Do you use a cordless drill? While they can be great for convenience, there is that issue with the batteries at times. You might come across situations where you have to replace the battery and get a new one. You will need to find the perfect cordless drill batteries for your particular need in those scenarios.
Now, to help you out with that, I have got all the information covered in one place. You will get everything you need to know to get a cordless drill battery. Let’s get going with the whole thing then.
Can I use a higher voltage battery in my drill?
This is a confusion many people go through regarding the drill battery. In simple words, the answer is no; you can’t use a higher voltage battery in your drill. Most electronic items use a battery for a preferred voltage. Using the wrong voltage for them can mess up the whole thing and may even damage the tool.
Especially when you are using a higher voltage battery, it can damage the drill entirely beyond any kind of repair. So, even if you can install or find batteries with a higher voltage, you shouldn’t use them in your drill at any cost.
12V vs. 18V vs. 20V battery-powered drill difference
Imagine you decide to get a drill; now the question comes of which one to pick based on voltage? How do you differentiate between 12v, 18v, and 20v? Let’s take a quick look at the differences between them, and you will know which one works out for your situation. I will go through some factors that help you see the difference between them.
- Power
The core difference between these voltages is their power. A higher voltage means more power. So, when you need a lot of power in your drilling work, 20V is the choice. If you get into a medium drilling job, then 18v can be a good pick. As for the lightweight drilling, 12v is the way to go.
- Running time
Usually, the battery’s voltage doesn’t have an impact on the running time. It’s the current load draw and the battery condition that determines the runtime.
So, let’s say you have a 12V battery that’s fresh compared to an 18V battery with worn-out condition. Even in that scenario, the 12V battery will run longer than the 18V.
- Weight
There is also a clear difference between the weight of the batteries based on their voltage. 12V batteries will be much more lightweight compared to 20V batteries. Because of this, 12V batteries are much more suited to indoor conditions. Whereas 20V batteries work out better in outdoor or spacious environments.
- Charging time
Unlike the runtime, there is a difference between the charging time for each of the batteries. A lower voltage battery charges quicker because it has less capacity and load. So, considering that, a 12V battery will charge much quicker than a 20V battery.
- Cost
It’s pretty easy; the more power it holds, the pricier it gets. According to that, a 20V battery or an 18V battery will cost much more than a 12V battery.
- Job site requirement
A higher voltage also means a higher torque. Torque has a lot of impact on the particular projects or jobs you are doing. So, if you have to drill through tough objects and heavy-duty drilling, you will need a battery with a higher voltage, like 20v. As for some indoor drilling purposes, you can make do with a 12V battery without any issues at all.
Can I put an 18v battery on a 12v drill?
As I said earlier, it’s better not to use the wrong voltage battery on a particular drill. Yes, you may use a lower voltage battery in a higher voltage capable drill. But never use a higher voltage battery on a lower voltage drill at any cost. It can severely damage the motor of the drill and make it unusable.
Can I use an 18v adapter for 12v?
Here’s the thing, whenever you use a higher voltage adapter for a lower voltage battery, you can easily burn the battery. So, I wouldn’t recommend using an 18V adapter for a 12V battery.
Can you use a 24v battery on an 18v drill?
No, you can’t use a 24v battery on an 18v drill. Using a higher voltage battery on the lower voltage drill can potentially damage your drill’s motor.
Can you use a 12v battery in an 18v drill?
Yes, it’s possible to use a lower voltage battery on a higher voltage capable drill. So, you can use a 12v battery in your 18v drill. However, it can’t put out the kind of power you would expect to get on an 18V drill.
Are cordless drill batteries interchangeable?
Cordless drill batteries are only interchangeable between the same manufacturers. But if you are trying to run a battery from a different manufacturer on another drill, then it won’t work. Also, they are interchangeable if they are of the same voltage and similar in size.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Battery-Powered Cordless Tools?
Well, you might not know, but taking good care of your battery can easily help you extend the battery life. It makes the whole thing even more durable than you would expect it to be. So, let’s see how you can get the most out of your battery powered cordless tools –
- Charging the battery correctly
One of the most common mistakes people make with rechargeable tools is that they don’t charge them properly. The best way to recharge your battery is when it has 70% battery remaining. If you follow this, you can ensure a longer battery life for sure.
Also, ensure you are not removing the battery from charging before it gets to 100%. Don’t unplug the charger midway before it completes.
- Using the tool regularly
Here’s the thing, when you leave out your cordless power tools that run on battery, you are risking it breaking down. You have to make sure that you use the tool regularly.
- Keeping the battery dry and cool help
One of the key components of keeping your battery dry and cool is to ensure the proper storage method. Where you are keeping the battery has a lot to play with in keeping it dry and cool. You have to make sure it’s adequately covered.
- Handle the battery carefully
Whenever you hold the battery, you have to make sure you are doing everything gently. Batteries can easily get damaged when you are not careful with them. So, make sure to be gentle with the whole thing.
Doing all these can help you get the most out of your battery-powered cordless tool. One key thing is that never leave the tool unused.
Are there any benefits of lower voltages in cordless tools?
Yes, you get some advantages from a lower voltage cordless tool. First of all, lower voltage tools will be much cheaper. Also, they are smaller, so they can fit in smaller places. Lastly, charging a lower voltage cordless tool is much quicker in comparison.
What does it mean when a battery has more volts?
When a battery has more volts, it just means that it can put out more power. More volts just mean less current required to do a task. As a result, you can get more torque out of it without putting out too much current. Altogether, having more volts simply means a powerful battery.
Do higher voltage batteries last longer?
Yes, a higher voltage battery usually lasts a bit longer. Since higher voltage takes up less current, it also runs out slowly. Because of this reason, the batteries tend to last a lot longer than you would expect.
