Cordless/battery Garden Strimmer

[Wyleecoyote]

In regard to battery powered garden Strimmers; I’m wondering whether, if not used/recharged for maybe a couple of months, do they fail to recharge all together ?

A few years ago, an expensive cordless drill which was used and recharged on a daily basis; once laid up for a couple of months, both batteries totally failed.

I wouldn't need to use a Strimmer every time I cut the grass, so more often than not, it won’t be used for a few weeks, maybe a couple of months, especially throughout winter.

Also, if they have to be recharged, to keep batteries topped up, even when not in use; then, I’d rather buy corded Strimmer.

 

[scbk]

With li-ion batteries, it is normally recommended to store them for any length of time at 80% charge.

Bare in mind batteries are consumables, and don't last for ever.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

With li-ion batteries, it is normally recommended to store them for any length of time at 80% charge.

Bare in mind batteries are consumables, and don't last for ever.

What does this mean; will Strimmer batteries fail to charge within a couple months of it not being recharged or not ?

Has anyone on the forum bought a Battery powered Strimmer and experienced such an issue ?

I don’t fancy buying one now, use it maybe twice over the next couple of months; then next summer discover the batteries won’t recharge due to lack of use.


The cordless drill I refer to, was used & recharged daily for 8 years and only failed after not being used and recharged for 2 months.

 

[jcr71]

li-on batteries have a good shelf life these days. they usually come with a 2 year warranty. long periods of inactivity shouldnt be a problem.

 

[lostinthelight]

Buy a cordless strimmer that the batteries fit other tools so less chance of being stood idle

 

[big-all]

have my ryobi strimmer its ten year old now its all i cut my small grassed area with [12x16ft]
still have the original 2.4ah li-ion batteries although they will now be down to perhaps 25-33% cappacity
i now use the newer 4/5ah batteries i have and they would last for weeks perhaps 7 cuts off 2 cuts a day appart[14 cuts]

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Buy a cordless strimmer that the batteries fit other tools so less chance of being stood idle

I don’t have a need for power tools now, so not practical to buy tools with interchangeable batteries.

Only considering the Cordless Strimmer as it appears easier to use without a cable trailing.

 

[Wyleecoyote]

have my ryobi strimmer its ten year old now its all i cut my small grassed area with [12x16ft]
still have the original 2.4ah li-ion batteries although they will now be down to perhaps 25-33% cappacity
i now use the newer 4/5ah batteries i have and they would last for weeks perhaps 7 cuts off 2 cuts a day appart[14 cuts]

Thanks but I’m not trying to determine how long or how many cuts the Strimmer will perform after a full charge.

Trying determine whether the Strimmer will still recharged and operate after being laid up for a few months or throughout winter.

My cordless drill stopped charging after not being used for 2 months; apparently, this was common knowledge; cordless drill batteries have to be recharged regularly and I don’t want the same to occur, should I buy Battery Powered Strimmer.

 

[big-all]

lion may need to be charged every 8 weeks as a precaution but iff it has a battery level indicator then fully charge the battery check at 8 then 16 weeks and iff its more than 50% charged it wont need checking
all six new 4/5ah definately hold a full to 3/4 charge over winter and suspect all 3 2.4 ah even though 10 ish years old would be fine

 

[big-all]

My cordless drill stopped charging after not being used for 2 months; apparently, this was common knowledge; cordless drill batteries have to be recharged regularly and I don’t want the same to occur, should I buy Battery Powered Strimmer.

not common knowlege with any accuracy
it dosnt matter the tool as such on old nicads it could and would happen regardless off tool more so on cheaper tools made to a low price
nowadays even cheaper tools should have at least 2.5ah preferably 3+ah' li-ions dont fir up like nicads

 

[Wyleecoyote]

not common knowlege with any accuracy
it dosnt matter the tool as such on old nicads it could and would happen regardless off tool more so on cheaper tools made to a low price
nowadays even cheaper tools should have at least 2.5ah preferably 3+ah' li-ions dont fir up like nicads

Just to clarify; at the time, my old drill cost £350 new; 12v, not even a hammer drill, came with 2 Batteries and charger, in a moulded case.

I’m aware Battery technology has improved since then but don’t won’t to end up in the same predicament, hence my questions.

However, if I’ve got to keep monitoring the condition of the Batteries when the Strimmer is
laid up throughout winter or when not used for a couple of months; it’s probably not suitable for me.

 

[StephenOak]

The cordless drill I refer to, was used & recharged daily for 8 years and only failed after not being used and recharged for 2 months.

This has nothing to do with it being a strimmer or a drill but old batteries.

The capacity of all rechargeable batteries decreases with time. [1] If you were only ever using, say, 20% of the capacity each day then you will not have noticed the capacity of your drill batteries reducing.

There is also an issue with smart chargers, in that they check the existing charge in the battery in order to decide how much to charge it. That is fine most of the time, when there is still some charge, and is in fact beneficial. But if the battery is completely flat a smart charger will say the battery is dead and do nothing with it. A short time on a 'dumb' charger will put some charge into the battery and so enable the smart charger to charge it properly. You only see this on ordinary (e.g. AA) batteries where you have a choice of charger.

So your drill batteries may just have died because they were old. Or the charger that came with the drill may have refused to charge them.

1. The way that this happens depends on physical changes inside the batteries, and those changes depend on how hot the batteries get whilst being charged, how flat they get, how full they are charged, etc.

Electric cars have complicated, and expensive, systems to manage this so as to minimise the impact. Even so the guarantee that the batter has a life of 5 years is only that after that time it will have 80% of original capacity.

 

[big-all]

Just to clarify; at the time, my old drill cost £350 new; 12v, not even a hammer drill, came with 2 Batteries and charger, in a moulded case.

I’m aware Battery technology has improved since then but don’t won’t to end up in the same predicament, hence my questions.

However, if I’ve got to keep monitoring the condition of the Batteries when the Strimmer is
laid up throughout winter or when not used for a couple of months; it’s probably not suitable for me.

ok what i am suggesting is li-ion 100% should NOT fail or discharge to any extent over say 6 moths off no use
iff you use small sub 3ah batteries you may increase the risk from 99% pass will a level off say 80% capacity still in the battery to perhaps 75% with 60% still in the battery
what i am suggesting is a couple off checks will give you 100% piece off mind over the winter its no big deal as i say i will put my reputation on the line that a branded company battery like ryobi dewalt makita etc at 3ah plus will not go below perhaps 50% charge in 6 months so will be no where near the around somthing like 6 or8% that is the battery kill level

 

[Wyleecoyote]

Thank you for the very thorough replies in regard to rechargeable batteries.

Yeah, my drill batteries probably failed partly due to age; as well as being left dormant for 2 months.

Also. similar occurred with cordless hair clippers, not used for months, now won’t charge; where as, my mains powered clippers, still going strong after 24 years.

I’m thinking, due to past experience, how often I tend to use cordless devices and being left dormant for months on end; then I’m probably best buying a mains powered Strimmer.

Thanks again for all the advice; much appreciated.

 

[sodthisforfun]

Petrol strimmer?