nicad or lithium battery?

[darkhunter]

So im going to invest into a new snap on battery, which one do you guys recommend, which last longer and which one holds a charge longer, ive heard the lithium is prone to problems, is this true?

Thank you

 

[Sh1thead]

Had my lithiums for about a year trouble free. Hold a charge longer, not as heavy and alot quicker to recharge.

 

[cbracer]

Not even a question anymore.... Lithium all the way!!!

 

[Steevo]

Lithium has made nicad obsolete.

 

[shoturtle]

As mention already, this is a no brainier. Li ion without a second thought. Just the fact of memory issue kept me from buying ni cad power tools, till li ion came out.

 

[Guam_Guy]

+1 for Lithium

 

[Steevo]

I have owned and used nicad drills and drivers for at least the last dozen years or so, and have accomplished a great deal of work with them, but technology has progressed, and today, a NiCad power tool compared to a lithium ion is like a Sony Walkman compared to an iPod Nano. One is a dinosaur that does its job as well as it can and the other a lightweight workhorse that outperforms and outlasts the older technology.
Nowadays a 12v LithIon drill/driver can do the work of an older 18v NiCad, and do it for longer, and require less time to recharge as well.

 

[GSteg]

CRT or LED TV?

 

[BajaBound]

Lithium all day long wish I could afford more!

 

[Monte]

Li-Ion

 

[Hawk321]

Li-Ion...quick recharge, longer durable and more a leightweigt.

Ni-Cad is outdated and personally I think, every vendor who still tries to sell them will just fool you!!!

 

[Monte]

If you want to start a new cordless tool collection i would choose a manufacturer who offers tools with Li-Ion batteries (3 or 4 AH) and brushless motors. Everything else offered now is already outdated and will be ceased within 5 years or so.

 

[shoturtle]

Brushless is nice, but it is pricey still and not a wide selection. Just couple of drills right now. You can still get allot of work out of a bursh motor, and the li ion battery from the brush motors are the same as the ones in the brushless form the companies that do offer brushless motors drills like dewalt

 

[gt40mkii]

Lithium has made nicad obsolete.

NiMh made NiCd obsolete. Lion is making NiMh obsolete. Lithium all the way. I'd NEVER buy a NiCd battery!

 

[shamrock12]

Thought I'd bring this up instead of starting a new one. I'm looking into a new cordless drill/driver set. The issue here is I would be using it occasionally (a few times a month) so which type of battery is better suited for this infrequent usage? It is my understanding that Lithium holds its charge longer than NiCad, but my main concern is which type will survive longer before needing replacement/rebuild? Thanks

 

[bobcatdan]

I had lin ion and went back to ni cad. Lin ion can't be rebuilt so they die, they're junk. My milwaukee 28 volts last 4 years before going belly up. My SO ni cads I bought to replace the mils are going on 4 years now and still going strong. Also I hated how the lin ions don't work when it is below 50 degress. New lin ions are suppose to be better.

 

[cheechi]

I would be using it occasionally (a few times a month) so which type of battery is better suited for this infrequent usage?

Li-Ion will keep their charge longer in storage, and even if they're close to dead when you go to use it, they charge much much faster.

 

[rockchucker]

Li-Ion all the way.

I can't even believe that NiMH and NiCd are still able to be sold. Total waste IMHO.

I also think that Battery manufacturers should be banned from selling anything but rechargeable Li-Ion Batteries. Such a waste of time, money and resources.

 

[wafrederick]

Nicads have a memory,they lose power when the battery is in the tool.I always remove the battery from the tool when not in use for this reason.

 

[chris6278]

Li-lon without a doubt

 

[GSteg]

Lin ion can't be rebuilt so they die, they're junk. My milwaukee 28 volts last 4 years before going belly up. Also I hated how the lin ions don't work when it is below 50 degress.

That's not true. Lithium ion battery packs can be rebuilt just like nicad. They usually contain individual 18650 cells, just like how Nicad packs contain sub-C. In the near future, there should be a lot more lithium-ion rebuilders. Batteries tend to not work as well in really cold climate, but 50 degrees F is not even 'cold'. I've had my lithium battery pack at 10 degrees F and it works without issues. Then again, mine is rated lower than that.

 

[LG63]

I thought NiMH was history too and it probably is in power tools, but I was surprised to see Chevy is using it in their eAssist vehicles.

 

[GSteg]

It's much cheaper to buy NiMH cells than lithium. Electric vehicles are expensive as they are already. Lithium would just make the price too unattractive, even by tree-hugger standards.

 

[rockchucker]

It's much cheaper to buy NiMH cells than lithium. Electric vehicles are expensive as they are already. Lithium would just make the price too unattractive, even by tree-hugger standards.

No tree hugger here buuuuut...

Not if everyone ONLY produced Lithium Ion Batteries. The only reason why it is expensive is due to the Battery Manufacturers having their teeth into the public. It is just like Fuel and the Oil industry. Why would they upgrade to anything better when they only make half as much money? Not that it will ever happen but... If the World as a whole would pull their heads out of their asses, only use the best available product, then sink more money into development of the best product, our world would run exponentially more efficient. This would allow us to learn and progress instead of just giving all of our efforts to the entity that can pump our world dry of resources that will not replenish themselves for millions of years.

Think of it this way...Why in the hell are there more than say 100 Wheel Bearings? If you really believe that the standard DOT approved vehicle could not cut it down to 100 different Wheel Bearings that are proven to last, not fail, that Automotive manufacturers MUST use in production of said DOT approved vehicles? If one lasts longer than the others at a rated load the weaker one gets removed. Vehicles can still retain their originality but only have the BEST of the BEST Wheel Bearings that are good for a million miles. Our world is asinine. Think of how much production goes into SOLELY the production of MILLIONS of different Wheel Bearings for road going Cars/Trucks.

Of course this is just is an example. There are a plethora of these comparisons in every day life. It really is sad that we as Human Beings are this incompetent especially with our population growing out the wazoo daily.

Thus starts the endless discussion...