Dewalt battery pack

_RaT_ · Sep 23, 2003

I wish I could recall the plethora of articles about this topic. From Journal of Light Consruction, Tools of the Trade, Fine Homebuilding and now the tool manufactuers themselves, this seems to be the preferred method. The high voltage Makitas even have brains in the batteries and tell the charger how to charge them. I have my old Makita 9.6V drill and saw, but never use it anymore. The newer models from 12 volt up are just so much more powerful but of course, as the article mentions, the higher the voltage, the lower overall lifetime of the battery due to heat and internal resitance. If your method works well for you, stick with it, I'm going to pretty much go with the scientific explanations of how best to charge NiCad and even NiMh. Rat...

pruntyc · Sep 23, 2003

I know I bought my Makita 9.6 volt drill over 15 years ago. I have used it as a homeowner, you know when I needed it. Sometimes till I ran the battery down and then some more after it charged up. Other times just for a few minutes. Always waited till it ran clear down to recharge it. And it still has the original battery in it. It don't hold the charge as long, but it still has good power. My stepson got one in the mid 90's and kept it in the charger all the time. His battery didn't last him very long till it died. Maybe I've just been lucky, but it has worked for me. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Sep 23, 2003

Gosh, you guys have all those high voltage tools; my Makita is a 7.2 volt; looks new and works like new but I have no idea how old it is. It was given to me awhile back by the widow of an old friend. It didn't work at the time, but only because it needed a new battery. One of my brothers has been, and still is, using his 7.2 volt Makita for many years and the other brother has a 9.6 volt model. The three of us spent a day building a porch and steps for my youngest daughter last Spring, all 2 x 6 and 2 x 8 treated lumber, no nails, drilled pilot holes and used screws for everything. So we didn't have any scientific measuring device, but the old 7.2 Makitas seemed to have just as much power and last as long on a battery as the 9.6. Of course we all three have chargers and two batteries for each tool so we never lacked for working drills.

_RaT_ · Sep 23, 2003

Lets see Bird, my first cordless was in 1976, a B&D. After that 3, 9.6 volt Makita's, 2 Dewalt 12 Volts, and now my second Makita 12V. I use them hard. I have used many of the 14.4's and 18's as well, when drilling holes through wood though, nothing beats my 120V right angle Hawg. I do love cordless though.

pruntyc · Sep 23, 2003

My son-in-law is a carpenter, and if I remember right, he of course got a 7.2, when they came out. And I think he told me he dropped it off a ladder, and broke, this is the part I'm not sure of, I think it was the battery case. Anyway he taped it up and kept on using it, and did for some time, and it worked good. So I guess they are well made. He loves the Makitas. Of course he has other kinds too.

Bird · Sep 24, 2003

Rat, that's about the same timing; from about '76 on I've had 3 of the cheap B&D cordless; gave away the last one last year. They were quite handy and used quite a bit, but you had to plug in the tool itself to recharge instead of just changing batteries, and of course, they had nothing even near the power and endurance of the Makitas.

And one of my brothers has the right angle Hawg; that thing's dangerous. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Great tool, but I've seen it really whip a person around when the bit hung.

_RaT_ · Oct 14, 2003

"I have always drained my batteries before I recharged them"

I was at the Dewalt website and they mentioned this about recharging Dewalt rechargeable batteries:

"Thank you for using the DEWALT® web site.

The initial charge for DEWALT battery packs is 1-2 hours. The light on the charger will blink on and off during the charging process and will remain on when the charging process is completed.
You should re-charge the battery when you notice a significant decrease in tool performance.Battery packs should not be completely discharged before re-charging. Completely discharging a DEWALT battery pack may cause damage to the cells in the battery.

Battery packs can be left on the charger when not in use with no adverse effects and DEWALT batteries can be re-charged at any time during their use.

For more information regarding the proper use and care of your DEWALT batteries please refer to the Use and Care manual that came with your DEWALT tool."