You basically have 3 choices of voltage:
- 12 volts – Best for general home use and normal DIY projects. ...
- 18 to 20 volts – Best for heavy DIY projects such as deck building, large-scale remodeling, etc. ...
- 24 volts and up – Best for professional contractors, especially in jobs that require drilling concrete, iron plate, or boring a lot of holes through studs or joists.
Full Answer
Do you need a high voltage for cordless power tools?
Do You Need a High Voltage for Your Cordless Tools? High voltage in a power tool translates to higher torque. Torque makes it easier for you to use greater force without putting as much strain on the battery. When you’re using shears or any other power tool that needs plenty of torque, you’ll need a higher voltage to get the job done.
What kind of battery do I need for my 18V power tool?
For instance, if your 18V power tool has a star on the connector plate, then you automatically know that it is compatible with the 18V, 6.0Ah, 5-0V, 4.0V and 3.0V battery. If you purchase an 18V Li-ion battery, it is built to work well with your 18V cordless power tool.
What is the difference between high voltage and low voltage tools?
Tools with a low voltage are lightweight, more affordable, and less powerful than high voltage tools. More voltage means more torque, which comes out to more power for challenging jobs. Voltage is the max possible power, the current is the power as it’s being used, and Amp-hours is how long a tool can last while it’s running.
How many volts does a power tool pull?
However, it’s safe to say that you’ll pull between 16 to 20 volts. The electric current of a power tool is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the amount of electricity moving through the tool as it’s being used. As you use up the battery life in your tool, the current may or may not drop, depending on the make and model.
How many volts does a 20 volt tool pull?
Why are cordless tools so useful?
What are the pros and cons of cordless tools?
How long does it take to charge a cordless tool?
What does electric current mean in a tool?
What does lower voltage mean?
Do cordless tools drain faster?
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What voltage do you use for a drill?
Drill voltages between 6 – 8-volts are for use mainly as screwdrivers. 9 – 11-volts are more suited to drilling and are perfect for occasional work around the home. For serious DIYers and professionals, the preferred sizes are 12-volts for light-duty work and 18-volts for heavy-duty work. So bigger is better, right?
What are the factors to consider when selecting the right drill voltage?
The three most important factors when deciding between drill voltage are: Its purpose. Its versatility.
Why is the drill bit more powerful than the motor?
Also, because the motor in a corded drill is positioned behind the drill head, the drill bit receives more power. If you’re a real heavy user, this could make the difference.
What does higher wattage mean on a drill?
Generally, the higher the better. Higher wattage means the drill has to work less hard and so doesn’t tire out so quickly.
What are drill drivers good for?
These drill drivers are even capable of drilling into brick and concrete without a dedicated hammer drill function. Great for: Drilling wood, metal, masonry, plastic, PVC, tile, ceramic.
Why should I avoid 7V?
In summary, I would avoid something as small as 7v because of how limited its uses are. The advantages of a 10.8v pretty much make this redundant.
Can you use a 12V drill with an 18V drill?
Compared to an 18v, you can work a lot longer because of the 12v’s compact size and light weight. If you are a pro, you won’t get by with just a 12v drill, however.
Why do you need a higher volt for cordless tools?
I am not going to get too involved in volts because it begins to get too technical. For a cordless tool, you really need volts and amps to work together for higher demand applications .
How to gauge battery power?
One way to gauge a little bit about a battery is to think of Watt Hours. Watt-Hour (Wh) is the measure of energy or the potential to do work. So yes, while you have a great battery, you still need a great tool to transfer that energy to the work. Batteries are measured by Volts and Amps. If you take Voltage x Amps, you get Watt Hours. So let’s look at it in terms of your work truck.
What does torque mean in a tool?
Most torque ratings show the tool at no load speed (when the tool is running at full power and not actually making a cut). Torque represents the stalling point. If you get a motor to stall, its torque is maxed out. A stalled motor is the worst thing you can do as it creates more amps which create more heat.
Why are amps important?
Motor speed is important. The faster a motor can spin the more air it can draw through the motor to help cool it down. So amps measures or indicates the maximum time a tool can continuously run without exceeding the temperature limits. Amps basically measure how effectively the motor cools itself, not how much power it has. With this in mind, more amps can be good because motors will run longer and won’t heat up as fast. Remember heat is what kills a motor. Have you ever popped a circuit breaker on the panel? This can be annoying, but it protects your tools. Notice when you’re popping the breaker your tool is probably bogging down causing more heat to build up and in return drawing more amps.
How many amps does a worm drive have?
