Brand Name or Generic Batteries for Power Tools?

[giants]

I have a DeWalt drill that I'm thinking about getting a back-up battery.

With digital cameras, I've had 100% success with aftermarket batteries, even made in China.

What do you think about aftermarket batteries for power tools?

Thanks

 

[powerstrokin]

I have a DeWalt drill that I'm thinking about getting a back-up battery.



With digital cameras, I've had 100% success with aftermarket batteries, even made in China.



What do you think about aftermarket batteries for power tools?



Thanks

I use ones from amazon on my Milwaukee tools. No problems here, I’m not running them for professional use though so can’t comment on daily, hard use.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[giants]

I use ones from amazon on my Milwaukee tools. No problems here, I’m not running them for professional use though so can’t comment on daily, hard use.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Thanks.

What brand are they?

 

[dogdog]

Unless there is a cost factor... I think aVe did a battery test on few of his videos... basically boils down the cheaper electronics and cheaper Li-Ion Cells... basically means it's taking a chance... unless the price is ridiculous good... and that seller have some good reputations on the aftermarket he sells...

This is one of them.. I think you can find more with searching "aVe battery test"

 

[bcradio]

I would not personally use 3rd party batteries, but many people have. My only time doing so was for a camera and it did not last at all.

 

[Citation]

I have aftermarket NiCADs for my 12V DeWalt drill. I looked at various Amazon reviews before jumping. So far so good but the tool didn't get used that much. I haven't looked at aftermarket li-ion. While I've had fine luck with aftermarket single cell batteries, my luck with multi-cell laptop batteries had been poor. Power tools are more like computer batteries in terms of electronics. So I would go into it with low expectations. However, given the price difference I would probably try it. Think of it as pot odds. You have a 50% chance the battery is **** but it cost 30% of oem. Thus the expected pay out is positive vs oem.

 

[seber]

Milwaukee batteries talk to the tools. That makes me leery of aftermarket. I don't know about Dewalt. I have tried aftermarket batteries for my Sony camera. they have less than half the power of the Sony brand.

 

[DFB]

Aftermarket 18v Ni-Cads here to replace the stock Makita 18V NiMH (worse batteries ever) for my saw and drill for several years now. Also have the 12V aftermarkets for Makita. No problems and hold charge great, definitely would buy over and over. PowerAxis was the brand, get 2 for half the price of one OEM

Had once considered the LI-ON adapter route a few years back but even the newer batteries weren't much better for life expectancy back then so made choice never to buy Makita branded batteries again.


As far as my Milwaukee Red Lithium batteries never any need to no, OEM battery deals abound along with with xtra battery freebies and I have plenty of them, both 12 and 18v in varying AH configurations. (but can't say more than I really need )

And don't really understand the choice to the aftermarket route for those

 

[tomwil]

Milwaukee batteries talk to the tools. That makes me leery of aftermarket.

This. The battery circuitry controls the charging. 3rd party batteries have questionable electronics, which might result in fires and explosions from overcharging cheap cells. Similar to the scooter and hoverboard battery explosions in the past.

 

[jgromada]

Some of these aftermarket batteries use name brand batteries (eg. Samsung) in some of the tear downs I've seen posted. As for electronics this has become somewhat standardized with undervoltage cutout & overload protection.

Only recently some of the tool manufacturers have provided additional communication between the tool and the battery , (such as Ridgid Octane) which seem for the most part to do that communication via Bluetooth. Frequently this is coupled with functionality either monitored or modified via phone (also via bluetooth).

The thing is it is hard to know exactly what you are getting with these aftermarket batteries. None of them will have bluetooth that is for certain. Could be great .............

 

[DFB]

Ya seems BT compatibility for tool design like Milwaukee One Key could be a problem with aftermarket battery circuitry. But from my humble experiences older simpler standard brushed tools run seem to run just fine on aftermarket batteries.

As for the thermal cutouts nowdays I do often find them a PITA (tool shuts down, need a trigger release and restart) but it's a preventive measure from smoking the more powerful tool, especially with brushless, overheating the motor and melting something.

 

[Parrothead]

I’m running aftermarket 20v Black & Decker batteries on my lawn tools with no issues.

