Milwaukee ratchet more powerful with 4.0xc battery

[Ktmrider83]

I have had the Milwaukee ratchet for about two years now and been using it with the supplied 2.0 batteries. Runtime is excellent so no need to upgrade, plus I had a spare.

I recently purchased the M12 Rover light, which destroys the 2.0 batteries to the point of having to have one on the charger while other is in use. Not practical and annoying.

Bought the 4.0 for the light but tried it on the ratchet and it sounds different and feels more powerful. So many posts talk about Li ion batteries sizes only effecting run time and not power...I have to disagree..

What's your experience with this

 

[kctyphoon]

I have had the Milwaukee ratchet for about two years now and been using it with the supplied 2.0 batteries. Runtime is excellent so no need to upgrade, plus I had a spare.

I recently purchased the M12 Rover light, which destroys the 2.0 batteries to the point of having to have one on the charger while other is in use. Not practical and annoying.

Bought the 4.0 for the light but tried it on the ratchet and it sounds different and feels more powerful. So many posts talk about Li ion batteries sizes only effecting run time and not power...I have to disagree..

What's your experience with this

There might be slightly more power, might also be because the battery is brand new.

 

[shockwave]

I don't think it will make a difference on those Milwaukee m12 since they are electronic torque maxed out

But maybe a little more speed from motor I can see from a bigger battery

 

[gdocktor3]

I think it's just a new battery vs old battery thing you're experiencing. Like your car battery, over time the car turns over slower. Replace it with a new battery and it fires up immediately. The starter in the car was always the same, just new, fresh electrolyte's provided a better jolt to that starter. Same with your ratchet.

 

[DFB]

You sometimes will see an increase in the peak rpm higher than the stated tool spec max operating rpm when using a larger XC over a compact. (You can check that with a digital tach spec for yourself) The max rpm goes down some as the battery discharges 3 bar 2 bar etc. and the percentage drop seems fairly uniform either an XC or compact but course the bigger battery will hold the different rpm levels longer at each stage of discharge.

I made some rpm readings once using my UT 371 tach on a few different M18 XC and compact batteries powering some tools before (impact and drill I think) but don't remember where they got posted.

Now I cant say if that xtra speed boost equates to a real increase in power I guess you would need that dynamic test that RTR does

 

[gdocktor3]

So after reading this the other day, I decided to email Milwaukee and ask them if there was a difference when using a 2.0 and 4.0 battery. Here is what they said

Yes, you will get some (minimal) increased torque with larger batteries. the speed is determined by the gearing. The main benefit is longer run time.

Steve Frank
Customer Experience Technical Support Advisor
Milwaukee Tool

 

[Hammer1963]

Yes, there is a difference. I discovered this several years ago when the XC 3.0 batteries became available

 

[kblee27]

Probably due to 2 reasons.
1. 2.0 battery is getting old and has less power.
2. 4.0 new battery and higher power has a bit more oomph.

 

[lightning02]

in my m12 drill with 4.0ah battery it runs alot better. like you said you can feel and hear the diff then when i use the 2.0ah battery. both batteries came with kit. im going to be getting a 6.0ah for the drill now and the 4.0ah is going on my 3/8s drive impact.

and if i recall didnt someone test this idea and it does in deed make more power/tq with the bigger ah batteries.

 

[Pantsfall_McFixit]

Other tools have more power as well when used with larger capacity batteries, as the larger batteries can deliver more instant amps. Motor torque is determined by the current, allow it to take more as needed and it will deliver more torque. Think of it like a 1in water pipe and a 3in pipe, both at 60PSI. You'll get significantly more water out of the 3in pipe. Now translate that to 1Ah and 3Ah batteries, and so on. It matters more for the higher current use tools, such as drills and saws. Some tools will show a large difference, some barely noticeable or not at all. It depends on how much current the motor wants when you're loading it down, and the amp delivery capacity of the battery.