Voltage Differences In Cordless Tools

You may be a craftsman with questions about the batteries you use every day. You know there are several voltage differences in cordless tools, but may not fully understand the details. Here is a discussion from DEWALT about battery basics. Consider the differences between types of batteries and what to look for when you’re buying new cordless tools. When finished, explore our comprehensive DEWALT cordless tool selection at Acme Tools.

What Is Voltage?

A battery’s voltage tells you how much power the cell generates in ideal conditions. It signifies the maximum energy potential of a battery and serves as a necessity to produce an electric current.

What Is Current?

While a battery’s electrical potential is called “voltage”, the term “current” signifies the amount of electricity moving through a circuit.

Consider voltage and amp-hours when you research specific batteries and during cordless tool comparisons. Voltage measures the battery’s energy, and amperes measure current. Batteries with higher voltages work with more powerful cordless tools and provide the energy required for most high-torque applications. Some types of batteries lose voltage during discharge while others remain mainly stable.


What does AH Mean?

AH Ratings

Amp-hour (AH) ratings determine how long a battery holds a charge during use. These ratings differ depending on manufacturer and application but work as general indicators when comparing similar products. Check the AH ratings when you need to compare different batteries. More intense applications will benefit from batteries with higher AH ratings, allowing for a longer use with less frequent recharging.

For example, consider a cordless grinder that runs on 20V batteries. It runs on the same voltage batteries regardless of whether that battery advertises 3AH or 5AH, but a 20V battery with 5AH will allow you to use the cordless tool for significantly longer before it runs out of juice.


Cordless Tool Comparison

Understanding how battery voltage differences affect cordless tool performance will help you choose the right options. Tools with higher voltages may perform more effectively when used for heavy-duty applications, and they tend to cost a little extra. A hammer drill is a good example of a tool that benefits from a higher voltage.


Modern Battery Types

There are three different types of batteries used in the best cordless tools:

Nickel-cadmium (NiCd) and nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries

Consumer-grade nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries were among the first released into widespread usage. Modern nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries came later. Both of these battery technologies allow you to recharge between uses, and both come with similar benefits.

Some batteries should be discharged deeply before recharging. NiCd and NiMH batteries both allow users to use the full capacity of the battery without damaging future performance. NiCd batteries handle this especially well, and you can store them with no charge without losing efficiency. While many types of batteries lose their voltage as they discharge, NiMH batteries sustain their voltage over long periods of use. They also store energy more efficiently than NiCd batteries.

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries came after both NiCd and NiMH technologies. These batteries rely on a more formidable technology than the other models, and it quickly grew into widespread usage among all cordless tools. This happened because Li-Ion batteries store energy with greater efficiency than NiCd and NiMH batteries. They don’t require power-cycling to sustain performance over time, and they self-discharge less during storage.

Li-Ion batteries

Li-Ion batteries, like those used in the DEWALT® cordless combo kits, are preferred in top-rated cordless tools because of their efficient energy discharge and their high storage capacity. They don’t require the same maintenance as other batteries, and they can be recharged even after short periods of usage without damaging the cell’s performance.


Battery Voltage in Cordless Tools

Some cordless tools require more power than others. Tasks that use more torque need batteries with a higher voltage to complete the toughest jobs. For this reason, large cordless shears may require 20V batteries while measuring instruments may only require 12V cells for adequate performance. Battery voltage in cordless tools makes sense this way: the simpler the operation, the smaller the necessary energy supply. That’s why many craftsmen choose to use the 20V MAX* instead of the 12V battery for the toughest jobs: higher voltage generates more torque.

You may notice some cordless rotary hammers and drills with lower voltages than average. The options at the lowest end of the spectrum often come with smaller motors than the tools with more powerful energy requirements. These often serve as household solutions, and may not offer enough power for industrial applications.


