I'm currently using a Argos (challenge) 18v drill - 2 batteries, 2 speed, hammer, 1.5Ah NICad batteries.
The batteries have given out after 2 years - just not lasting as long as they should. I would guess I recharge/use them about twice a week each on average.
That's only about 200 re-charges each not that good for Nicad's but 2 years for the battery life does not seem too bad.
I could re-wire the battery packs to take AA NiMH's and the current charger should work OK - this would be fairly easy and for £10/pack I could have 2.6AH NiMh's...Only problem would be I think NiMH's self - discharge (maybe why Matika etc don't use them) so if I charged them up one week after 1 week or 2 they would be no use and both packs woud be flat so would have to wait 1 hour for 1.3Ah's worth of charge...
A trickle charge would be the answer but is a bit of a pain... (I don't have one and getting a 18v one may be difficult)
Option B is buy another argos special for £40 with 2x 1.5ah nicad's and get another 2 years out of it.
Option C is buy a Dewalt or similar. Screwfix have a deal for a drill plus 2x18V 1.3Ah batteries for £100 so that's basically the same spec as my drill only a better make - would a dewalt run for longer on the same capacity batteries or would the batteries last longer (years)? Maybe the charger is better (more intelligent) to look after the batteries as well?
Your thoughts - PS while the argos is cheap It has done the job well for 2 years and also I've noticed looks suspiciously like the Erauber that screwfix sells for about £80 through maybe (maybe not?) the internals of the erauber are better?
Your thoughts...
The batteries have given out after 2 years - just not lasting as long as they should. I would guess I recharge/use them about twice a week each on average.
That's only about 200 re-charges each not that good for Nicad's but 2 years for the battery life does not seem too bad.
I could re-wire the battery packs to take AA NiMH's and the current charger should work OK - this would be fairly easy and for £10/pack I could have 2.6AH NiMh's...Only problem would be I think NiMH's self - discharge (maybe why Matika etc don't use them) so if I charged them up one week after 1 week or 2 they would be no use and both packs woud be flat so would have to wait 1 hour for 1.3Ah's worth of charge...
A trickle charge would be the answer but is a bit of a pain... (I don't have one and getting a 18v one may be difficult)
Option B is buy another argos special for £40 with 2x 1.5ah nicad's and get another 2 years out of it.
Option C is buy a Dewalt or similar. Screwfix have a deal for a drill plus 2x18V 1.3Ah batteries for £100 so that's basically the same spec as my drill only a better make - would a dewalt run for longer on the same capacity batteries or would the batteries last longer (years)? Maybe the charger is better (more intelligent) to look after the batteries as well?
Your thoughts - PS while the argos is cheap It has done the job well for 2 years and also I've noticed looks suspiciously like the Erauber that screwfix sells for about £80 through maybe (maybe not?) the internals of the erauber are better?
Your thoughts...