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What is a cordless power tool battery and charger?
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Shop for Batteries and Chargers |
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A battery stores electricity to power electrical devices, in this case cordless power tools such as cordless drill drivers. |
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A battery only lasts a certain length of time before all the energy is used up. The battery is either a ‘primary’ battery which means it cannot be recharged and must be recycled; or it is a ‘secondary’ battery or ‘rechargeable’ battery which means the energy inside the battery can be restored. This guide is only concerned with rechargeable batteries suitable for use in cordless power tools. |
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There are three types of rechargeable battery used for cordless power tools: Nickel cadmium (NiCd, pronounced “nye-cad”), nickel metal hydride (NiMH, usually just referred to as ‘metal hydride’) and lithium ion (Li-ion, pronounced ‘lye eye-on’) batteries. |
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A rechargeable battery can be recharged using a charger. The charger passes modified electricity from the mains power through the battery and ‘resets’ it so it is ready to work again. |
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Cordless power tools often come in a set with one or two batteries and a compatible charger, although cordless power tools can often be bought as a ‘bare unit’ without battery or charger, which are then purchased separately. |
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