What characteristics are important when choosing a battery for a screwdriver
Considering the advantages and disadvantages of different types of batteries, you can choose the one suitable for specific operating conditions. Now let's look at two key characteristics that all types of batteries have that affect the choice of a screwdriver.
What does the battery capacity say?
The battery capacity is written in numbers from 1.0 to 7.0 and is measured in amperes multiplied by hours (A * h). The value is deciphered as follows: the specified number of amperes can be delivered by the drive within an hour. But since no screwdriver consumes 1-5 A per hour, its use time stretches from 2 to 8 hours. The higher the capacity, the longer the tool can stay in use.
What does the battery voltage say?
For cordless models, the power and rotation speed of the screwdriver depends on the battery voltage, which must correspond to the parameters of the tool:
- For screwdrivers, the maximum indicator is 36 V. These are the most powerful devices for working with metal and hard wood species.
- 12-18 V is an average value suitable for most repair and installation processes.
- 3-10 V - refer to low-power, and are used only for assembling soft materials or small diameter fasteners.
Installing a higher capacity battery on a weaker model will damage the latter faster. A 12 V battery on an 18 V device will, on the contrary, limit the power of the tool, so the voltage indicator of the drive must exactly match the value on the screwdriver.
Keep in mind that if you take two batteries with the same capacity, the longer operation of the tool will be provided by the one with the higher voltage.
How to repair?
Screwdrivers are complex tools. That is why the manufacturer does not advise doing a full-fledged repair of devices with your own hands, if we are talking about serious breakdowns. If the problems in the work are small, for example, the cartridge jams, then disassembling the tool with your own hands is quite acceptable.
Replacement of components must be carried out only in a de-energized device. To do this, turn off the device, disconnect it from the mains or remove the battery, and only then proceed to further actions.
In any case, you first need to properly disassemble the tool itself:
- remove the screws holding the device body together
- remove the start button and all its components
- remove the motor reducer from the disassembled housing
- disconnect these two mechanisms from each other
If it is necessary to change the chuck in the tool, you must first determine how it is attached to the shaft and then proceed according to the instructions.
The inscription "1-6 B10" indicates the Morse mount. In this case, all that is needed is to knock out the old chuck with an ordinary hammer. Then install a new one.
Type marking "1.0-11 M12x1.2" or "2-13 mm ½-20 UNF" means an inch thread. In this case, open the chuck jaw, insert the short edge of the hex key into the jaws and hit it hard with a hammer. The edges will move away and the cartridge can be unscrewed by hand.
It will be possible to assemble the screwdriver back after the new chuck is installed in place.
More information about this brand of instrument is described in the video below.
Pros and cons of MAKITA screwdrivers
The main advantages are versatility and autonomy.
Pleases compactness and ergonomics, everything is thought out to the smallest detail.
The hand does not get tired of excess weight, and if necessary, and if there is a special bracket, the tool can be hung on the belt.
Makita professional tools, especially with new brushless technology, are capable of withstanding enormous loads.
Such an engine does not heat up, and its service life is increased by more than 30%.
A small disadvantage is that if you drill a lot, the batteries quickly sit down.
But with a high-speed gearbox, these disadvantages are minimized.
All Makita brand tools are well designed.
It fits comfortably in the hand, the weight is optimally matched for power, the presence of sockets for other types of bits.
Soft start button and sharp braking, optimal torque control - all this allows you to enjoy working with Maktira screwdrivers.
Sometimes there is insufficient, weak backlight or the required power is missing.
This situation is also fixable if you take care of the selection of the tool in advance according to the required task.
Indisputable today is the development of the structure of the warranty and post-warranty service provided by the Makita brand.
Spare parts are much cheaper than those of competitors.
The warranty period for the original Makita screwdriver when purchased from official representatives is three years.
Popular models of Makita screwdrivers
MAKITA DTD129SHE - powerful, has a torque of 160 Nm.
Given the brushless design of the motor, it is able to withstand heavy loads with great effort and continuous operation.
