Renegade1LI
Well-known member
Of all the battery sizes I think 5amp seems to be the sweet spot for hand held tools. Doesn't matter what brand, I see most guys always go for 5amp, myself included. What works best for you guys?
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Best Battery Size For Tools
- Thread starter Renegade1LI
- Start date
LWB
Well-known member
I go as light as possible. 1.5 - 2 for impacts/drills/drivers mostly.
A reciprocating saw I would go as big as they make.
A reciprocating saw I would go as big as they make.
isb cornbinder
Well-known member
I would like to have a short cord that attaches to the battery and the drill. This would reduce the size of the drill for those tight places.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Sort of depends on the platform - I have 3 platforms.
Snap on 14.4 only comes in a 2.5a/h pack. It lasts really long on my 3/8 long neck ratchet. I wouldn't buy a battery with more capacity, it's simply unneeded.
M18 I only have 5.0s. I have a mid-torque, and a brushless drill. I think a larger battery would be a hindrance on either tool as the 5.0 balances either tool pretty well. If I got a 3a/h or something it would be okay on the drill.
M12 there are two styles, the compact and "XC" batteries shaped like the letter L. The L batteries I prefer on my 3/8 stubby, helps stand it up. A smaller compact battery means the tool falls over standing on the battery. For the 1/4 ratchet and hex driver, I typically like the compact style, 2.0 typically although I just got some of the new XC 2.5s which use the smaller compact shell. In my M12 fan the L shaped batteries provide the run time I need to clean brake caliper brackets, and are easier to remove from the tool.
Snap on 14.4 only comes in a 2.5a/h pack. It lasts really long on my 3/8 long neck ratchet. I wouldn't buy a battery with more capacity, it's simply unneeded.
M18 I only have 5.0s. I have a mid-torque, and a brushless drill. I think a larger battery would be a hindrance on either tool as the 5.0 balances either tool pretty well. If I got a 3a/h or something it would be okay on the drill.
M12 there are two styles, the compact and "XC" batteries shaped like the letter L. The L batteries I prefer on my 3/8 stubby, helps stand it up. A smaller compact battery means the tool falls over standing on the battery. For the 1/4 ratchet and hex driver, I typically like the compact style, 2.0 typically although I just got some of the new XC 2.5s which use the smaller compact shell. In my M12 fan the L shaped batteries provide the run time I need to clean brake caliper brackets, and are easier to remove from the tool.
finn
Well-known member
2-3 a/hr mostly.
obviously tools that run long intervals need more battery, so 5-6, or more for grinders, lawn equipment, etc.
I shoot for the lightest battery that will get the job done. There’s no award given out or bragging rights earned for hauling around a big battery.
obviously tools that run long intervals need more battery, so 5-6, or more for grinders, lawn equipment, etc.
I shoot for the lightest battery that will get the job done. There’s no award given out or bragging rights earned for hauling around a big battery.
Farmall450
Well-known member
Too vague of a question to really answer. Bigger batteries give better performance but weigh more and are bulkier. In extreme cases the biggest won't fit some tools.
engineer2
Well-known member
I agree. For Makita 5.0 works well for anything that needs run time and power like a drill mixing mud, recip saw, circ. saw, leaf blower.
3.0 is fine for intermittently used items like an impact driver or a tire inflator.
3.0 is fine for intermittently used items like an impact driver or a tire inflator.
acer66
Well-known member
Yeah, way to broad of a question.
Drywall gun as small/light as possible.
Framing gun, dewalt in my case, big/heavy battery to balance the very top heavy tool.
And so on.
Drywall gun as small/light as possible.
Framing gun, dewalt in my case, big/heavy battery to balance the very top heavy tool.
And so on.
OP
Renegade1LI
Well-known member
Sorry, should have broken it up between 12 volt and 18/20 volt which seem to be the most popular. For 12 volt i go with four amp and 18/20 5 amp. If I’m cutting with the circ saw i like the flexvolt 6 amp.
kbeefy
Well-known member
For everyday use I go with the smallest battery I think will get the job done.
I've bought some 1.5-2Ah 20v dewalts on sale for that exact purpose. Most jobs I can finish with one of those then throw it on the charger and grab a fresh one next time.
For really high draw stuff or big jobs I grab the 5aH.
I've bought some 1.5-2Ah 20v dewalts on sale for that exact purpose. Most jobs I can finish with one of those then throw it on the charger and grab a fresh one next time.
For really high draw stuff or big jobs I grab the 5aH.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
In the M18 line I use mostly 5.0. I have some 8.0 and 9.0 batteries that get used in the battery killers: bandsaw, vacuum, hole hawg, and super hawg M12 is mostly 4.0 with some 6.0's for the rotary hammer. As the 4.0's wear out, they will be getting replaced with 6.0 in the future.
In the Makita LXT 18v / 36v line up, the 3 amp, 4 amp, 5 amp and 6 amp hour batteries are all the exact same physical size.
So I have all 6 amp hour batteries (about 16 of them, at last count). Having all batteries the same size helps when combing them in LXTx2 tools for 36v operation. Having a common size also helps in predicting battery life based on the number of bars showing. The consistency with all batteries being the same has made it so I can grab ANY battery and not worry about how much ampacity it is rated for. They are all the same size not only physically, but electrically.
To make that happen, I bought my Makita tools from a local bricks and mortar tool store, and paid the difference to swap out any 4 amp or 5 amp batteries included with a tool kit, so that I could upgrade those batteries then and there to 6 amp from the get go. Thus, I've never owned any of the 3,4, or 5 amp hour batteries with Makita. I didn't want a hodge podge of different batteries. All 16 batteries still work great.
Makita's 1.5 amp and 2 amp hour 18v batteries are half the thickness of the battery sizes listed above, so I do have a couple of 2 amp hour batteries when needing a tighter or lighter form factor, which is rarely, but still nice to have when needed.
So I have all 6 amp hour batteries (about 16 of them, at last count). Having all batteries the same size helps when combing them in LXTx2 tools for 36v operation. Having a common size also helps in predicting battery life based on the number of bars showing. The consistency with all batteries being the same has made it so I can grab ANY battery and not worry about how much ampacity it is rated for. They are all the same size not only physically, but electrically.
To make that happen, I bought my Makita tools from a local bricks and mortar tool store, and paid the difference to swap out any 4 amp or 5 amp batteries included with a tool kit, so that I could upgrade those batteries then and there to 6 amp from the get go. Thus, I've never owned any of the 3,4, or 5 amp hour batteries with Makita. I didn't want a hodge podge of different batteries. All 16 batteries still work great.
Makita's 1.5 amp and 2 amp hour 18v batteries are half the thickness of the battery sizes listed above, so I do have a couple of 2 amp hour batteries when needing a tighter or lighter form factor, which is rarely, but still nice to have when needed.