Standard Voltages for DEWALT Cordless Tools

20V MAX* Combo-Kits include various types of tools, and these tools can all work with the 20V MAX* battery. Regardless of the cordless tools included with the kit, these sets often come with power supplies that work with your other tools. When you have one DEWALT battery, you can use it to power any of your DEWALT cordless tools that share a voltage requirement. DEWALT’s 12V MAX* batteries work the same way; they just generate less voltage than the 20V MAX* batteries. They also weigh less. While the full-size 12V MAX* battery weighs about 1/2 pound, the compact 20V MAX* battery weighs more than 1-1/2 pounds.


Battery Discharge Rates in Cordless Tools

Dewalt Cordless Tools

Depending on the type of battery you use, you may notice a difference in discharge rate. Voltage differences in cordless tools aren’t the only factor in how long a charge lasts. While two different batteries may both have the same voltage rating, one may discharge faster than the other. This primarily occurs because of variations in capacity, but the age and condition of the battery also play a role.

Battery Storage Capacity Vs. Discharge Rate

While you can check the battery’s AH to compare batteries with similar voltages, the performance of your cordless tool depends on a number of other factors. A new cordless drill may have more kick than another you have carried in your toolbox for years. While both drills share the same general specifications, the age of the older unit may affect the rate it discharges. But the age of the battery isn’t the only thing that matters, so does where you store your tools. Most battery technology does not account for extreme heat or cold without affecting performance, and different types of batteries require different methods of storage.

Both NiMH and NiCd batteries should be stored without any remaining charge on the battery. These types of battery can “remember” how much charge they received the previous time, then won’t take more charge than that in the future. To prevent this, they need a full charge from time to time. Li-Ion batteries don’t require a full discharge before you stow them. Instead, they work most effectively with more frequent charges. You can store them with a half-charge for best results. When you pull Li-Ion batteries out of storage, any top rated cordless tools should be able to use them again right away.


DEWALT Batteries

DEWALT MAX* Battery Packs

The DEWALT MAX* battery packs use Li-Ion technology to store more energy without adding extra weight to cordless tools. They don’t discharge as quickly as other models and produce consistent levels of power while you use them. These packs are a reliable option for work in all sorts of conditions, even extreme cold. They come in several varieties, including all the most popular voltages in cordless tools.


DEWALT Battery Chargers

Single-Dock Charger

A single-dock battery charger is a simple solution for everyday tasks. If you have two batteries, you can leave one on the charger and use the other in your cordless tools. Charging stations often accept only one battery voltage, so check for compatibility before you make a purchase. Some DEWALT MAX* chargers accept multiple voltages, so you don’t need several chargers for your cordless tools.

Dual-Dock Charger

Similar to single-dock chargers, dual-dock battery chargers replenish batteries quickly. Instead of a single station for your backup battery, these chargers come with two docking stations, allowing you to charge two tools at once. This solution cuts down the time you need to charge multiple batteries, as you don’t need to wait for one battery to finish before you start the next.

Other Chargers

Dewalt Cordless Tools

Versatile battery chargers, including the DC9310 7.2V-18V NiCd/NiMH/Li-Ion Fast Charger, handle more than one type of battery. These chargers include all the technology you need when working with different batteries, so you don’t need to carry multiple chargers everywhere you go.


Cordless Tool Battery Care and FAQ

Do I charge a battery every night after work, or must I drain the energy entirely to ensure long-lasting battery performance?

Whether to drain a battery entirely depends on the type of battery technology you use. Older NiMH and NiCd batteries rely on a sort of memory to hold their charges. For these batteries, deeper discharges allow the batteries to sustain a larger energy capacity for longer periods of time. Modern Li-Ion batteries don’t have this sort of requirement. When you use a Lithium-ion battery to power your cordless tools, a shorter discharge time keeps the battery working as long as possible. You can charge these batteries after every session without damaging the unit’s performance. It should be noted that Li-Ion batteries should not be run until completely empty. These batteries should be recharged after you finish using them, regardless of how little energy discharged during the task.