MAKITA BTD134Z - this model is equipped with a strong 5 Ah battery. Rather, two that allow you to drill continuously.
Such a complete set is useful for work in areas where there is no electricity.
MAKITA DF030DWE is compact and weighs only 0.8 kg.
Small does not mean weak, it has enough battery capacity, and the power is enough for simple tasks.
The set includes a holster, in which it is easy to hide it during a short change of workflow.
This model can be used for filing eaves and other tasks where a lot of power is not required.
The best corded screwdriver is MAKITA TD 0101F.
It has everything you need: power, speed, backlight.
There is a possibility of quick replacement of brushes without disassembling the tool.
He has a large number of positive reviews on various forums, and some people believe that this model has no shortcomings at all.
It would be unacceptable not to recall the special purpose screwdrivers, the representative of which can rightfully be called the MAKITA 6843 tape screwdriver.
Since the main purpose of this model is work with drywall in a process that requires a huge number of self-tapping screws to be screwed in quickly, mains power is preferable here.
This makes it lighter, and affects the price, and the power and speed are even higher than that of a cordless screwdriver.
No less popular, in the opinion of those who use the Makita instrument, is the 18-volt MAKITA DDF454RFE.
The combination of price - quality - convenience, the most successful.
It drills and twists, has an acceptable weight of 1.7 kg, two batteries with a capacity of 1.5 A * h, backlight.
Such a screwdriver is suitable for a professional roofer or for small volumes of interior finishing work.
Peculiarities
The design of a lithium rechargeable battery is not too different from the design of batteries based on other chemistry. But the fundamental feature is the use of anhydrous electrolyte, which prevents the release of free hydrogen during operation. This was a significant disadvantage of the batteries of the previous designs and led to a high probability of fire.
The anode is made from a film of cobalt oxide deposited on an aluminum base-current collector.The cathode is the electrolyte itself, which contains lithium salts in liquid form. The electrolyte impregnates a porous mass of electrically conductive chemically neutral material. Loose graphite or coke is suitable for it. Current collection is carried out from a copper plate applied to the back of the cathode.
For normal battery operation, the porous cathode must be pressed tightly enough to the anode. Therefore, in the design of lithium batteries, there is always a spring that compresses the "sandwich" from the anode, cathode and negative current collector. The ingress of ambient air can upset the carefully balanced chemical balance. And the ingress of moisture and does threaten the danger of fire and even explosion. Therefore, the finished battery cell must be carefully sealed.
A flat battery is simpler in design. All other things being equal, a flat lithium battery will be lighter, much more compact, and provide significant current (that is, more power). But it is necessary to design a device with flat-shaped lithium batteries, which means that the battery will have a narrow, specialized application. Such batteries are more expensive than their counterparts.
To make the sales market wider, manufacturers produce battery cells of universal shapes and standard sizes.
Among lithium batteries, the 18650 version actually dominates today. Such batteries have a form similar to the cylindrical finger batteries familiar in everyday life. But the 18650 standard specifically provides for a slightly larger size. This avoids confusion and prevents such a power supply from being mistakenly replaced in place of a conventional saline battery. But this would be very dangerous, since the lithium battery has two and a half times the standard voltage (3.6 volts versus 1.5 volts for a salt battery).
For an electric screwdriver, lithium cells are sequentially collected into a battery. This increases the voltage applied to the motor, which provides the power and torque required by the tool.
The storage battery necessarily contains in its design temperature sensors and a specialized electronic device - a controller.
This circuit:
- monitors the uniformity of the charge of individual elements;
- controls the charge current;
- does not allow excessive discharge of elements;
- prevents overheating of the battery.
Batteries of this type are called ionic. There are also lithium-polymer cells, this is a modification of lithium-ion cells. Their design is fundamentally different only in the material and design of the electrolyte.
The device and principle of operation of the screwdriver battery
The battery is based on the principle of pyrolysis, which allows the power supply to generate direct current. The battery consists of a case, as well as series-connected electrodes and electrolytes. In the process of battery operation, a potential difference arises between the anode and cathode and, therefore, a current is generated.
