How many power tool batteries are there? What are their pros & cons?

Keywords: power tool batteries / cordless batteries / batteries / cordless tools

Cordless tools have become a popular trend in the past few years. With the advances that have happened in manufacturing batteries, they have become the premier choice for those professionals that are tired of carrying extension cords to different job sites with themselves. If you are thinking about getting a cordless tool and don’t know much about the different options in their batteries, be sure to read this article. You will not regret it!

Why it is important to know different types of batteries?

When researching what tool to buy, the first thing you have to consider is the type of work you want to do with it. Paying attention to this will help you find the perfect tool based on your unique needs. It also prevents you from spending a lot of money on a tool you are rarely going to use. The same thing is true about buying almost anything. This is why it is really important to know different types of power tool batteries before you decide to buy a cordless tool. In this article, we are going to talk about all the different types of batteries and other features you need to consider when buying a cordless tool.

How many categories are there?

Typically, power tool batteries are produced in three different categories, Nickel-Cadmium, Nickel Metal Hydride, and Lithium-Ion. Each of these types has its own features, pros, and cons. Let’s dive in and get more information about them.

Nickel Cadmium (Ni-Cd)

Nickel Cadmium batteries are the first generation of power tool batteries. Despite their not-so-modern technology, they have some features that make them still unique. Usually, batteries are affected and damaged greatly by heat. However, Ni-Cd batteries are resistant to heat and can handle working in really hot situations. Therefore, on the worksites that have a higher temperature than regular ones, these batteries are the most useful ones. Another good point about these Ni-Cd batteries is that they are tough and falling or different kinds of stroke do not hurt them easily. Moreover, they are inexpensive and do not cost a lot.

On the other hand, Ni-Cd batteries are the heaviest among these three types. This is why the cordless tools that use these batteries are not as ergonomic as other cordless tools. These power tool batteries have a low capacity and you should not let their charge level drop lower than 70%, because this greatly affects their durability.

In conclusion, because of their resistance to heat and the fact that they are inexpensive, these batteries are still popular and used in many products like Ronix tools.

Nickel Metal Hydride (Ni-MH)

Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are considered the newer generation of the Nickel-Cadmium batteries and they are an improvement upon Ni-Cd batteries. The better performance of Ni-MH power tool batteries is a result of this improvement. Compared to their Ni-Cd batteries, they have higher capacities, sometimes even two or three times more! These power tool batteries also weigh less than the previous type.

One thing about these power tool batteries is that they are not as cheap as the first category. In addition, their sensitivity to temperature is not inherited from their fathers. Therefore, if you store them or work with them in really hot or cold conditions, it damages their life span greatly.

All in all, because of their lighter weight and higher capacity, the Nickel Metal Hydride batteries are widely used in a great range of cordless tools as a source of power.

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)

The invention of Lithium-Ion batteries has changed the tools market dramatically. These batteries are the most modern type of batteries. In fact, these batteries are the same ones used on our advanced smartphones today! The reason which has made them so amazing and revolutionary is that they are really light-weight. This lightness is something that was novel in the tools industry. Besides being light in weight, they also have larger capacities. One of the greatest things about Lithium-Ion batteries is that their nature allows them to shape in different ways and forms. This is why they can be designed in the most ergonomic ways. Another point in their favor is that these power tool batteries do not require much maintenance.

However, these batteries are not just a pure advantage! Their biggest disadvantage is that they are really sensitive to heat. This is why in order to store Lithium-Ion batteries, their environment must be cool. Furthermore, these power tool batteries have a shorter life cycle and need to be replaced after a relatively shorter period of time. Finally, they are the most expensive batteries in the market because they are the newest.

Nowadays, most cordless tools are equipped with Li-Ion batteries because they have a great performance and they are light. A wide range of Ronix cordless tools use durable, high-efficiency, and highly powerful Li-Ion batteries too.

What other features are important in power tool batteries?

Besides battery type, when choosing a cordless tool, you must pay attention to two other features; Voltage and Amp-hour. Let’s find out why these are so important!

Voltage (V)

The number of voltage indicates how much power a battery can generate. To say it short, the higher the number of voltage becomes, the more powerful a battery is. You might think why not just put the highest possible level of voltage in a battery and make it the most powerful? But the higher power is not without consequences. A more powerful battery results in a heavier weight. So, tool producers have to keep a balance between power and weight. This is why Ronix offers its products with a wide range of voltages to suit its users’ various needs.

Amp-hour (Ah)

Amp-hour determines the run time of a battery which means how long a battery can work without needing to be recharged. Just like the voltage, a higher number of Ah means more run time. And again, like the number of voltage, a higher number of Ah results in more weight and heavier batteries.

The last words

When choosing a cordless tool, the first thing you have to consider is the type of work you intend to do with it! Then, you need to go through various features and numbers to find the right option for you. We hope that this article helps you decide what is best for you.