batteries are Ni-Cad while newer batteries are Li-Ion. The battery chargers are not the same though newer chargers may sense battery type and operate accordingly. Many of the 18 volt batteries may be opened and new batteries (frequently "short C") used to replace the old ones. Stick with the right type.

Isn't there extra circuitry in Li-ion batteries to properly manage charge/discharge? I've always heard there was more to it than just different cells.
One reason why I've more or less standardized on Ryobi cordless tools, the newer batteries fit the older tools.

 

[nybirdman]

Bought an adpaper;found the 18v drill drains the 20v pretty quickly but better than buying 18v batteries.

 

[ponytug]

I’ve had them for several years now. Since the new style “20V” Li-Ion battery system and tools came out. Dewalt had both Li-ion and NiCad batteries for the 18V system in essentially the same format, and no one would spend twice the money to get them.

Hence the “20V” system came out. it is actually an 18V system, it only has the 20V form a few seconds when freshly charged. Which is why the adapter which does nothing bu change the form factor works well on the 18V tools.

I had very real reasons for not going to the 18V Li-ion system. Mostly that the Li-ion batteries shut down at about 20F so you don’t hurt them, the NiCads will work at 0F without damage. And the Li-ion wouldn’t charge about 95F. I used to live in Vegas, and overnight lows would be in the mid 90s. So, you couldn’t charge batteries unlesss you had them somewhere climate controlled. I was the superintendent on a a couple of large subdivisions when the trades started buying th eLi-ion battery tools. I’d be walking ht site, and there would be diesel pickups, idling with their AC on, so guys could put their batteries in the truck to charge. I built a bunch of shelves in my job trailer with big long strip outlets so the guys could come in and leave their batteries to charge.

Later I bought half a dozen old refrigerators form the Salvation Army, and set them up on the pads next to the power meters we had set up so the guys wold have power to run tools. Greatly reduced the traffic in and out of my trailer.

Smart moves! Were you using the old refrigerators just for shelving, or for shelving and cooling?

@Oaktree Yes, lithium ion batteries require a battery management chip to control the charging of the lithium ion cells. The chip itself is tiny, about the size of the word tiny on screen. 2x4mm (+/-)

All the best,

Peter

 

[dodge man]

Thanks for the replies, as usual I learn something.

 

[jigs_n_fixtures]

Smart moves! Were you using the old refrigerators just for shelving, or for shelving and cooling?

@Oaktree Yes, lithium ion batteries require a battery management chip to control the charging of the lithium ion cells. The chip itself is tiny, about the size of the word tiny on screen. 2x4mm (+/-)

All the best,

Peter

Everything in Vegas is slab on grade. One of The electrical suppliers came up with a support system for the electrical service panels which supported them on two steel channels which were tied into the reinforcing steel of the perimeter footing and garage slab, creating a Ufer ground.

Within two days of the slab pour, we had the service installed, and a set of weatherproof receptacles in what would become the garage. Typically we had a set of shelves to hold chargers for the trades.

I started buying the refrigerators as climate controlled recharge stations. The Salvation Army had an appliance repair school where they taught the clients a trade. some of the unites they got were not quite aesthetically pleasing enough to sell. I talked to the guy who ran their training program, and explained what we wanted, and he was selling them to me for $50, plus parts and refrigerant, Typically another $30.