![]() ![]() I think that basically any tool junkie, long-time holder and user of DW cordless tools or just plain, old fanboy should be excited over the Dewalt 18v to 20v adapter. Essentially, it means that if you can’t directly swap-out for a larger battery and despite the scarcity of the original power pack, there is still some truly great news for you: A DeWalt battery adapter is available! However, some companies–such as DeWalt, the focus of this article–have responded in a way that allows for us to continue using some of those cordless tools we have grown attached to as if they are an extension of ourselves. Man….that kind of stuff is a HUGE bummer! This actually reminds me of the new game systems which roll out a new platform and don’t allow for the previous systems’ games to be played anymore. I’m sure you know that often times we aren’t quite ready to let go of our aging tools just yet, but future generations of tools from the same manufacturer don’t always plan easy solutions for us, and as their tech changes, our old favorites can get left in the dust. I did my best to locate some more, both online and locally, but after acquiring a couple of 24V replacements which basically had the same longevity problem, I was left holding my drill and wondering if I would ever be this happy again, because I truly believed that I wouldn’t. Suddenly, after a brief time period where I had gone back to school and wasn’t using my drill regularly anymore, the batteries just sort of gave up the ghost and couldn’t be recovered. Long-gone were the days of using my drill at the shop for a week at a time without needing a charge. Actually, I never thought I’d have to–until the dreaded day came when its Ni-Cd batteries played out. Love of our tools’ performance is a beautiful thing, and as I became more and more accustomed to my B&D drill, I was less and less interested in giving it up. All in all, I was quite proud of this cordless beast and it was one of the coolest purchases I ever made for myself. However, there were indeed times when my drill was the savior and shocked the other guys, and not only that, but I am also a big guy so I didn’t mind the heavier-than-normal weight of it. They commented often about the size and weight of the thing, as well as how ridiculously overpowered it was for the tasks we generally needed drills for. It not only slaughtered the performance of my colleagues’ older DeWalts, it even one-upped the new 18V Makita that was brought in. If you read some of my posts here on WG, then you’ll sometimes see my nostalgia leak through. I used to use a strong–quite strong, actually–Black & Decker 24v hammer drill for most of my day-to-day work in the cabinet shop and, truth be told, it was stronger and longer-lasting than anything I needed or ever had before. Those electronics exist for a reason.Is Upgrading Your DeWalt Power Tool As Easy As Picking Up a Battery Adapter? Manufacturers don’t like when you bypass the safety communication protocols built into either their batteries and/or tools. Using a tool with third-party battery adapters can have a similar effect. Bounce that drill off a roof onto concrete and you’re unlikely to get it serviced under the warranty. 3 – Potentially Voiding the Manufacturer’s Warrantyīelieve it or not, manufacturers actually care about how you use their tools and batteries. Nobody enjoys either a dead battery or a burned-up tool. Now you’ve created a potential “brick” pack that can no longer take a charge. What’s more-if a lithium-ion battery is “dumb” because the tool is smart, then putting it on a “dumb” tool means you can now drain the pack down below its nominal level. In both cases, all of the built-in protection that keeps both the tool and the battery from going so far that it damages itself is gone. Unfortunately, when you bypassed it with a battery adapter or voltage converter, you likely took away its ability to protect itself. Your car is most likely going to shut itself down before permanent damage occurs, and your cordless tool does the same. Just like the battery adapter, you’ve bypassed the electronic communications to do so. You’re just telling the tool to push the gas pedal farther. The same thing goes for these voltage boosters. See how long it takes for your temperature gauge to rise and idiot lights to illuminate. Tool battery adapters largely ignore the lines that govern safe use of a tool. Yes, we can push the tool and battery beyond what they’re rated for, but not for long and not without consequences. Just like the car, there’s an optimal operating range. This comes from extreme heat production in the motor and/or pack. Driving the motor beyond what it is designed to maintain will most likely result in failure. ![]()
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