bombcar 10 hours ago

These batteries are fun to use for “other things” - like running a kids 12v battery jeep on 18v - but the TOOL is what has battery protection; the batteries will discharge until they actually kill themselves.

If you really want to use it outside m18 tools you want something that turns off when voltage drops below 17 or 16 or so.

  • tehwebguy 8 hours ago

    Is that true? Seems like a waste to have all the extra guts in the battery and not include protection for this.

    • dnemmers 7 hours ago

      I’ve personally killed an m18 battery by having it ‘discharge’ outside of a proper tool. (Rigged up to some temp lighting.)

      Once drained, the charger would no longer re-charge, and if I remember correctly, after opening the pack up, cells were at very low voltage.

    • bombcar 6 hours ago

      It’s true. Maybe some other brand has an off switch in the battery, but if so I don’t know of it.

      Remember it would have to switch up to 20+ amps of 18v so it would be a hefty relay.

    • justsomehnguy 7 hours ago

      > Seems like a waste

      Exactly opposite from the manufacturer POV.

      You are making N tools with N protection circuits and N x M batteries.

      Instead of N tools, N x M batteries and N x M protection circuits.

    • rasz 4 hours ago

      All the extra guts is there only to log stuff so they can deny warranty claims.