Cordless tool batteries are the life of your power gadgets. Without these batteries, or if they have prematurely died away, your tools will lose power or possibly not work at all. There are a few ways you can prolong the power of your batteries.
Tip 1 – Remember That Your Batteries Are Fragile
The first step to ensure that your batteries will power your tools for a very long time is to think of them as sensitive and fragile objects. With this in mind, you might take better care when handling them. If you know that your batteries can be easily damaged if dropped or exposed to the elements, you may even go the extra mile of investing in protective cases or soft cushioned containers to protect the batteries when not in use.
Tip 2 – Don’t Subject Them to Water or Moisture
Water spells big trouble for your batteries. Many power tool owners have to unnecessarily spend for new battery packs because they have exposed their batteries to too much moisture. To avoid wasting money, you must store your cordless tool batteries inside a protective covering when you are not using them. Refrain from using your tools outdoors when it’s raining. Be extra careful when a project requires you to work in damp or wet areas.
Tip 3 – Don’t Expose Batteries and Recharger to Excess Heat
The rechargeable battery packs that power your cordless tools are sensitive to too much heat. As a matter of fact, heat can damage your batteries and recharge worse than anything else. If you think that your batteries quickly run out of power even if you have just recharged them, there is a big chance that they have been exposed to too much heat.
To avoid problems, make it a point to detach your batteries from the tool body when not in use. Always store them—together with the recharger—in a cool, dry place. If you must recharge the batteries in the middle of a hot day, you can point an electric fan toward the recharger to counteract heat build-up.
Tip 4 – Don’t Leave Batteries on the Charger for Too Long
Lastly, to prolong the life of your power tool batteries, avoid charging them longer than necessary. The latest batteries have indicators that tell you when they are fully charged or empty. You do not have to worry much about totally emptying your batteries. What you should be concerned about is their recharging time. When the indicators say your battery is full, remove it from the charger promptly. As a rule of thumb, never leave a battery to charge for more than 24 hours.
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