Screwdriver battery: life, capacity and interchangeability - Setafi

The battery for a screwdriver is an integral element, the quality of which determines the duration of the device without recharging. When choosing, take into account the type of battery, capacity, power and other characteristics. The main recommendations for buying, advice from professionals are described in detail in this material.

3 battery types

There are 3 types of batteries for a screwdriver, depending on the composition:

1. Based on nickel and cadmium (Ni-Cd).
2. Lithium-ion (denoted by Li-Ion).
3. Based on nickel and metal hydrides (NiM-H).

Ni-Cd

The battery for a screwdriver of the first type runs on nickel and cadmium. Historically, they appeared first. Today you can find many similar models, and they are mainly used for domestic purposes.

A cadmium nickel-based screwdriver battery has several advantages:

• a sufficiently large number of recharge cycles - about 1000;
• long service life, sometimes reaching 10 or even 20 years;
• works even at low temperatures;
• can be stored in a fully discharged state.

But if you consider which batteries are best for a screwdriver, you need to describe the disadvantages:

• "memory effect" - if you regularly put it on charge until it is completely discharged, then a certain charge level will be perceived as zero, while in fact the device will still have a reserve;
• risk of self-discharge;
• Cadmium is a harmful element that can harm the environment.

Li-Ion

These are modern devices that began to be mass-produced in 1991. They have quite a few advantages:

• light weight;
• no "memory effect";
• can be charged from any charge level;
• durability.

Such devices allow for the interchangeability of batteries for screwdrivers. But it is still better to use lithium-ion devices, since they are the only ones under consideration that do not have a “memory effect”.

But keep in mind that they also have disadvantages:

• do not work well at sub-zero temperatures;
• a deep discharge is possible, which is why subsequently the battery for a screwdriver is poorly charged;
• you need to periodically turn on the network - you should not store for a long time in the absence of a charge;
• they are more expensive than cadmium ones.

Li-MH

These devices were put into production in 2005. The advantages of this battery element for a screwdriver are:

• capacity is 20% more than that of nickel-cadmium (ceteris paribus);
• works great at low temperatures;
• environmental safety (important for disposal);
• no "memory effect" (you can also charge a partially discharged battery).

If we talk about the minuses, then among them we can distinguish the following:

• the service life is short, since the number of charge cycles is less than 1000;
• tendency to self-discharge (even higher than that of nickel-cadmium).

Specifications

To choose the right battery, you need to understand the main technical characteristics, for example: the battery voltage of a screwdriver, what is the difference between different types of devices, and others. The main recommendations are described below.

Capacity

One of the simple and obvious criteria by which you can judge how long the device will work autonomously, that is, without the need to recharge. It is quite clear that the larger the value, the more time you can work.

The characteristic is measured in ampere-hours, designation: Ah. If conditionally the capacity is 1 unit, this means that it will be possible to work with a screwdriver for 1 hour. Although in reality the figures are much higher. As a rule, it is about 1000-2000 Ah and even more.

Different analogues of batteries for screwdrivers have different characteristics. To make the right choice, it is enough to consider 2 rules:

1. If the device will be used only in everyday life, a capacity within 2 Ah will suffice.
2. If the tool is needed for professional use, the characteristic should be about 2500-5500 Ah.

Voltage

Another important indicator that helps to understand which type of battery is best for a screwdriver. The larger the value, the better the performance of the battery:

1. In the range of 3-6 V - such devices are only suitable for working with self-tapping screws of small diameters within 5 mm.
2. 10-14 V - used for working with fasteners of medium diameter, as well as for drilling small holes. Moreover, the indicator of 12 V is considered optimal, because this is the best value for money.
3. 15-36V are powerful tools that can be used on hardwood and even metal parts. They are used for drilling large holes, screwing and unscrewing large diameter self-tapping screws.

Advice

In cases where screwdriver battery capacity the same for 2 models, preference should be given to the device with a higher voltage.

Life time

When choosing, it is important to understand what the battery capacity of a screwdriver affects. The higher the indicator, the more time you can work autonomously, including at low temperatures. No less important is such a parameter as the service life of a screwdriver.

Each manufacturer declares a guarantee, which is at least 12 months (often up to 24 months). In practice, a high-quality device, subject to the basic rules of operation (including temperature control and recharging), may well work for 8-10 years. There is also a connection with the type of device. For example, the service life of lithium-ion batteries in a screwdriver is noticeably longer compared to cadmium batteries.

Brand

If we talk about which battery to choose a screwdriver, you should also take into account the brand of the manufacturer. Today on the market you can find models of different companies, judging by the reviews, the following are the most popular:

• Metabo;
• Makita;
• Ryobi;
• Bosch;
• Patriot.

You can buy battery cells for a screwdriver and other companies. But if they are little known, there is a high probability of encountering a low-quality product. Therefore, in some cases it is advisable to overpay a little than to take risks once again. Thus, it is better to purchase a screwdriver battery that meets the optimal price-quality ratio. Before buying, it is useful to study the reviews on different sites.