Why should I use DEWALT batteries with my cordless tools?

DEWALT engineered top-quality batteries for use with all of their cordless tools. When you use these specially designed batteries, you get a reliable supply of energy that stores more energy on every charge.

Which type of battery works best?

Different situations call for different technologies. While NiCd batteries served as a preferable alternative to alkaline batteries for years, NiMH batteries surpassed their energy storage capacity. Li-Ion batteries provide higher storage capacities as well, and all three work as common solutions for those working with top rated cordless tools.

What are the benefits of lower voltages in cordless tools?

While a lower voltage means less overall power, it can also mean a lighter battery. Many home repair jobs don’t require the same amount of power as industrial projects, and some craftsmen may prefer these lightweight designs for everyday tasks. While higher voltage in a drill provides more torque, it also adds weight to the base of the tool. Those who want a lightweight solution may choose a lower voltage to reduce the weight of their cordless tools.

No matter which type of batteries you work with, voltage differences in cordless tools play a major role in overall performance. Higher voltages work in conjunction with more powerful motors to produce greater torque. As you shop for the best cordless tools, consider the battery voltage and AH to ensure optimum performance.

51 Comments

  • Vincent Keane

    June 3, 2017 at 12:05 pm

    Hi,
    I own a number of cordless battery de Walt tools, drills etc. I travel between the US and Australia. Australia has a 240 volt mains system while the US has 110 volt – it is OK to recharge US batteries on a 240 volt system?
    Many thanks,

    Vincent

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      June 5, 2017 at 7:50 am

      Hi Vincent, Thank you for your question. The input voltage to the charger will not affect your battery or their performance but you will need the correct charger or adapter to be able to use it on both voltages. If you travel between the United States and Australia often you may want to invest in 2 separate kits, one purchased in each country, that are designated for use in that country by the manufacturer.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Mark

      December 8, 2017 at 12:28 pm

      Check the fine print on the battery charger. My Ryobi Li-ion charger is only good for 120v charging. It charges at 50 watts. It also says it should use 60hz current. Often times foreign current is 50hz and 240v. Cell phone chargers almost always are good for 120-240v and can handle most current around the globe with the proper adaptor. You MIGHT be able to get by with an adaptor AND a transformer to transform the 240v to 120v IF it is ok to use 50hz instead of 60hz power.

      Reply
  • Terry

    August 6, 2017 at 1:01 am

    Hi,
    I am looking to buy new Dewalt XRP 18v DC9096 batteries. The original batteries are Ni- Cd but am I able to use Ni MH instead?
    Many Thanks
    Terry

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      August 7, 2017 at 7:52 am

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. You would be able to use the DeWalt Post Style Ni-MH Batteries in your tools but you would need to purchase a new charger to charge the Ni-MH batteries. If you are interested in new battery technology you should look into using the 20V Max Li-Ion batteries on your 18V tools. They are much lighter and some offer longer run times than the DC9096 Ni-Cd and Ni-MH Batteries. You will need to purchase a new charger and the DCA1820 battery adapter or the DCA2203C Adaptor, Battery, Charger combo to make all of this work.

      The advantage of going the Li-Ion route is that you now have the latest technology on batteries and if something happens to your 18V tools you can replace them with the new 20V tools that DeWalt is producing.

      We hope this helps,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
      • Ari

        August 19, 2021 at 11:11 pm

        If you are talking about 18v and 20v both lithium they are the same anyway. Even with 18v nicad you could probably use lithium and you would not have a problem. A 20v lithium is 18v under load anyway and the voltages are close enough. Otherwise you may burn out your motor sooner, then so what. For giggles although I do not really need most of them anymore, I made an adapter use my 18v milwaukee with my older 19.2 porter cable drills. I thought the voltage boundaries which were lower would only power the drill down to half way. The truth is because of lithiums longer voltage retention until the end, the drill had max torque all the way down to empty on the milwaukee battery. Very impressive. I only will really use the porter cable 19.2 router as I only need it occasionally and it is not worth buying a new router. The porter 19.2 router is a beast, powerful, heavy duty and uses the standard ac accessories and bases. It is built just like their old ac tools and they even used the same housings. Those porter 19.2 tools were amazing before dewalt bought them out and cheapened them. Of course, because you can’t have your new sub brand be better than you main.

