The Achilles heel of the cordless screwdriver // Battery for the screwdriver: the existing species, their advantages and disadvantages

Battery Photo Screwdriver

Cordless screwdriver - an excellent invention that allows to easily and quickly to cope with the mounting and assembly work even away from power sources. Such solid advantage it provides a special battery, which then becomes and the most vulnerable part of the power tool. But let everything in order.

alarm Source

The main advantage is obvious screwdriver - a high speed transactions tightening and loosening threaded connections without losing their own physical strength.

If we talk about the storage variations in the instrument, then added more:

• Partial independence from the power grids. Why partial? Because occasionally they will still have to use to recharge the batteries. But even an hour of work without outlet - is a solid plus in many situations;

Under the ceiling outlet access to very limited

• serviceability. Manipulate the wireless device is much easier and more convenient than those of which sticks out the power cord. Moreover, the cable interfere directly to you, so he can still, for example, to get confused by the edge mounted design.

Long wire power screwdriver may easily catch on any ledge, of which the place held by the repair or construction is always in abundance

But the problem is that the battery for the screwdriver - it is not only improved, but also in some ways a weakening. The battery is the most vulnerable part, a sort of "Achilles' heel" of the tool.

Here let us consider one by one all the components of this product that are subject to failure, and everything becomes clear:

• Button. The cordless screwdriver is combined trigger immediately, and with a power regulator. That is, the stronger push on the button, the faster the motor spins. This load can sometimes cause overheating critical in order to avoid that the device is provided with cooling radiator;

The button is protected against overheating

• Motor. Very rarely breaks. Only in the case of factory defects or improper use too;

Motor breaks down less often

• reducer. Equipped ratchet, which protects it from overload. Of course, for excessive loads and inappropriate zeal gears still can wear, but will have to try to do so;

The gearbox is also equipped with security system

The most dangerous for the gear drilling mode in which the ratchet is essentially disabled. Therefore, it is recommended to use very carefully and without any stress.

• Battery. Some varieties can even break down and do without your participation, just lying in a suitcase, the other in the event of incorrect charging, and others due to low ambient temperatures.

Different types of batteries have their weaknesses

As you can see, batteries really are the most vulnerable parts of screwdrivers. Therefore, to them when purchasing this type of instrument should pay particular attention.

existing varieties

for battery screwdrivers come in different forms, and is the best deal if you want to buy the best machine for your needs.

Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd)

Nickel-cadmium battery with a screwdriver in a disassembled state

This device is a plastic housing filled with a set of small cylindrical batteries having the following structure:

Scheme internal device NiCd batteries

It is the oldest type of battery currently used. The age-old age confirms this.

And, despite his old age, such batteries are still fully relevant due to a bunch of useful features:

• Low price in comparison with the new technologically advanced counterparts. As they say: "Why pay more?";
• Ability to withstand more than one thousand charge and discharge cycles. A good application for durability;
• No degradation of its qualities as a result of long-term storage without operation. Nickel-cadmium batteries are forgotten in the closet will hold a charge even when you finally think about them;
• Curing temperatures negative. Winter on the street, too, may need to tweak anything;

If you are a lover of winter fishing, a good screwdriver with nickel-cadmium batteries will help you to drill drill the ice on the lake.

Drilling wells for winter fishing using a screwdriver

• Maintaining a stable voltage level over the entire working cycle,.
• repairable. Recover screwdriver battery in this case can be by replacement of failed cans using a point soldering.

If you do not have quality equipment with power control, the battery repairs are best left to professionals. The fact that the slightest overheating will render useless any new bank.

Pike storage jars - it is responsible, and which requires quality tools

It seems to be good, so why there are new variations of the battery?

All because of a number of disadvantages:

• Big sizes. Nickel-cadmium batteries can not be considered too small and light. For example, they are thicker and heavier than the finger that we used to use the clock, control panels, mice, and children's toys. Each of them is generally able to contain a 1.2 volts.

Battery capacity is 1.2 V

Now imagine battery size is 12 or 18 volts, where they are 10 or 15 of the battery, respectively. On the operational capability is adversely affected;

Comparison of battery sizes with yourself screwdriver

• The high level of toxicity. They require special disposal at the end of its service life;
• The so-called memory effect - the greatest problem of this type of batteries. It consists in the fact that if you put the battery on charge is not fully discharged or removed him before he attains full charge, the active substance in the battery change its structure. The result is to reduce capacitive performance.

The conclusion from all this can be done as follows: Screwdriver with nickel-cadmium batteries is perfect for everyday work. You do not spend much on it and be able to hide for six months in the pantry as useless without negative consequences. The main thing is that during the operation clearly follow instructions recovery charging batteries.

Proper charging ensure long operational process

Nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH)

NiMH embodiment Sample

This type of battery has been designed to overcome the above described disadvantages of batteries. And partly it is even possible.