The battery contains electrodes and electrolyte
The battery can be of different types, have different capacities and produce different voltages. Manufacturers offer products with a voltage of 1.2–3.9 volts, depending on the type of device and the number of batteries.
The performance of the screwdriver is ensured by a battery with a suitable voltage and amperage
Testing of Makita screwdrivers
Impact mechanism operation
More specialized are models with a percussion mechanism, which helps when drilling a brick or concrete wall.
Outwardly, they are not much different from ordinary ones, but at the same time they have a built-in percussion mechanism.
Both the mains and the Makita cordless screwdrivers have an impact mechanism.
This option is appreciated by those who work with large and powerful self-tapping screws of different lengths and thicknesses.
When there is not enough engine power, and also in order to reduce the load on the arm and the engine, a tangential impact is turned on, twisting occurs in measured jerks.
This function also allows you to unscrew "stuck" nuts and bolts, hardware with damaged heads.
During the test, the Makit screwdrivers with a percussion mechanism coped with all the tasks in accordance with the characteristics declared by the manufacturer.
Maximum drilling diameter
This parameter is no different from those with which the competitors' equipment is equipped, and in some moments even surpasses them.
Built-in multi-level protection does not pull the equipment out of the hands when biting the drill.
The drilling diameter corresponds to the one declared by the manufacturer; in case of urgent need, you can drill more, but you should not abuse it.
The best Makita tape screwdrivers
Such equipment comes in handy for mass fasteners, where it is required to install many self-tapping screws over a large area.
As a rule, these are battery models with the possibility of supplying a tape with inserted screws. The operator can only put it in the right place and press the start button.
Makita DFR550Z - for conveyor assembly of furniture or installation of partitions
This is the best screwdriver for large volumes of work, where screws from the magazine are automatically fed to the bit.
At the end there is a fastener for winding the tape and setting the length of the fastener. Then the "Auto" mode turns on and the tool independently moves the tape with screws under the bat.
At the bottom there is a receiving chute that takes the magazine away from the work surface so that it does not obstruct the view.
Pros:
- high performance (by inserting a tape with 50 screws, they can be tightened in 50 seconds);
- comfortable D-shaped handle for a secure hold;
- a lot of rubber pads on the body;
- there is a reverse;
- the spindle rotates up to 4000 rpm and the speed control system is built-in;
- work with screws from 24 to 55 mm long;
- many models of 18 V batteries from Makita are suitable;
- you can use ribbons from other brands;
- numerous perforations for air cooling.
Minuses:
- no battery included;
- there is no charger;
- it is difficult to get used to the elongated, due to the feed device, dimensions after a conventional screwdriver;
- weight 2.3 kg;
- the cost is 12,500 rubles.
Equipment
Screwdrivers of the Makita company come in different configurations.
The complete set can be with one battery or two.
In this case, a charger and a case will definitely come with them.
Two batteries, a case and a charger, are standard.
Kits are sometimes sold that include an impact driver and a non-impact screwdriver.
These sets are packed in a cute and roomy backpack or suitcase.
Together, it turns out cheaper, this option is suitable for both a novice builder and a professional in their activities.
The set makes it possible to have the necessary screwdriver always at hand.
Some kits include a flashlight for those who like to linger until dark.
But there is a need to work in dimly lit places when the standard illumination of the screwdriver is not enough.
And there is also a set that includes a radio.
Powered screwdrivers come in cases or boxes, depending on the model.
There may be several bits that are qualitatively different from competitors' nozzles.
Output
Which batteries are best for a screwdriver? If the operation of the screwdriver occurs once or twice a year, then nickel-cadmium batteries will be more suitable. If the tool is used every day for several hours, then lithium-ion battery packs are recommended.
The joint stock bank will serve the required number of cycles and “wash off” the money spent on them. Don't buy lithium if you won't be using it often. This money is wasted.
However, if the instrument is used in subzero conditions, it is recommended to use a cadmium battery.