        Reply
  • Chris

    September 22, 2017 at 5:37 pm

    Hi,
    I have two DEWALT 12V MAX Li-ion drivers. I was wondering if the newer 20V MAX batteries are compatible? If so, would they stay charged longer when in average use?

    Great article! Thank you!
    Chris

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      September 25, 2017 at 9:09 am

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. The DeWalt 20V MAX batteries will not fit into a 12V MAX tool. If you would like to have longer run time on the 12V MAX tools you would have to use DeWalt 12V MAX batteries that have a higher Amp Hour rating than the ones you currently have. The Amp Hour rating is easiest explained as a gas tank for the battery. The larger the gas tank (Amp Hour rating) the longer the battery can run.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Acme Tools

      October 3, 2017 at 8:24 am

      Hi Jim, Thank you for your comment. The 12/20 refers to the charger only. It will charge BOTH the DeWalt 12V Max and 20V Max batteries. The drill you purchased will only work on 1 of the 2 voltages and it would be specified on the model number tag that is on the side of the tool.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Acme Tools

      October 24, 2017 at 8:03 am

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. A higher voltage tool will not necessarily drain a battery quicker. It may seem that a higher voltage tool will drain a battery quicker but it is usually due to the kind of work being done. Users of higher voltage tools will put those tools in high demand situations more often than tools of lower voltages.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
  • Ramon

    October 30, 2017 at 2:43 pm

    One of my 18v Dewalt Drill batteries has started showing a weakness and I intend to replace the internal rechargeable batteries. If I can replace the internal batteries with a higher voltage say, 20v with a possible 5ah, will it damage my 18v Dewalt Drill itself?

    My point on this question is, ” being able to operate my 18v rated power tool using a slightly higher voltage capacity battery” without damaging it.

    Please advise!

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      October 30, 2017 at 5:43 pm

      Hello, Thank you for contacting Acme Tools. Although this sounds like a good idea it is not possible. Cordless tool battery cells, like the ones in your 18V battery, cannot be added in a way to provide 20V. In actuality the DeWalt 20V Max batteries provide 20V for a fraction of a second and then they consistently put out 18V. This is noted by an * on all DeWalt 20V Max batteries and tools. If you were able to provide more than 18V to your tool you would damage the electronics and motor of the tool, they are calibrated to operate on 18 volts DC.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
      • Ramon

        November 1, 2017 at 10:09 am

        Thank you so much for that valuable information. I will then settle replacing the internal weak batteries with the same voltage and will not damage my drill.

        Reply
  • Laith

    November 5, 2017 at 11:42 am

    Hi,
    The power supply is different between countries, For Example USA and UK 110/60Hz , 220/50Hz.
    My question is:
    Dewalt made different change on things (tool , battery and charger).
    Or
    Only charger?
    Because I can see same part number on the both market and when I read the reviews they say only 110 on USA review market and only 220v on UK review market.
    And honestly the price difference is huge.
    So if it’s compatible I will buy only the charger from local market.

    Please advice and thanks.

