18v Power Tools

The Advantages of Lithium-ion Battery Powered Cordless Tools

The technology used in cordless power tools has moved forwards in leaps andbounds over the past few years. Firstly the introduction of NiMH batteries replacedNi-Cad batteries in cordless power tools and now NiMH batteries are being replacedby new Lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which have been introduced to the industry.Many of the main tool manufacturers are now using 18v Li-ion batteries in their cordless tools. One such manufacturer being Makita, whose18v power toolsareleading the way in the use of this new technology.Having said that, Li-ion batteries have been in use in other electronic appliances,such as laptops, for some time but they have only recently begun to be used incordless power tools. It is a big advancement in the building and DIY industries as Li-ion batteries have many advantages over older type batteries. These new 18v power tools will benefit both professionals and people who merely dabble in DIY as a hobbyat home.One of the main benefits of a Li-ion battery powered cordless tool is the quickcharging time. A Li-ion battery can completely re-charge in about 15-20 minutesusing a rapid charger, whereas a Ni-Cad battery takes a couple of hours, oftenlonger, and even NiMH batteries take a long time to charge.This can waste valuable time on a job or just be very annoying if you have forgottento charge a tool that you need straight away. Using traditional cordless power toolsyou have to remember to put them on charge the night before, or at least a few hoursbefore you want to use them.Another advantage of Li-ion batteries is that they hold their power over time rather than loosing it like Ni-Cad and NiMH batteries. You can charge a Li-ion battery andleave it for a couple of months and when you come to use it again it will still havesome power. If you charged an older style battery and left it for a couple of months itwould have no juice when you came to use it so you’d have to put it on to charge andwait a few hours until you could use it at all.Li-ion batteries also often come in twos so you can work all day without ever havingto wait for one to charge. They have another advantage over older batteries also, inthat they are incredibly light considering the amount of power they offer. This makesthem convenient and easy to use, even for the inexperienced person or hobbyist whois perhaps less accustomed to holding a tool up for long periods of time. Unless youare really strong and fit holding a tool at eye level for a long time can really hurt.So it seems that Lithium-ion battery 18v power tools are the future for cordless power tools, as they offer so many advantages over older, heavier batteries. Manyprofessionals are using 18v power tools already and it looks certain that hobbyistsand home DIY-ers will follow suit to get all the benefits of this technology.Get more information or buy cordless 18v power tools here