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There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

toolguyd.com

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Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#21

Post by dgacmu »

taeric wrote: post #12
h2odragon wrote: post #4

I want backpack battery packs for the bigger power users. Chainsaws and weed whackers and stuff in the gas engine range anyway. For smaller tools there could sensibly be a couple to 4? perhaps sizes of battery pack, "handheld" for screwdriver to toothbrush to "personal manipulation tools", a bit bigger for handheld drills; double that again for small saws and stuff... any bigger and it begins to become an an unwieldy…

The "egopower" vendor has some good products in this vein. I suspect others are catching up or passing them, but I've been very happy with the mower we have. The blower goes through the battery faster than anything else. But I'm very very grateful not to have gas in the garage for this. Even more grateful to no longer be mixing oil into gas to get these things to work.

I have an ego weed whacker and a leaf blower and I adore them. (still using a push mower but might give in some day). Not having to deal with gas is awesome. They're cleaner, they're quieter (but not quiet), and lower-maintainence. Not sure if something better came out in the last year, but as of the time I bought them, they were still pretty close to the top from my preference set.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#22

Post by denimnerd42 »

h2odragon wrote: post #4

I want backpack battery packs for the bigger power users. Chainsaws and weed whackers and stuff in the gas engine range anyway. For smaller tools there could sensibly be a couple to 4? perhaps sizes of battery pack, "handheld" for screwdriver to toothbrush to "personal manipulation tools", a bit bigger for handheld drills; double that again for small saws and stuff... any bigger and it begins to become an an unwieldy…

I've got a 48v ebike battery pack i'm thinking about making a backpack out of and using with my 40v ryobi tools.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#24

Post by bombcar »

version_five wrote: post #11

Vendor lock in is obviously a side effect, and there are consumer- hostile reasons why companies like proprietary batteries. But fundamentally the battery shape and power characteristics as well as the charging are still areas where companies can innovate and differentiate themselves. I'd rather have to choose a brand than get some out of date, un-ergonomic "approved" battery and connector that I have to use with my…

One proof of this is the various battery formats a given manufacturer can have; some compatible some not.

The reality is that for most tradesmen and users it’s just not a problem at all. If all your tools are one battery, fine. If one is different then that’s the “toilet plunger battery” or whatever, and if you have an eclectic mix then you probably keep them relatively organized.

And if you really really want to you can 3D print or buy adapters with varying success.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#25

Post by bombcar »

Lio wrote: post #16
version_five wrote: post #11

Vendor lock in is obviously a side effect, and there are consumer- hostile reasons why companies like proprietary batteries. But fundamentally the battery shape and power characteristics as well as the charging are still areas where companies can innovate and differentiate themselves. I'd rather have to choose a brand than get some out of date, un-ergonomic "approved" battery and connector that I have to use with my…

What surprises me is that even within a single brand there are multiple standards. Right now I mostly have Bosch Professional 18v kit. If I want a small edging router I have to biy a while new Bosch Professional 12v kit… unless I go with the Bosch “amateur” system which is different again. I think there might also be another 10v Bosch Pro system as well. Why? It’s like an xkcd.

12v used to be darn weak, but it’s much stronger now - M12 chainsaws aren’t complete jokes, for example.

Usually the 12v line is focused on compact and lighter duty, 18/20v on bigger demanding tools.

At least Milwaukee chargers can charge both, mostly.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#26

Post by glasss »

First time seeing this blog and it seems like they're trying too hard to give the benefit of doubt here. The list of concerns / drawbacks, particularly the reliability of performance concern, may be valid, but consumers deal with these already with every other battery powered device. A cheap USB charger or cable can dramatically effect your charging speed, a cheap AA battery may reduce your runtime, etc.

It feels like the author is trying to not state the obvious that every comment here has pointed out - the batteries are lock ins, and expensive ones at that. For $100 I can buy modern electrical engineering marvels, or a run of the mill battery from Milwaukee. Or just a battery charger. It is this industry's way of making profits until they get regulated / legislated into being more consumer friendly, because I doubt they will do it on their own.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#27

Post by orthoxerox »

halestock wrote: post #5

Vendor lock-in. If I buy a Makita drill that comes with a universal battery, I'm just as likely (all other things being equal) to buy a DeWalt or Milwaukee circular saw as another Makita. But if my drill batteries only work with Makita products, I have a big incentive to stick with that brand.

Makita batteries are probably what counts as the de facto universal battery format in East Asia. Lots of brands off AliExpress are compatible with each other and Makita batteries.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#28

Post by bombcar »

dharmab wrote: post #10
halestock wrote: post #5

Vendor lock-in. If I buy a Makita drill that comes with a universal battery, I'm just as likely (all other things being equal) to buy a DeWalt or Milwaukee circular saw as another Makita. But if my drill batteries only work with Makita products, I have a big incentive to stick with that brand.

When I was younger and money was tighter, I needed a sawzall for a project and bought a DeWalt because they had a good price on a bundle. Many years later, my entire set is DeWalt because it was the convenient choice after I had two of their batteries. If I bought from scratch today I'd probably buy into Milwaukee, although the difference is small enough that I don't mind too much.

This is exactly why the “starter sets” are such good deals, they know if they get you you’re unlikely to change.

Milwaukee takes it a step further with the dual 12/18v chargers, because that would be a decision point that could make a switch - you could have all Dewalt 20V but nothing would stop you getting 12v Makita or whatever.

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#29

Post by Avshalom »

h2odragon wrote: post #4

I want backpack battery packs for the bigger power users. Chainsaws and weed whackers and stuff in the gas engine range anyway. For smaller tools there could sensibly be a couple to 4? perhaps sizes of battery pack, "handheld" for screwdriver to toothbrush to "personal manipulation tools", a bit bigger for handheld drills; double that again for small saws and stuff... any bigger and it begins to become an an unwieldy…

https://www.makitatools.com/products/accessories/batteries-c...

Re: There’s no universal cordless power tool battery – why?

#30

Post by bombcar »

h2odragon wrote: post #4

I want backpack battery packs for the bigger power users. Chainsaws and weed whackers and stuff in the gas engine range anyway. For smaller tools there could sensibly be a couple to 4? perhaps sizes of battery pack, "handheld" for screwdriver to toothbrush to "personal manipulation tools", a bit bigger for handheld drills; double that again for small saws and stuff... any bigger and it begins to become an an unwieldy…

They exist and so do “larger” batteries (MX Fuel) but most people find it easier to just have two batteries and swap even for things like leaf blowers, etc.
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