TheLawnRanger
Well-known member
At Harbor Freight, you can get a 5ah battery or two 2.5ah batteries for about $50. Which would you choose?
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Whch Battery or Batteries Would You Choose?
- Thread starter TheLawnRanger
- Start date
It depends. I would go for the larger battery because it will typically support a higher current draw and can give your tools more power besides just lasting longer before you have to recharge. But the smaller battery could be useful if weight/fatigue is a big concern and you don't need much power.
Being harbor freight, the ratings are probably exaggerated and quality poor, which is extra reason to go for the larger battery imho. YMMV
Being harbor freight, the ratings are probably exaggerated and quality poor, which is extra reason to go for the larger battery imho. YMMV
KnurledNut
Well-known member
For me, it depends on the tool being used, regardless of brand.
I use 2ah on my Makita compact drill and impact driver. The smaller battery size is much less fatiguing. I drove around 1000 screws this past week with it. It gets used hard almost daily. No point in lugging a big battery on a tool that doesnt need it.
Jigsaw, flashlight, HD drill, radio, cutout tool, 3/8 impact wrench, 3 or 4ah works for me.
I save the 5ah for higher demand like recip, circ saw, sds, grinder, high torque impact, etc.
I use 2ah on my Makita compact drill and impact driver. The smaller battery size is much less fatiguing. I drove around 1000 screws this past week with it. It gets used hard almost daily. No point in lugging a big battery on a tool that doesnt need it.
Jigsaw, flashlight, HD drill, radio, cutout tool, 3/8 impact wrench, 3 or 4ah works for me.
I save the 5ah for higher demand like recip, circ saw, sds, grinder, high torque impact, etc.
speed bump
Well-known member
5ahr but I'm a big boy and I always seem to be somewhere I don't want to stop working when the battery dies. The only place I use 2 ahr batteries anymore is on my hex impact driver
Firebrick43
Well-known member
A milwaukee or dewalt batteryAt Harbor Freight, you can get a 5ah battery or two 2.5ah batteries for about $50. Which would you choose?
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Actually, I saw a YouTube video where they took apart a Milwaukee and a Hercules battery and they both used the exact same Samsung cells. Also, all Hercules batteries now come with a three year warrantee whereas the smaller Milwaukee batteries 2.0 and 3.0 compact are only two years. Bash HF all you want but it's undeniable that they're coming after Milwaukee's and DeWalt's lunches. I've sent a lot of Milwaukee batteries back to Milwaukee after printing off a label, boxing them up and taking them to FedEx. Not a bad experience but not nearly as easy as driving 1 1/2's mile to my local HF handing them the bad batteries and grabbing new ones off the shelf. Particularly because they're in the same strip mall as the gym that I go to everyday.
To answer the actual question that was raised I think Knurlednut's answer is dead on. Small impacts and low drain tools use the smaller batteries and for the power hogs the bigger ones. Using a 5.0 battery on an impact driver makes little sense to me but then again I've got basically an unlimited supply of Milwaukee batteries (at lease 50) and chargers. All told I've got three rapid charges, the six bay sequential charger, the three bay simultaneous rapid charger and one SuperCharger. I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT NO DEAD BATTERIES!
To answer the actual question that was raised I think Knurlednut's answer is dead on. Small impacts and low drain tools use the smaller batteries and for the power hogs the bigger ones. Using a 5.0 battery on an impact driver makes little sense to me but then again I've got basically an unlimited supply of Milwaukee batteries (at lease 50) and chargers. All told I've got three rapid charges, the six bay sequential charger, the three bay simultaneous rapid charger and one SuperCharger. I AIN'T WORRIED ABOUT NO DEAD BATTERIES!
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How many tools do you have?
How many batteries do you have now?
Do all your tools have batteries now?
What tools are you trying to power now and what tools are you planning to add to the mix?
A grinder, reciprocating saw, maybe a circular saw, yard tools, a work light used for an extended period of time or a big job with a hammer drill I might want or use a 5a battery. A smaller job with a compact drill or a hand held flashlight for limited use I might choose the 2.5.
Anyway, buy both.
How many batteries do you have now?
Do all your tools have batteries now?
What tools are you trying to power now and what tools are you planning to add to the mix?
A grinder, reciprocating saw, maybe a circular saw, yard tools, a work light used for an extended period of time or a big job with a hammer drill I might want or use a 5a battery. A smaller job with a compact drill or a hand held flashlight for limited use I might choose the 2.5.
Anyway, buy both.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
Actually, for the grinder, Sawzall, and yard tools a 5.0 isn't really the way to go. Use the newer generation of big dogs: 6.0, 8.0 or 12.0 batteries that use the 21700 cells. The 3.0CP's use these bigger cells as well so the 2.0 and 5.0 are now basically obsolete. I have a shitload of 2.0 and 5.0 batteries but they're several years old now. Anything I currently buy I go with the bigger cells. These examples are for the Milwaukee system.How many tools do you have?
How many batteries do you have now?
Do all your tools have batteries now?
What tools are you trying to power now and what tools are you planning to add to the mix?
A grinder, reciprocating saw, maybe a circular saw, yard tools, a work light used for an extended period of time or a big job with a hammer drill I might want or use a 5a battery. A smaller job with a compact drill or a hand held flashlight for limited use I might choose the 2.5.
Anyway, buy both.
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Certainly there are other options. I have mostly Dewalt tools. I didn't comment on them. I was commenting on the choices the OP was considering.Actually, for the grinder, Sawzall, and yard tools a 5.0 isn't really the way to go. Use the newer generation of big dogs: 6.0, 8.0 or 12.0 batteries that use the 2700 cells. The 3.0CP's use these bigger cells as well so the 2.0 and 5.0 are now basically obsolete. I have a shitload of 2.0 and 5.0 batteries but they're several years old now. Anything I currently buy I go with the bigger cells. These examples are for the Milwaukee system.
dnschmidt
Well-known member
DeWalt has the identical program. Their 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 batteries and above use the 21700 cells. You can tell this as the battery packs are wider to accomidate the larger cells.Certainly there are other options. I have mostly Dewalt tools. I didn't comment on them. I was commenting on the choices the OP was considering.
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That is all well and good but has little to nothing to do with the OPs question.DeWalt has the identical program. Their 3.0, 4.0 and 6.0 batteries and above use the 2700 cells. You can tell this as the battery packs are wider to accomidate the larger cells.
OP
TheLawnRanger
Well-known member
I only have the Hercules brushless impact driver now but plan on getting the hammer drill and ultra impact wrench. So far, the jobs I've done with it were on the light side and the 2ah battery that came with the kit has done well. I'm planning on building a lean-to on my shed this summer which won't be a very big job either.
KnurledNut
Well-known member
Knowing now you already have a 2ah i'd get a 5ah.I only have the Hercules brushless impact driver now but plan on getting the hammer drill and ultra impact wrench. So far, the jobs I've done with it were on the light side and the 2ah battery that came with the kit has done well. I'm planning on building a lean-to on my shed this summer which won't be a very big job either.