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      November 6, 2017 at 9:17 am

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. Acme Tools only carries the tools designed for sale in the US market so we cannot fully answer your question. We suggest contacting DeWalt US and UK directly. To the best of our knowledge the difference is in the charger. The batteries may be rated at different voltages but the UK does not allow DeWalt to rate their batteries like the US does. For example, the UK has a 54V battery and in the US we have a 60V tool. The battery is actually a 54V battery but for a fraction of a second it puts out 60V so they can rate it that way.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Acme Tools

      December 4, 2017 at 9:07 am

      Hello, Thank you for your question. We apologize but we would prefer that you contact DeWalt directly for your question. We do not know of any differences between the chargers but DeWalt would be the best reference to answer your question.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Acme Tools

      December 14, 2017 at 9:13 am

      Hello, Thank you for your question. There are many differences and advantages to both 12V and 18V tools. Typically 12V tools are designed for lighter duty tasks and jobs where a smaller tool is more beneficial. This does not mean that they are built cheaper, the quality of most 12V tools are equal to their 18V counterpart. You will have to ask yourself what the main use of the tool will be and then determine if a 12V tool or 18V tool is designed for the tasks you will be asking it to do.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
  • William Murphy

    January 9, 2018 at 1:53 pm

    I recently purchased a DeWalt cordless drill to replace an older NiCd drill and noticed that a number of different drill manufacturers use the 20V Max designation. Has there been any standardization in the battery packs so that a common battery pack might be used for tool products from different manufacturers?

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      January 10, 2018 at 9:16 am

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. As far as we are aware the only brands using the 20V Max designation are DeWalt, Porter Cable, Bostitch, and Black & Decker. All of these brands fall under the parent company of Stanley, Black & Decker and although they are all made by the same company their batteries are not interchangeable. We have seen some batteries that are able to be used on other companies tools but this would be a case of one company manufacturing a tool for another. An example of this is having a Makita 18V LXT battery on a Greenlee Knockout tool or a Milwaukee battery on a Southwire MMC cutter. We do not believe that a common battery pack for all cordless tools will be available in the near future.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
      • Ari

        August 19, 2021 at 10:52 pm

        A common misconception is that Dewalt 20v max or any other lithium 20v tool is something different. It is the same voltage and battery configuration as Milwaukee 18v or any other 18v lithium tool. Dewalt just wants to use the hype of the higher number, because that is what they are about. 20v max is stated because that is the max voltage after charging, where it is nothing more than 18v under load which is how the other tools that use 18v naming choose to identify their tools. I have also made battery adapters easily to use any 20v or 18v tool battery on any other brand of tool. Simply by using a gutted battery to plug in, attached and wired to by a 3d printed dock for your battery of choice supplying the power. The docks are easily found on ebay or elsewhere and many complete adapters ready to go are also sold. Sometimes a resistor, diode, or connection is needed between terminals for certain batteries to fake out the electronics or other components used on certain brands and not others in the same configuration to make the adapter work.

        Reply
    • Acme Tools

      February 13, 2018 at 9:04 am

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. Only DeWalt 28V batteries will work with the DC310. If you are in need of a new battery you may have to contact DeWalt directly because the 28V series has been discontinued.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Ari

      August 19, 2021 at 11:04 pm

      You could if you could find a battery with that voltage. Do you mean the 24v nicad system and not 28v? I looked and I guess they have or had a 28v lithium. So what happened to it? More bombs I guess by dewalt. Dewalts 24v nicad system was an overpriced flop, did not last long and was not really much more powerful than anything else. I was told of employees at your favorite home center who sold them who said the porter cable 19.2 nicad system around at the same time (which was really porter cable until dewalt bought them out and cheapened them) was more powerful in the drills than the dewalt 24v nicad. I don’t own or buy any dewalt except for their little gyroscopic screwdriver. There is a good reason. Lack of quality, performance, good engineering, reliability, design and ergonomics and functionality. I own mostly all Milwaukee as do most higher end commercial contractors for their serious tools.

      Reply
  • Bonnie

    April 13, 2018 at 11:59 pm

    Hi. I want to buy a small lawn mover for a small patch of grass (15’ x 4’). In my price range, I can choose among 20V-28 Volt models or 10-14 Amp models. Which would be more powerful, a 28 Volt mower or a 12 Amp mower? Thank you.