Wrong, even though they both have 15 amps, a worm drive can transfer the power to the blade more efficiently than the inline version giving the worm saw more torque. Regarding cordless tools, the more amps the battery has, the longer the tool will run. You can have two 18V batteries, but one might run longer than another because it has ...
What is horsepower in motors?
Horsepower is a mathematical expression of the relationship between speed and torque. Again horsepower is misleading because it is a mathematical equation and the manufacturer can either use sustained or stalled torque and thus you can get two different numbers. Most manufacturers use peak power (stalling point) as the higher number. This is a bogus measure because it shows the highest output possible. If you did that to your tool you would burn the motor out very quickly because of the high current and high heat build up. So, in reality, it is not a realistic number measure.
Why are amps good for motors?
With this in mind, more amps can be good because motors will run longer and won’t heat up as fast. Remember heat is what kills a motor.
How much power do my tools need?
Tools are fueled by amps. To check how much yours need, check the nameplate located on the tool’s body or motor housing. Look for information about AMPS and VOLTS. Make a list of the amps consumed by each tool. Also, make note of any tools that can be wired to run on 240 volts instead of the standard 120.
How many amps do you need for a 16 amp tablesaw?
This means if you want to run a 16-amp tablesaw, you need a 20- amp circuit. If you ever run two high-power tools at the same time – such as a tablesaw and dust collector – you need two separate circuits to handle the load.
How many amps does a router need?
The typical amperage for small power tools (sander, jigsaw, etc.) is 2 to 8 amps. For larger power tools (router, circular saw, tablesaw, lathe etc.), 6 to 16 amps is typical. Some tools such as duct collectors and air compressors may need even more power.
Is 240 volts more powerful than 120 volts?
Contrary to common belief, running a power tool on 240 volts instead of 120 doesn’t make it more powerful because, since the amp use is cut in half, the wattage stays the same. For example, a 16-amp power tool on a 120-volt circuit draws 1,920 watts (16x120=1,920).
Do power tools gobble up electricity?
Power tools have big appetites. The moment you turn them on, they gobble up more than their fair share of electricity. As a result, you have probably tripped a few circuit breakers in your shop while feeding your power tools. To ensure you have an adequate power supply for your hungry power tools, it may be best to take a look at wiring.
Do I have enough power to draw from?
Most homes built in the last 40 years or so have 100- to 200-amp service. This should be plenty of power to run a modern household and a shop. Consider having an electrician install a subpanel in your shop so you don’t have to share circuits with the house. This allows for shorter wiring, which decreases power loss and heat buildup, and also gives you the option to shut off power to the shop when not in use.
How many Dewalt tools are there in the Flexvolt family?
But the Flexvolt has a tradeoff, and that is breadth of product. There are currently only seven DeWalt tools in the Flexvolt family, and although the Flexvolt batteries are backwards compatible with their 20V system—of more than 70 tools, you're still limited within the tools that accept 60V—for now. For comparison, Milwaukee has more ...
Why do professional grade tools cost more?
Professional-grade tools will always cost more because of superior build quality and better warranties. Casual DIYers can make do with less expensive brands like Ryobi or Craftsman. If you plan on building your own deck or doing remodeling, then investing in an 18V or higher tool would be a safe investment.
What is the rpm of a Dewalt Flexvolt?
For pure power, the Dewalt Flexvolt system with the new 9.0 Ah battery is unmatched. For example, it can drive the company's Flexvolt 7 1/4" circular saw at 5,800 rpm, which tops Milwaukee and Makita by a wide margin. Dewalt is currently the only manufacturer that offers a cordless table saw and a 12-inch cordless miter saw. Both tools are jobsite staples and indispensable to contractors who demand portability.
What is brushless tool?
Brushless tools are the tech you should look for. They may cost a bit more, but they'll squeeze out the most performance from your battery. As you can see, voltage doesn't tell the whole story. Tool brands all take a different approach to solve similar problems.
What is the max amp hour rating for a battery?
If battery runtime is a concern then look for the highest amp hour rating, which will typically be 6.0 Ah to 9.0 Ah. Check out Pro Tool Reviews, Tool Box Buzz, Real Tool Reviews, and Tools in Action, for runtime tests and performance comparisons.
Is Milwaukee 18 volt compatible?
This is where Milwaukee and Makita shine, as their 18-volt tools and batteries have been backwards-compatible with older gear for a number of years.
Is the cordless tool race ramping up?
The race for higher battery voltage and longer lasting cordless tools is ramping up. Here's how to choose a platform that works best for you.
