Replies

1. 
   dgreen | Jan 04, 2009 08:26am | #1

   You are correct.

    

    

   ................................................

   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
   ~ Denis Diderot

2. 
   BruceS | Jan 04, 2009 10:39pm | #2

   Before you go for the Li-ion batteries.  Go to the festool site and read about why they don't use them.   It's a very interesting read.  The Amp/hour rating just has to do with the available run time between charges and charge time.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jan 05, 2009 03:28pm | #3

   Well, I went to the Festool US site, and found nothing on Li-ion batteries. Went to the Festool German site, in english and did a search -- "It will be found nothing".

   Got a link?

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   BruceS | Jan 05, 2009 04:43pm | #4

   As I said,  an extensive site ;-)

   http://www.festoolusa.com/support/knowledgebase.html

   Question #4 will give you the answer.Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S. 

    

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Jan 05, 2009 04:48pm | #5

   Interesting. Thanks.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   JerryPacMan | Jan 05, 2009 04:59pm | #6

   Some NiCd advantages from wikipedia.  I still like and use NiCd batteries where possible.

   Advantages

   When compared to other forms of rechargeable battery, the nickel cadmium battery has a number of distinct advantages.

   The batteries are more difficult to damage than other batteries, tolerating deep discharge for long periods. In fact, NiCd batteries in long-term storage are typically stored fully discharged. This is in contrast, for example, to lithium ion batteries, which are highly volatile and will be permanently damaged if discharged below a minimum voltage. In addition, NiCd batteries typically last longer, in terms of number of charge/discharge cycles, than other rechargeable batteries, and have faster charge and discharge rates than lead-acid batteries, with minimal loss of capacity even at high discharge rates.

   The most common alternative to NiCd batteries are lead-acid batteries. Compared to these, NiCd batteries have a much higher energy density. This means that, for a given battery capacity, a NiCd battery is smaller and lighter than a comparable lead-acid battery. In cases where size and weight are important considerations (for example, some transportation applications), NiCd batteries are preferred over the cheaper lead-acid batteries.

   In consumer applications, NiCd batteries compete directly with alkaline batteries. A NiCd cell has a lower capacity than that of an equivalent alkaline cell, and costs slightly more. However, since the alkaline battery's chemical reaction is typically not reversible, a reusable NiCd battery has a significantly longer total lifetime. There have been attempts to create rechargeable alkaline batteries, such as Rayovac's rechargeable alkaline, Renewal, or specialized alkaline battery chargers, but none that has seen wide usage. In addition, a NiCd battery maintains a constant voltage as it discharges. Since an alkaline battery's voltage drops as the charge drops, most consumer applications are well equipped to deal with the slightly lower NiCd voltage with no noticeable loss of performance.

   Nickel metal hydride (NiMH) batteries are the newest, and most similar, competitor to NiCd batteries. Compared to NiCd, NiMH batteries have a higher capacity and are less toxic, and are now more cost effective. In addition, a NiCd battery has a lower self-discharge rate (for example, 20% per month for a NiCd, versus 30% per month for a NiMH under identical conditions). This results in a preference for NiCd over NiMH in applications where the current draw on the battery is lower than the battery's own self-discharge rate (for example, television remote controls) In both types of cell, the self-discharge rate is highest for a full charge state and drops off somewhat for lower charge states. In addition, like alkaline batteries, NiMH batteries experience a voltage drop as it nears full discharge, which a NiCd does not. Finally, a similarly-sized NiCd battery has a slightly lower internal resistance, and thus can achieve a higher maximum discharge rate (which can be important for applications such as power tools).  

   Life is what happens to you when you're making other plans.

   "Life is not a success only journey."  Dr. Phil

2. 
   stevemorris | Jan 06, 2009 02:06am | #7

   im no battery expert and to be honest know nothing about them or their chemistry

   BUT i do know my experiences

   ive had several nicad makitas for a number of years and they have suffered so much abuse it would indescribable and they still work although after 8 years of such abuse they are starting to suffer, the oldest is probably 10 yrs old, i cant tell which is which

   im a pro cabinet installer and those makitas(4 actually) go all day everyday, with 8 batteries and 4 chargers at one time, but now im down to 4 batteries and 2 chargers after 8 years

   so i bought new nicads, proven technology, cheap these days, hitachi's actually