New batteries

[PTH]

About 18 months ago I bought a cheap battery drill from B&Q expecting it to last a few months. In fact I only bought it because I had lent mine to a friend and needed to use one that day. It is a 30v thing and came with two batteries.

It has exceeded all my expectations and I reckon that I have drilled near enough a thousand holes with it in aluminium, steel, wood, masonry.

To get to the point, I was in B&Q a few days ago and noticed a pile of spare batteries for my drill at £7.50 each 'to clear' so I bought a couple - does anyone know if it is better to leave the new batteries in their boxes until the original ones stop accepting a charge or should I charge them up and use them all in rotation?

 

[2scoops0406]

I'd use 'em in rotation if I was you.

 

[big-all]

i agree with eddie m rotate them all you dont have to carry them all just swap em every week or two

 

[PTH]

Eddie and big-all, thanks for you help. Advice noted and will be acted upon.

 

[petewood]

Use the drill in rotation too.

 

[masona]

Also been told by a electrician when battery is low, press the trigger until battery is flat then charge it from there to prevent shortage life of the battery. Don't know if it's true but never has any problem so far.

 

[big-all]

Also been told by a electrician when battery is low, press the trigger until battery is flat then charge it from there to prevent shortage life of the battery. Don't know if it's true but never has any problem so far.

i used to completly flatten batterys elastic band on trigger ect

but apparently if you completly flatten batterys one or more cells can reverse polarity[very unusual though]and just to highlight the point one off the six ryobi batteries had recently started giving reduced performance

so i now go flat as in you can stop the chuck turning by hand the on to charge

 

[2scoops0406]

That advice depends on the battery type Ni Cd or Ni Mh, most batteries are now Ni Mh, which do not need a full discharge.

 

[gcol]

Makita don't recommend completely flattening their Ni-mh batteries.