How to care for a power tool battery?
How to Care and Store Power Tool Battery. In normal circumstances, batteries are created to be consistently in use. The best way to keep a battery in good condition, therefore, is to let it be in use as much as possible. But sometimes this is not always possible, and the battery has to be kept inactive.
What is the difference between a 40V and 18V battery?
On the other hand, the 18V ONE+ system is compatible with 18V ONE+ power tools and chargers.
How long does it take to charge a Makita 18V battery?
For instance, the newly introduced Makita 18V Lithium-ion 6.0 Ah is extremely powerful. It comes with increased performance and presents an exceptionally longer runtime. With a charge time of just 55 minutes, this battery is one that allows convenience.
What batteries are compatible with Makita?
Makita Batteries Compatibility. These batteries are compatible with over 100 power tools. There is always an indication is on your power tool; For instance, if your 18V power tool has a star on the connector plate, then you automatically know that it is compatible with the 18V, 6.0Ah, 5-0V, 4.0V and 3.0V battery.
What battery pack does Milwaukee M18 use?
Craftsmen can apply their heavier power tools even harder and for prolonged periods. Milwaukee M18 REDLITHIUM HD9.0 battery packs are also part of the latest technology. These enable cordless power tool users to handle even heavier work output than usual and for longer hours.
What is the advantage of Li-Po?
The advantage with Li-Po is that they can be produced in any kind of shape. This gives manufacturers a free reign in the design of their power tools too. The rate of self-discharge is also quite negligible, about 5% each month.
Is interchangeable compatibility necessary for cordless power tool batteries?
It would be useful but not essential to read the earlier articles: Interchangeable Compatibility Is A Must For Cordless Power Tool Battery Packs
What is the best battery for cordless tools?
Li-Ion have become the go -to battery of choice for most cordless tool manufacturers. This for a few reasons: They provide a lot of power from a small battery (high energy density) They can be recharged many times (high cycle life) High capacity (Ah/Specific energy) No memory effect.
What is the voltage rating of a battery?
The voltage (V) rating of a battery is a measurement of how much power that battery can provide.
Why is the cordless tool industry growing?
The cordless tool industry has grown exponentially since the release of the Li-ion battery, mainly because of the vast improvement over the other older battery types.
How many battery types are there?
Before we go into too much detail, let’s take a quick visual look at the difference between the 4 main battery types.
How many volts does a 20 volt tool pull?
You won’t always get 20 volts from a 20-volt tool, because the rating is set for optimal conditions. However, it’s safe to say that you’ll pull between 16 to 20 volts.
Why are cordless tools so useful?
Cordless tools offer all sorts of benefits that make them easier to use. Portability, varying voltages, and the ability to switch out a battery whenever you need to are undeniably useful advantages. However, there are many different opinions when it comes to the voltage of battery-powered tools.
What are the pros and cons of cordless tools?
Pros of High Voltage Cordless Tools. More voltage means more torque. If you’re facing a variety of tough tasks, you’ll need the power that comes with high volta ge tools (20V+). You can never get too big of a battery. If it’s too powerful, you can lower its output and use it to work on even the smallest jobs.
How long does it take to charge a cordless tool?
You can quickly charge a cordless tool with a low voltage in under an hour, in most cases.
What does electric current mean in a tool?
The electric current of a power tool is exactly what it sounds like: it’s the amount of electricity moving through the tool as it’s being used. As you use up the battery life in your tool, the current may or may not drop, depending on the make and model. The current directly impacts the torque, which is influenced by the voltage.
What does lower voltage mean?
Having a lower voltage means that you won’t be able to take on heavy-duty jobs. Unfortunately, they don’t have enough torque.
Do cordless tools drain faster?
Although it’s not always the case, batteries with a high voltage can be drain quicker, and they also take longer to charge.
The Pros and Cons of High/Low Voltage Battery-Powered Tools
- Contrary to popular belief, bigger doesn’t always mean better. There’s no need to spend more money and charge a battery more often if you don’t need to. Without further ado, here are the pros and cons of both choices:
Defining Voltage, Amperage, & Current
- If you don’t know all of the terms used with electricity and power tools, then it’s time to learn the basics.
Getting The Most Out of Your Battery-Powered Cordless Tools
- Battery-powered toolsused to not be nearly as powerful and reliable as they are these days. Fortunately, many advancements have made them equally as useful as their corded counterparts. The only tether of a cordless tool is the battery. Follow these three tips to get the most out of your cordless equipment: 1. Buy a spare battery or two. Having an extra interchangeable batterythat’…