 

[Nineeightyone]

After hearing about a member who had a fire incident related to aftermarket batteries/charger (I forget which end of it went, but one of them did), I'll pay the premium for name-brand batteries. I generally store my batteries off the tool and off the charger, but it's a risk I can't afford to take. I've got far too much invested in my garage/workspace to risk a fire if it can be avoided. Two 6AH batteries can be had for around $130, and realistically my five batteries (of varying capacities) get me through just fine, so I'll just replace as needed.

 

[Showkey]

^^^^^^^^
Lithium battery run away charging issues are getting more common in all devices from tools, lap tops to China toys.
Dozens of recall on all types of products.

No way would I consider third party batteries. If I did no way would I charge them unattended. Or store them together in close proximity to any combustibles.

Problem is they can go into run away discharge just sitting.......that’s why all lithium batteries are banned from airline luggage and shipping batteries are controlled, labeled and restricted.


Read up:
https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion


Safety is for sissies ???????




The dive boat that burned in California ........prime suspect is the camera and phone battery charging station. Likely will never be confirmed due the fact the evidence was lost.

 

[Nineeightyone]

^^^^^^^^
Lithium battery run away charging issues are getting more common in all devices from tools, lap tops to China toys.
Dozens of recall on all types of products.

No way would I consider third party batteries. If I did no way would I charge them unattended. Or store them together in close proximity to any combustibles.

Problem is they can go into run away discharge just sitting.......that’s why all lithium batteries are banned from airline luggage and shipping batteries are controlled, labeled and restricted.

Read up:
https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion


Safety is for sissies ???????




The dive boat that burned in California ........prime suspect is the camera and phone battery charging station. Likely will never be confirmed due the fact the evidence was lost.

This is good to know, I was not aware that batteries could catch fire even in an idle/discharge state. Maybe it's time to build a flameproof box on the wall for batteries, right now they're in the toolbox with everything else, I'll have to rethink that idea.

 

[giants]

Some of these aftermarket batteries use name brand batteries (eg. Samsung) in some of the tear downs I've seen posted. As for electronics this has become somewhat standardized with undervoltage cutout & overload protection.

Only recently some of the tool manufacturers have provided additional communication between the tool and the battery , (such as Ridgid Octane) which seem for the most part to do that communication via Bluetooth. Frequently this is coupled with functionality either monitored or modified via phone (also via bluetooth).

The thing is it is hard to know exactly what you are getting with these aftermarket batteries. None of them will have bluetooth that is for certain. Could be great .............

What information do the Bluetooth communications transmit?

 

[pstemari]

^^^^^^^^
...

Problem is they can go into run away discharge just sitting.......that’s why all lithium batteries are banned from airline luggage and shipping batteries are controlled, labeled and restricted.


Read up:
https://batteryuniversity.com/learn/article/safety_concerns_with_li_ion

I have my doubts about that article. In particular, they said:

The main-ship battery in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner also had defects that were resolved.

That's half-true: the resolution was a fireproof enclosure and a direct vent to the outside if the aircraft. The 787 uses massive 150A custom cells, not 18650's.

It's possible to get a thermal runaway in a zero-drain situation (aka just sitting there), but it's really unlikely. The usual defect in cheap 18650's is lower capacity than claimed. I'm very dubious that you'd ever see a zero-drain thermal runaway in a battery that's been through a few charge cycles.

The airline restrictions are complicated and somewhat controversial. Mostly, they affect new batteries not installed in devices. Devices containing lithium batteries, eg laptops, are allowed. There's also restrictions in what goes into the plane's hold because of the risk that the batteries will provide fuel for a fire that starts from some other cause.

Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk

 

[jgromada]

What information do the Bluetooth communications transmit?

this is copied from the Ridgid forum regarding the Octane batteries, so let me give full credit first of all. and this is regarding Octane, don't know specifics of Dewalt, Milwaukee or Makita.

Outside of physical size, all Ridgid 18v batteries are compatible all the way back to the first 18v tools from 2003. I've heard the new 3ah Octane battery is slightly too wide for the old planer, but fits everything else fine. The 9ah is too tall for a couple of the lights and some of the circular saws have a lesser cut depth when using the 9ah. Other than that Ridgid has done an excellent job of keeping a fully compatible system through the years.