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      April 16, 2018 at 8:32 am

      Hi Bonnie, Thank you for your question. Electric AC motors typically offer more consistent power than a DC motor but recent improvements in DC Batteries has made the gap much closer. If the area you have to mow is 15’x4′ either one would be sufficient for your needs. Depending on your budget you may want to lean towards the cordless mower so you don’t have to worry about the extension cord in the confined area.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Acme Tools

      July 17, 2018 at 1:59 pm

      Hello, Thank you for your comment. We are not aware of any tools, other than a few radios that specify they work on 12V/18V, that can run off of multiple voltages. If you purchased an 18V drill you would have to use the 18V batteries.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
  • Jenn

    August 5, 2018 at 10:12 am

    Awesome site ! I was very confused on all the different batteries because I need to replace my 18v . Thank you for all the useful info !

    Reply
  • Michael Williams

    October 22, 2018 at 8:37 pm

    I’m just curious. Why are cordless electric tools sold by the voltage and corded in amperage, when if supplied the wattage, both could be found?

    Thanks, Michael

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      October 23, 2018 at 8:05 am

      Hello, thank you for your question and it’s a good one. We are not 100% sure but from what we can find the cordless tools, because they are DC powered, are rated by the voltage of their batteries and electric tools, which are AC powered, are displayed in amps because unless the voltage is called out should be 115v. The amp rating will correspond to the size of the motor thus a higher amp rating will typically relate to a stronger motor, but not all the time.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
  • Brad

    May 18, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    The site is basically incorrect in its wording of the reply. Voltage IS NOT power!!!!! Current (AMPS) is proportion to power. If you can get enough current into the tool at 1 V then a 1 V EMF (electromotive force) will produce as much torque as 90V EMF. Power = I^2 * R*PF (power factor). Note that Voltage is missing in the equation. This being said Voltage does have a great affect on the torque but only to the ability that given a resistance (Reactance), more voltage means more amperage (I=E/R). As E goes up so does amperage for a given resistance. Don’t get to excited about voltage.
    The motor can take the higher voltage (higher Current), but I don’t know about the electronics. Probably they can take the higher voltage also. The only issue is greater power to be dissipated (cooled). This would be approximately 50% more heat than at 14.4 V. Not an insignificant amount. The 14.4 V motor probably cannot handle that amount of heat over the long term, but for short term it should be OK.
    A lot of this is guess work as I don’t know the specifics of the motor, cooling characteristics, electronics capability, controls, etc.. But generally speaking a 14.4.volt motor should be able to handle 18 v for a reasonable period of time

    Reply
    • Tom

      October 11, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      What about the opposite? I have 9.6v battery that fits into my 12v tool. it seems to work Ok. And i use the same charger for 9.v and 12v batteries.

      Reply
  • Gary

    November 6, 2019 at 8:11 pm

    I have an adapter that lets me use Dewalt XR 20V 5.0 AH Lithium Ion batteries on all my older 19.2v Craftsman drills & it works great. Can I safely use the same Dewalt 20v batteries on my 16.8v tools too? My original Ni-Cad battery still works, but it would be nice to use Lithium batteries on everything. Thanks.

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      November 11, 2019 at 9:36 am

      Hi Gary, We are not aware of the DEWALT adapter fitting into a different brand of tool. If it does we would not recommend using it.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Ari

      August 19, 2021 at 11:20 pm

      Yes. But your 20v dewalt is nothing more than an 18v battery nominal. Dewalt just likes to hype by stating the max charged voltage. All 18v lion batteries (milwaukee and all brands) are 20.5 when fully charged. Your craftsman if it is the older nicad, is just a porter cable cheaper offshoot made for them by porter cable. (when porter cable was really porter cable before dewalt bought them and cheapened them). Your 18v dewalt (really) can power your 19.2 craftsman with no problem I am sure. I had the same results when I adapted my milwaukee 18v to use with my porter cable 19.2 nicad. I thought it would loose power halfway down due to the lower voltage range but it had no issues all the way down to one bar giving me full torque on the drill. (porter 19.2 nicad battery went up to 22v charged and down to mid 18s, while milwaukee and dewalt would be 20v max after charged and go down to lower than 18v I think).

