In regards to fly fishing in BC, our northern winters allow us time to take stock of what we have, replenish supplies, re-organize tackle boxes and plan for this year's fishing trips. If you are like me, you took your fishing gear out of your vehicle after your final trip and put it into hiding for next season. Let me tell you, next season is almost here!
The battery chemistry has 3 types: NiCad, NiMH, and Lithium-ion. NiCad, or NiCd, battery is used in older cordless drill tools. They are the least expensive, so almost all inexpensive cordless tools use this type of battery. There is one problem with this battery. It's toxic to the environment. So when it's time to dispose the dead NiCd battery it's a problem.
Why cobalt ontario-ion battery? Because it provides high energy density, runtime, and is light in weight. To run a power-sucking laptop, a battery with high energy density is required. The runtime of a laptop battery is based on what sort of applications you run. If you run basic applications for writing, reading, copying, chatting, etc, then your laptop battery runtime will be high compared to running a complex application that has a huge number crunching requirement.
Let's look at a typical comparison to prove this point. A normal 9.6 volt cordless drill will weigh around 3-1/2 lbs and costs you $35-$150 a piece, depending on the model and brand you choose. If you opt for a higher voltage tool, a 19.2 volt cordless drill would weigh up to ten lbs and costs anywhere from $120-$300 a piece. If you are looking to get more power and torque from a cordless drill, then it may justify the cost of getting a more expensive version. But if you are merely looking to drive screws in your own home, then it would not be a wise move to waste your hard-earned money on a powerful 19.2 volt cordless drilling. It is much harder to use too, because of the additional weight. Under these circumstances, a lighter version would suit you best.
When you store it, make sure the temperature is not too high nor too low. Don't freeze it and storing the unit in a hot car or near the radiator is a bad idea as well. Use a sealable bag, charge the Lithium battery stocks to about 50% and put it into the fridge between 0 and 5C.
In case you are using new nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, remember you should not charge the battery for too long or it will overcharge it and end up shortening the life of the battery. However, it is important to charge and discharge the battery three times just like the Lithium mines Ontario-ion battery to ensure that it has a long a life.
Some cordless impact drills are now using lithium-ion batteries which take a lot less time to get a full charge. For instance, I personally use a Makita 18V lithium-ion impact drill and it takes fifteen minutes to charge as opposed to my standard 18V Dewalt drill. The Makita is also equipped with a built-in LED light for illuminating areas with little to no light. The LED light feature in particular is one of my favorites.
Using these easy tips to keep the battery in the best condition won't do wonders, but will let you use it to the maximum number of recharges. Ever wondered why some laptops keep their maximum capacity for 3-4 years, while others dive under an hour of runtime in one? This is why.