Here is a list of its small victories:

• Reducing the weight and dimensions. Plus, the ease of maneuvering by the tool;
• Lowering the level of toxicity. Cause less harm to the environment;
• Reducing the memory effect. The order of charging is still to be observed, but if you make a mistake, then in this case it will not be as critical as in the case of nickel-cadmium samples;
• Increasing the specific capacity index.

But along with the victories came as a series of defeats in the struggle for the ideal:

• Accelerated battery discharge. And this is a significant disadvantage with a large volume of work;
• It reduces the effectiveness of the functioning of the cold. In winter, the street is better not to work;
• Reduced service life. Update the nickel-metal hydride batteries have more often;
• Increased the price of equipment;
• Increased duration of the charging. Until the power is restored, you can have time to redo a lot of other things.

As a result, manufacturers of batteries steel complement quite often screwdrivers. After all visible advantages seem to be seen even with the naked eye: the size is smaller, it is more convenient to use. On the other hand, and the cost is higher, and the period of operation is less. So what is good for the seller, not always good for the customer.

Lithium-ion (Li-Ion)

Example of the lithium ion battery

This version of batteries has recently become particularly popular.

And that has its reasons, which can be seen in its merits:

• Very high specific capacitanceWhich exceeds the same parameter in competing models almost doubled;
• Small dimensions and weight. Most often, this just hides the battery in the handle of the screwdriver, which is very convenient;

Hidden in the handle screwdriver lithium-ion battery does not stand out, and does not interfere with

• The biggest factor electric density;
• The complete elimination of such harmful memory effect. Actually, this is the main reason for the popularity and in general to market this type of batteries. They can be recharged even for the duration of the break, without fear that it somehow changes the physical properties of the inner substance.

The device is a lithium-ion battery

But here was not without its downsides appearance, returning the battery to the position of the most vulnerable places in the screwdriver:

• Destruction under negative ambient temperature. This does not mean that the battery will fail as soon as you knock out her winter on the street, but to work it in the cold for a long time will not work. And the negative effects can be drastic;
• Relatively short operational life. Even less than that of a nickel-metal hydride copies;
• The absence of the possibility of the restoration work. If a lithium-ion battery has ceased to work, it will help only the acquisition of new;
• High priceIn some cases, exceed the price of the competition 3-4 times;
• The possibility of failure during long just. Considered the device to work with his hands, so he remained in his so valuable physical properties.

High electrical capacity of the battery lithium-ion type and a complete lack of a memory effect, make it an excellent choice for professional builders. But that's for the house to purchase such an expensive thing irrationally.

Lithium Polymer

This is a promising direction of modernization of the lithium-ion electrolyte samples by replacing them on the gel polymer. What does it give?

The following qualities:

• More higher capacitance. Master able to work even longer without having to recharge;
• Ability to impart batteries virtually any shape. This will make the battery more less noticeable on the background of the entire screwdriver.

But for now, the cost of these items goes too expensive. And while not reduce the cost of their production, to wait their appearance does not make sense in the market.

What can be found in stores

As you can see, a screwdriver should approach the selection based on the characteristics of its battery.

So I want to as an example to acquaint you with some suggestions from well-known manufacturers:

• «BOSCH 2.0Ah 7.2V Ni-Cd» Model:

Sample model «BOSCH 2.0Ah 7.2V Ni-Cd»

• «BOSCH 2.0Ah 12V Ni-Cd» Model:

Sample model «BOSCH 2.0Ah 12V Ni-Cd»

• «Hitachi 12 EB1226H» Model:

Sample model «Hitachi 12 EB1226H»

• Model «AEG 14.4 In B1414G»:

Sample model «AEG 14.4 In B1414G»

• Model «Pitatel 10.8 The TSB-010-BOS10-15L»:

Sample model «Pitatel 10.8 The TSB-010-BOS10-15L»

• Model «Pitatel 12 TSB-039-MAK12-33M»:

Sample model «Pitatel 12 TSB-039-MAK12-33M»

• «Bort 18 BA-18U-Li-1.5» Model:

Sample model «Bort 18 BA-18U-Li-1.5»

• «Stomer 14.4 The SA-14-15» Model:

Sample model «Stomer 14.4 The SA-14-15»

• Model «Pitatel 12 TSB-049-BOS12C-15C»:

Sample model «Pitatel 12 TSB-049-BOS12C-15C»

• «Bosch 24" model:

Sample model «Bosch 24"

• Model «Pitatel 18 TSB-045-BD18A-15C»:

Sample model «Pitatel 18 TSB-045-BD18A-15C»

conclusion

From the article, you learned about the features of different types of batteries for screwdrivers. Videos in this article will introduce you to additional material, and any questions on the topic, you can ask in the comments.

Battery screwdriver provides many benefits, but it also becomes his most vulnerable point