How long does a drill battery take to charge?
Well, I can’t give you a fixed number on that because different drill batteries take different duration for charging. Typically, it can take about 30 minutes to 4 or 5 hours to charge the drill battery. However, some ultrafast chargers out there take just about 10 minutes to charge a drill battery completely.
What does ah mean on battery drills?
Ah means Ampere hour. It’s the indication of the current your battery can put out. It mostly indicates the charge capacity. So, a higher ah means a higher charge capacity, and that means it will have a higher runtime.
Should I leave the battery in the drill?
Yes, it’s not a problem. You can keep the battery inside your drill all the time, and you won’t have any issues whatsoever. On the other hand, if you take it out, you have to think about properly storing it. So, I recommend keeping it inside the tool.
How to charge a power drill battery without a charger?
First of all, you will need to determine the battery’s voltage that you are dealing with. After that, you can move on to the process of charging a battery without using the charger. Here’s how you do it –
- Remove the battery from your drill and then open it through unscrewing. You have to remove the whole cover of the battery and get the actual batteries inside.
- Make sure to figure out the positive and negative end of the battery, following up with the covering.
- Then, you have to get the power supply socket and install it inside the case. Also, make sure you have to solder the socket’s wires on the battery.
- Once you have that socket installed on your battery, you can use a DC power supply or adapter to charge your battery.
- Keep in mind that the power supply has a volt controller in it so that you can adjust the volt according to the voltage of your battery.
Still confused? Then, I recommend you check out this video.
How to fix a dead drill battery?
Do you have a dead drill battery? If that’s the case, then don’t worry. I have this hack for you that can easily solve the problem. Here’s how you can fix your dead drill battery –
The easiest solution is to take a working battery and jump-start the dead one. All you have to do is take two wires, connect the positive ends of both batteries, and connect the negative ends of both batteries.
If you are struggling to understand this, then watch this video to get an understanding of this.
4 Best Cordless Drill Batteries Right Now (2022)
Okay, enough with all the knowledge and information, let’s check some quality cordless drill batteries out there. These are some reliable choices that you can consider without overthinking.
1. DEWALT DCB205-2CK 20V MAX Battery Starter Kit with 2 Batteries
Dewalt is a classic name when it comes to power tools. This is a 20V dual battery pack that you can get for your cordless drill. This will work out perfectly for a Dewalt cordless drill requiring a 20V for the drill to operate.
What is the charge rate of this battery?
This battery has a charge rate of 4amp for all the volts. Whether you get the 12 volt or 18 volt or the 20 volts, you get the same charge rate.
Does it have any storage units?
You get a soft bag that is quite sturdy and rough. It’s a great bag to store your battery safely without any problems at all. This ensures better longevity on the battery.
Can you use it for all Dewalt cordless drills?
This battery pack will work as long as you are using a 20V Dewalt drill. You can also use the battery for other Dewalt cordless tools.
2. Powerextra 2 Pack Lithium-ion Replacement Battery Compatible with Milwaukee M12
This is a 12V battery pack where you get 2 batteries. Even though it comes from Powerextra, it’s compatible with Milwaukee cordless drills out there. You can rely on the quality of the battery since it’s a pretty reliable brand.
How much mAh does this provide?
These batteries have a 3000mAh charging capacity. This means you can use the drill continuously for about 6 to 8 hours, depending on the battery condition. It’s quite decent for a 12V battery, for sure.
Are these batteries expensive?
Well, since these are 12V batteries, they aren’t that expensive. You can quickly get them for an affordable price without compromising the quality.
Is the battery compatible with all Milwaukee tools?
No, it’s not compatible with all the Milwaukee tools. Specific model numbers are only compatible with these batteries. You can find out the model numbers on the manual of the batteries.
3. DEWALT FLEXVOLT 20V/60V MAX Battery DCB606
Here’s another top-quality battery pack from Dewalt. You can rely on this battery with its quality and power for sure. It’s a 20V battery, so you won’t have to worry about the lack of power in your drill at all. It’s a perfect pick for any Dewalt cordless drill out there.
Is the runtime good on the Dewalt Flexvolt battery?
Something that sets this battery apart from all the other options is its runtime. It has 4 times the better runtime in comparison to some other battery packs out there. For example, it’s far better than the DCB201 1.5aH battery.
How long does it take to charge this battery?
If you are using the proper charger with 20V, then it should take about an hour to charge the battery. This is only true for charging in a standard charging unit. If you are charging it to full, then it takes about 5 hours to charge completely.
Do these batteries last well?
You can rely on these batteries all the time when it’s about their durability of them. They have a pretty sturdy construction that can hold up against exterior damages. Other than that, the components used on the drill are of great quality as well.
4. Milwaukee 48-11-1880 M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT 18v Lithium-Ion Battery Pack
This battery pack from Milwaukee is something you will love for sure. Whether it’s the durability of the battery life or just the charging capacity, it has got it all. I would say this is a very complete set of batteries for cordless tools.
Are these batteries powerful enough?
Yes, these batteries come with 18v power, so you can expect decent power from these batteries. They are suitable for a lot of different purposes. You can use them for some mid to heavy drilling for sure.
Are these usable for all Milwaukee tools?
Yes, for the most part, you can use these batteries for most kinds of Milwaukee tools. It’s not just the cordless drills; you can also use the batteries for other Milwaukee tools that require an 18v battery.
Is the battery expensive?
While they may feel a bit expensive, you can consider these a value for money option. For the quality, durability, and power, this is a very affordable choice to try out.
Conclusion
Summing it all up, you get the idea of the cordless drill batteries. You should know how the batteries work, whether they will work in your case, and especially which batteries will suit your needs the best.