      Reply
  • Warren Brooks

    September 5, 2020 at 8:14 am

    Yes, my drill collection is starting to pile up. Right now I am looking for a cordless drill with a high torque rating with somewhere around 55Nm and up. The job I want done is to spin the 15/16 nut on the flywheel of a Briggs and Stratton 725exi 163cc lawn mower engine. Getting past the compression stroke is the problem these drills have to start the engine except my very first trusty old Black and Decker heavy duty 100v corded drill that I started using in the early 80s. I also have a Black and Decker variable speed corded drill, a Chicago Electric 7amp corded impact wrench and Drillmaster 18v cordless drill from Harbor Freight and recently acquired a 12v DeWalt DW972 cordless drill that a neighbor gave me with a bad battery pack. Well the DW9107 charger that came with the drill in a carrying case says to use only DeWalt battery packs because using others may burst due to overheating. So, I went on Ebay and ordered two used DW9071 battery packs. You cannot buy new battery packs. They discontinued that model number. I tried spinning the flywheel with both battery packs and both failed. I had the torque adjustment collar past 5 and the dual speed switch on low speed/high torque. Do you think buying a couple of new generic battery packs off Ebay would send an extra jolt of torque thru that drill or not or do you think a 20v cordless drill with a high torque rating is best?

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      September 8, 2020 at 8:02 am

      Hi Warren, Thank you for your question. We do not always believe that purchasing new tools is the best policy but in this case it sounds that you should either purchase a drill to start the lawn mower or go to the root of the issue to see what is less expensive, purchasing a new drill, getting the lawn mower recoil fixed, or purchase a new lawn mower. The one option that we do not support is purchasing a generic battery from eBay. While not all aftermarket batteries are low quality it is very difficult to determine which is good or bad.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
  • George Steele

    January 16, 2021 at 3:30 pm

    I have a Craftsman drill that I like very much, but the NiCd 16.8 V battery, 982138-991, is dead – will not recharge. In looking for a replacement, I find a single source, at an astronomical $75 price. Is there something about this battery that makes it exorbitantly expensive? It is one 1.2V cell less than an 18V battery, yet more than twice the cost of even the pricey Ryobis. Something is not making sense here. I’d be just as happy disassembling the battery and replacing the NiCd batteries, using batteries from another, more reasonably-priced battery pack like those available from, say, Harbor Freight for about $13. Paying 6 times that price seems to be obscenely gouging. What am I missing?

    Reply
  • Mary

    February 11, 2021 at 1:50 pm

    Do you sell converter that could convert my my cordless Dewal 18 volt Nailer to a corded one. I saw a converter like this for a saw, but not for a nailer.

    Reply
    • Acme Tools

      February 11, 2021 at 4:10 pm

      Hello, Thank you for your question. We do not sell a converter that would allow you to run your DEWALT 18V tools on 110V AC power, nor do we suggest using one if there is one available.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply
    • Ari

      August 19, 2021 at 10:55 pm

      The problem with such an adapter is that the cordless tools use a lower voltage than 120v ac, hence to compensate they need a higher amperage to deliver the same power (wattage). It would be costly and bulky to have a power supply that could provide that much amperage that a cordless tool would provide. Especially under load then it gets really high. It would not be worth making or selling such an adapter.

      Reply
    • Acme Tools

      March 22, 2021 at 7:32 am

      Hi Roy, Thank you for your question. The DEWALT 18V batteries will not power a DEWALT 28V tool. You will need the necessary 28V batteries to power the DC315 Recip Saw.

      Thank you,
      Acme Tools

      Reply

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.