Power tool battery life and replacement cost

[ekimneirbo]

After discussing the purchase of a new drill on another thread, I decided to start this thread and get other peoples experiences on record.

Many years ago I was a true Craftsman addict. I still have tons of Craftsman wrenches,ratchets,sockets. I liked the corded power tools and they always performed well. Then I moved into the cordless tool arena and bought several Craftsman drills. They performed well, but as soon as the warranty was up, the batteries always failed and new ones were expensive.

Decided to try Dewalt. Very good tool. Bought three drills, a sawsall and skill saw. Right after the 2 year warranty period, the batteries kept failing and I would go buy a 2 pack on sale for $99. When all 4 of the Dewalt batteries expired the last time (just out of warranty), I decided to upgrade to a new brushless/lithium. Tried a Kobalt (which I had no pexperience with) and loved it. They cost $99 on sale and come with a 2ah battery and charger. Liked it so well I bought 2 more along with some other things.

I have had the first one well over a year and no problems yet.
They give a 3 year battery warranty and a 5 year tool warranty.
A replacement 4ah battery is $49 everyday.

Craftsman gives a 2 year battry warrant and replacement 4ah is $99

Dewalt batteries come 2 for $189 ($90 ea) with 2 year warranty

I think battery life and battery replacement cost should be a major consideration when buying a tool, especially because it will affect any decision you make to buy additional battery powered tools in the future.

I would like for people to respond to this thread with info on the brands they have owned and how long the batteries lasted/replacement cost. Please don't fudge just because you have a favorite brand. If your batteries truly last a long time, then tell us........but if they didn't

 

[jsaw]

I had a 1990s Skill drill. Bought 2 replacement batteries in 1996. Batteries still good in 2006, but charger suffered a meltdown. Skill no longer made the charger. could not find a charger. Had to throw out a perfectly good drill and batteries

I used to get longer life out of batteries years ago.

I have a small Rockwell 12v impact driver that has been going strong for 8 years

 

[Rabid Badger]

I bought my first pair of Makita batteries in 2010. One went bad last year. The other is fine.

 

[Jeffksf]

I buy Hitachi remans from Bigskytool.com about every 3 years, drill driver, impact, Sawzall, 2 batteries for $150, sold my older still working stuff on Facebook for $90. I've also bought a few bare tools as well.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Ridgid will replace their batteries for your lifetime if you buy the correct packages and register them.

I'll have more experience with how smoothly this goes soon, as my original batteries were registered 7 years ago. I'm still happy with the way they hold a charge, but Lithium Ion has a limited life expectancy.

https://register.ridgidpower.com/about_lsa

 

[CJM8515]

Still got a porter cable set Ive had for ten years now with compact batteries that I abused. Batteries are lith ion and have yet to fail and I doubt they make new ones for them.

Im a milwaukee guy now, havent been disappointed yet. Batteries live in the garage where it gets very hot and very cold. No issues


I also still have an older porter cable nicad drill. That thing lasted a good 5 years as well before the batteries basically stopped holding a charge. I could have them rebuilt but why bother?


I also have one of the vert first snap on CT series 18v nicad cordless 1/2 impact guns, back when they were the only game in town who had such a product. I had the batteries redone by batteries plus after about 8 years and I just keep the set cause I like the flashlight and its all paid for. I havent used it in years however.

 

[Bretny]

M18 1.5ah 9yrs old. Bought two one went dead but didnt have a dead cell when i took it appart. Im not sure they make a 1.5ah any more. I buy my M18 bstterys lighly used on ebay now. Usualy pay $30-40 for a 4-5AH. Thats the only m18 battery i have ever had fail.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I use DeWalt cordless tools, have since I moved up from Craftsman in the 90s. I recently did a project with a lot of drilling and screw driving. I used one cordless drill with one battery for each purpose. They lasted all day; one started to slow down toward the end. These are 18v Nicad batteries...from 2011.

View media item 96790
I'm just a DIY'r, but I think 8 years and still going on a battery is pretty good. I also have two more 18v NiCads from 2015 still going strong in my cordless vac.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ridgid will replace their batteries for your lifetime if you buy the correct packages and register them.

I'll have more experience with how smoothly this goes soon, as my original batteries were registered 7 years ago. I'm still happy with the way they hold a charge, but Lithium Ion has a limited life expectancy.

Lithium Ion is SO MUCH better than NiCad or NiMh ! Li Ion holds a charge MUCH longer and can handle many more charge cycles compared to either nickel based batteries.

 

[Professional Tool User]

It really depends on how hard you use the batteries. If you use the batteries that hard, I don't see why it shouldn't last past the warranty.

 

[seber]

I have a theory (unproven) that if you run the batteries all the way down until they shut off you shorten the life. I try to charge mine before they get to 1/4. Often at 1/2. My Milwaukees are now 8 years old and have not had a failure.

 

[Dagny]

My M 18 batteries and tools get heavy use. 3 to four discharges a day. I have around 20 batteries. They are expensive but amazing in longevity.

