Disappointed in Dewalt Battery Tools

[ohblondi]

Today at work my coworker and myself were using a brand new Dewalt 18V Jigsaw and Sawzall. The batteries new from the box had a light charge. We drained them threw them on the charger. Grabbed two batteries that had a full charge, and after maybe 15 minutes the batteries died. Eventually the two new batteries were charged so we used them and same thing after 15 minutes or so the batteries were dead.

Is this a common problem, were we doing something wrong?

 

[Murphy4570]

I've never had that kinda issue with their 18V stuff. I have used their 1/2" drill a LOT in the past, fucker takes a beating and keeps on ticking!

Were you using the new Li-Ion batteries, or the older Ni-Cad stuff? My experience is with the old stuff.

Generally you want to fully charge new batteries before using them, though.

 

[Beemer533]

My 18v certainly gets more than 15 minutes of runtime, but as with all battery tools, it greatly depends on what you are doing...

15 minutes either way seems very low for both those tools.

What are you cutting? Are running them for a solid 15 minutes straight?

 

[cg81]

How old are the batteries? You say brand new but were they new old stock sitting on the shelf for a few years before being sold? Usually new cordless tools go forever on a charge but degrade like that after several years. I have found this to be true with every brand of cordless tool I have ever owned. Can you get them warranted by dewalt?

 

[Caman]

Need more information. What battery size (in amp hours)? 15 minutes of continuous or 'light' use?

Saws are a huge power draw with any make.

 

[ohblondi]

Both saws were being used to cut plastic approximately .313 inches thick. And they were being ran almost continuously. Like 15 seconds on 5 off. Repeatedly until the battery gives up.

I can not say how old the batteries were. I was in our fabrication area and within the last week they received a jigsaw and sawzall, my coworker and myself were the first ones to open the boxes and use them.

Is there a way to look at the battery or the box or something and determine just how old the batteries are?

I will give everything a more thorough look over tomorrow and hopefully have more information .

 

[Strouty]

Sawzall and jigsaw will drain a lot of batteries. If you are doing continues cutting, they just came out with this new thing called corded tools……….

 

[ohblondi]

Our fab area is terribly inadequately supplied with tools, like if they needed to start a fire. They would be rubbing two sticks together.

Ideally yes I would've preferred a corded power tool in that situation, however none were available. I ended up using a Dremel instead.

 

[mrvm]

Compact batteries? That might explain the short endurance because heavy power hogs like saws and recips don't work too long with compact battery power.

 

[Caman]

15 minutes is pretty good for continuous use of any battery powered tool. I'm sure some manufacturers will last longer but then you need to add larger/heavier batteries. As far as I know Dewalt only makes 2 18volt LiIon batteries, DC9181 which is 1.1AH, and DC9180 which is 2.0AH. Neither will last very long (the latter would last about twice as long) when subjected to continuous loads from a saw

 

[Dagny]

Cutting floor registers through hardwood and 3/4 plywood 15 min.is good.

 

[Harix]

I have exactly the same problem as you. Bought the whole set, some of the tools still new, but the battery take a sh!t.

 

[defektes]

Saws, and grinders eat up batteries, especially when in constant use. Work supplies us with 18v XRP Dewalt stuff, all holds really well except the sawzall and grinder under heavy use.

If possible always use corded sawzalls and grinders, you'll have more power with a cord for those applications.

 

[Gotcha640]

I had a similar experience with 14 and 18v nicad batteries. Higher capacity no names from Amazon have been going strong for three years.

 

[LordPsychon]

For most cordless tools, greater than 2Ah is needed for sustained use (15+ minutes). Dewalt makes up to a 5Ah battery in 20v as does Milwaukee for 18v but DW 18v tops out at 2Ah.

 

[99_xc600]

The jigsaw and sawzall are there for convenience in the fact that you need to be out in the middle of nowhere and make a couple of simple cuts. I would never use them in any production type environment.

 

[devoncoolman]

Dewalts 18v line ***** in my opinion. The drills were great and thats about it. The sawzall kills the batteries fast. I had the xrp batteries and it would drain them in cery little use.

 

[Strouty]

There are very few cordless tools that would be good for production besides the impact drivers, they seem to hold up very well.

 

[defektes]

There are very few cordless tools that would be good for production besides the impact drivers, they seem to hold up very well.

Agreed, and non-hammer drills.

 

[southalabama]

Dewalt is prone to putting the basic battery package in tools to lower the costs.

Their XRP batteries are the only way to go.

 

[ohblondi]

I feel like if I was buying them from my own home use. I would first do research and figure out operating time but if I got them and they lasted only 15 minutes id feel a little ripped off.

My only experience is with battery powered tools is pretty much just cordless drills. But at my home we have drills that are over 10 years old and still going super strong. So I had figured in 10 years the quality of the batteries would have increased 15 minutes.

I do understand though. A drill is not getting the constant run time a saw gets either. But I'll probably say something and see if we can get these guys corded tools. Anyone have experience with any other brand of power saw and the battery life on that?

 

[LUKE221]

i use Dewalt drills and Milwaukee Sawzalls. Dewalt makes great drills period. And yes I have cordless and corded versions. Much prefer the older 14 volt Dewalt XRP over the lithium or 18 volt stuff. The 14 volt stuff, the chargers are cheap and I get the batteries rebuilt.