Steve from Washington
Hello, I was hoping you could help me with some cordless drill buying tips. I’m wanting to buy a Cordless drill, but have no idea which one to buy. I’ve been all over town, and have seen so many different name brands. How important is the voltage of a Cordless drill battery? Could you shed some light on the buying process for me?
12 Volt Cordless Drill
14.4 Volt Cordless Drill
18 Volt Cordless Drill
BestBatteryTips.com
Steve, thanks for writing in and allowing us to help you out. Buying a cordless drill can be confusing to say the least, especially if its your first time purchasing one. You posed the question of how important is battery voltage? Voltage is the heart of the drill, and is crucial in the buying process. Depending on the intended application the cordless drill will be used for, will aid in deciding the voltage one should purchase.
The most common cordless drill voltages are 12 volt, 14.4 volt, 18 volt, and 24 volt. The most common battery chemistries are Nicad, Nickel Metal Hydride(Nimh), and Lithium Ion. Obviously when looking at these two deciding factors, your available budget is a large part of the equation. You can spend anywhere from 50 dollars to 300 dollars depending on the combination above that you choose. Cordless drills that have the Nicad battery chemistry will generally be cheaper than the same drill with other battery chemistries. Primary reason for this is due to the Nicad is the oldest of the battery technologies. Nicad battery packs do not have near the capacity that Nimh, and Lithium Ion do. Nicad batteries suffer from the so called memory effect. This is due to the user not running the battery all the way down before attempting to fully recharge the battery pack. Consumers expectations of Nicad battery life are often cut short due to the weaknesses of the Nicad chemistry. Consumers on a budget however, Nicad cordless drills are a practical choice. Nickel metal hydride battery packs are light years ahead of Nicad battery packs. We here at BestBatteryTips.com would not bat a eye at buying a cordless drill with the nickel metal hydride technology. The capacity is far greater than the nicad battery pack. Nimh can handle 1000 plus charge, and discharge cycles. Nimh can also be charged or discharged at any time regardless of the batteries state of charge. Lithium Ion battery packs are the latest battery technology in the cordless drill market. Lithium Ion has excellent battery capacity, and is not susceptible to the memory effect. Lithium ion battery packs can handle thousands of charge and discharge cycles as well. Consumers can expect to pay more for cordless drills with the lithium ion technology. For the money we would suggest the Nickel Metal Hydride (Nimh) technology battery pack. We feel it has the best of all worlds, and is the most bang for the buck so to speak.
When deciding on battery voltage it comes down to the applications the drill is being used for. Purchasing a drill for light jobs around the house does not require a 24 volt cordless drill. A 12 volt cordless drill will due just fine for hanging curtain rods, pictures, and putting together miscellaneous furniture. Homeowners who are into bigger projects such as building outdoor decks, roof repairs, or additions should consider purchasing 14.4 volt battery pack, and it would not be uncommon to purchase 18 volts. Commercial contractors are prime candidates for the 24 volt battery option. These drills are designed for use on commercial job sites where heavy usage is on top of the list.
Buying a drill should be a enjoyable experience, not a stressful experience. We hope we were able to provide you with some fundamental basics of cordless drill shopping.
Product names, logos, brands, and other trademarks featured or referred to within BestBatteryTips .com website are the property of their respective trademark holders.
Comment