 

[ItsNemo]

I've had my Dewalt 20v stuff for a number of years, probably have a dozen batteries at this point, am yet to have one even show signs of slowing down. I do zero best practices, I leave them in random states of charge and charge them whenever (2 bars, 1 bar, no bars, don't care). My 18v stuff lasted a half dozen years as well. The batteries get used weekly (I have the trimmer/blower so those ones definitely get a work out every week) but aren't day in day out.

If you're using them all day every day, I could see how they might only last a couple years...but I'd be fine with that, that's heavy use and a lot of cycles.

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

It has been pointed out, the real money in cordless tools is in the replacement batteries.

I have a couple of tools with the old 18volt, and a drill with the 14.4. The batteries seemed to age out on me. I've given up on those tools. I have three tools and a light with the 20 volt DeWalt lithium ion . I haven't replaced a battery yet.

 

[Tallpilot]

I have a theory (unproven) that if you run the batteries all the way down until they shut off you shorten the life. I try to charge mine before they get to 1/4. Often at 1/2. My Milwaukees are now 8 years old and have not had a failure.

That's not a theory, that's how the chemistry works. They lose a small amount of capacity each full discharge cycle (proportionately less for half cycles). They also lose capacity by being charged over 80%.

One possible method to significantly extend their longevity would be to never discharge below 50% and only charge to 80%. Hardly anyone is going to do that though so just realize they are a consumable and budget for replacements.

 

[Bretny]

I use DeWalt cordless tools, have since I moved up from Craftsman in the 90s. I recently did a project with a lot of drilling and screw driving. I used one cordless drill with one battery for each purpose. They lasted all day; one started to slow down toward the end. These are 18v Nicad batteries...from 2011.

View media item 96790
I'm just a DIY'r, but I think 8 years and still going on a battery is pretty good. I also have two more 18v NiCads from 2015 still going strong in my cordless vac.

With how dirty your battery is i dont think you qualify for this thread....lol. thats one clean battery. Mine that are 2yrs old dont look 1/8th that clean.

 

[Citation]

That's not a theory, that's how the chemistry works. They lose a small amount of capacity each full discharge cycle (proportionately less for half cycles). They also lose capacity by being charged over 80%.

One possible method to significantly extend their longevity would be to never discharge below 50% and only charge to 80%. Hardly anyone is going to do that though so just realize they are a consumable and budget for replacements.

This is generally true for li-ion batteries which are basically the dominant type today. The reverse was true with old NiCad batteries. They developed a "memory" and did best with complete charge/discharge cycles.

 

[zendriver]

Have 2 Cman 19.2 Lion batteries that are over 10 years old that still work fine.

I would think buying replacement batteries for working cordless tools, is not that big of deal, but for some reason it is.

It's a battery.

 

[dr_clyde]

Have 2 Cman 19.2 Lion batteries that are over 10 years old that still work fine.

I would think buying replacement batteries for working cordless tools, is not that big of deal, but for some reason it is.

It's a battery.

I agree. Batteries are cheap. $100 for something I use often and has an expected lifetime of at least 3-5 years is perfectly acceptable IMO.

I consider cordless tools are disposable. They are not intended to be lifelong, heirloom tools that you keep forever. Use em up and replace.

I started buying Makita stuff in 09 or 10. Can't remember exactly. Li-ion batteries. I still have and use the tools and batteries. Never had any issues with the batteries.

I had some Hilti tools in the 90's that worked great. Ni-MH batteries I believe. I traded them into the welding supply for credit toward a new grinder, IIRC. They still worked when I traded them in.

I am starting to phase out the Makita in exchange for Metabo, as the tools are significantly higher quality.

I had a very old Ni-Cad Snap On impact wrench stop taking a charge. I bought it used. I traded it back in to SO for $150 credit toward another one. Lithium this time.

My old man has Ni-Cad Dewalt stuff from the 90's and early 00's that he still uses occasionally. Had to replace a few batteries over the years, but still chugging along.

 

[Fly YX]

I've done the same thing I've had Craftsman power tools and as soon as the warranty was up the batteries went bad. It was the same cost to buy new tools. Ryobi just started with the 18 + back then so I picked up a kit. Still have the tools but don't really use them as much at home. I have mostly Rigid and Milwaukee M12. I've replaced a few of the Ridgid batteries all in warranty they normally last around five years. I have not had any of the M12 stuff long enough maybe only about 2 years but have not had a problem yet as far as batteries are concerned. I would have stuck with all Rigid but they are slow of come out with new tools.

 

[L.Cheapo]

With how dirty your battery is i dont think you qualify for this thread....lol. thats one clean battery. Mine that are 2yrs old dont look 1/8th that clean.

You have no idea how much tool polish I go through!

I assure you they have received average DIY use for the past 8 years. They go in drills that drill holes in wood and metal and drive screws into wood. How dirty should they get doing that?

In any case, the 18v Nicad batteries they replaced lasted 8-10 years as well.