The main difference between the Octane and previous batteries, is the Octane batteries communicate with Octane tools and supposedly deliver more power under heavy loads. It's more noticeable with some tools than with others but I can say that the claims are true. Basically the batteries and tools 2 extra electrical contacts that allow the tool and battery to talk about the weather, what they're doing over the weekend and how's the wife, etc. But seriously you can put more load on an Octane tool with stalling it when using an octane battery. While the older tools and batteries don't communicate, the Octane batteries do give a slight power boost to non Octane tools because of newer cell technology. And non Octane batteries will run the Other tools, but with less power.

As far as the Bluetooth goes, I don't use it much, but there are a few things I really like. I don't connect them to my phone very often but when I do, it's to check temperature or remaining time on the charger . What I really like is that you can set the batteries to beep when certain things happen to them. For instance you can go into the notification settings for the batteries and set them to beep a couple times when they are done charging, needing charge, too hot, 10% left, etc. If I remember correctly I have mine set to beep at 10%, 0%, overheating, and done charging. I will also note that they won't beep until the tool they're on is done cutting/drilling/driving, which is good because it ensures that you hear the beeps. It's pretty handy for me because I don't have to constantly check the fuel gauge when I'm working. Other than setting the beeps I rarely connect them to the app. Sort of set it and forget it type of deal.

Bottom line is yes, the Octane batteries and tools are legit, and worth the money if you use them a lot.

 

[HondaCBMan]

I'm with the camp against aftermarket batteries. Rather not risk burning my garage and or house down.

Milwaukee batteries talk to the tools. That makes me leery of aftermarket. I don't know about Dewalt. I have tried aftermarket batteries for my Sony camera. they have less than half the power of the Sony brand.

Is this why Milwaukee packages their tool with the battery installed? At least that is how my M12 Fuel came, batteries in the tools. So I should store my Milwaukee tools with the batteries in them?

 

[Empty Pockets]

I've used aftermarket batteries in my phone with no issues. I do however use factory batteries in my tools. But that's just me

 

[kctyphoon]

If you dont wanna spend the money on real ones, and are using them at home to revive old tools, or just to have some extra’s - I’d buy them. I would not however build the bulk of my battery collection with cheap aftermarkets to make my living.
Confidence in them working and lasting is really what youre buying when you pay for brand name packs.

You should look on ebay though for brand name packs. The prices are a lot easier to swallow and sometimes half of what retail is.

I think i had 3 total (maybe 4 now that i think of it, i dunno) aftermarket milwaukee m12 batteries i got really cheap off amazon. 2 just died on me finally the other day. No idea why. But they lasted a while i think. Maybe 2 years if i had to guess.

IMO it depends what they cost. I probably spent $20 for 2 of these things - and that about 1/4 of full retail - so i dont care if they die. I just wanted some extras to juggle around since i have a bunch of real ones anyway.

Would i spend $50 for an aftermarket when i can get a real one off ebay for $75? No way. Look on ebay. People sell batteries out of kits they break apart, and some guys figure out a way to buy genuine batteries in bulk.. there’s no way I’d pay full retail anymore for an OEM battery. Ebay killed that. There’s too many available from private sellers now to warrant spending full retail anymore.

 

[Danglerb]

Roll the dice, OEM might be old stock, as in not good, or fresh and fine meeting but not exceeding original specs. Aftermarket could be cr@p, or improved on original.

I'm cheap, but try not to be stupid cheap, so I will often try a cheap battery, just not the cheapest and look for a warranty if any are offered.

 

[bpjr]

If you are going to toss an old batt pack I'd suggest taking it apart and seeing what the OEM batts are. You can duplicate those batts and make your own pack. The only nit is you have to know how to solder batts and getting sealed packs apart isn't always easy. I've taken apart several and found OEMs are mostly Sanyo or have no branding like HF does. It's way cheaper to make your own packs.

I bought an el-cheapo $10 batt for my laptop on ebay just to see what's up and it's still going 2-3 yrs later. The OEM batt is over $100 so this one worked ok. I don't leave any of my batt tools plugged in when away.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have had good luck with the replacement batteries from Interstate. Reasonable priced and if I had a problem, a brick and mortar store to go back to.