Cordless tools: The new Planned Obsolescence
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I bought a cordless strimmer (OK, before anyone says it, it has a nylon cord to actually cut the grass so not completely cordless). The battery (according to the charging unit and its on-battery tester) is fully charger but the unit does nothing. I've pulled the strimmer to pieces and all of the wires look OK. I also have a cordless lawn mower. The batteries take a couple of hours to recharge and have a run time of ~30 mins. So, with two batteries, it is 1 hour mowing, 1 1/2 hours watching TV, 1 hour mowing. A spare battery is £70 and I do not know how much a 2nd charger would be. I saw a strimmer with the same battery pack for £90 - I thought that would be a good investment just for the battery, but the small print says it doesn't come with the battery or charger. So. it's back to long cables and extension leads for me. Having said it, I have two cordless drills and they are good! More powerful than my corded one. How long before people with electric cars realise that they have fallen into the same trap?
jsc42 wrote:
How long before people with electric cars realise that they have fallen into the same trap?
The sad part about that sentiment is that car manufacturers are vowing to become all electric within the next few decades.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
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jsc42 wrote:
How long before people with electric cars realise that they have fallen into the same trap?
The sad part about that sentiment is that car manufacturers are vowing to become all electric within the next few decades.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
If they can sell more cars. I don't think they care what cars they are as long as they sell.
Wrong is evil and must be defeated. - Jeff Ello
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
As soon as I put Dyson here, im sure people will be shaking their heads. Anyhow, got a handheld vacuum cleaner near 10 years ago. The battery which at the time rated to last 10 minutes, which for a daily quick run around small house is usually plenty. Move 5 years on, that was maybe 5 minutes. So gave in last year and look up knockoff replacement. Keep in mind the battery unit on these things is designed to clips out easily. Yet Dyson do not seem interested in over priced selling on the battery unit, instead change a little plastic connector num, which likely i could shave of and still connect.. Im here like im will to shove money in your face, but nah, same tech in a very slight different housing. But knockoff market was good. Battery with double capacity then the dyson branded (its more cells inside and dyson which is purposely weighted to feel heavy instead of using the space, not surprising) Battery worked great, until it ran out and went to plug in the power charger. No charge. Odd that the charger has more detection prevention then the main unit. Initially gave up, went back to 2-3 minute charge battery. Then tried lookup battery charger, ok price. and works just fine. Again, same battery 99% of shape still in use by Dyson, but every year they change the connector so they can market changeable battery but still keep in obsolescence :(
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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That's why we need battery standards, like the current small batteries (like AA, D ... ).
CI/CD = Continuous Impediment/Continuous Despair
The problem with battery standards is that battery technology is always improving. Today's best in class is tomorrow's noncompetitive entry, and the pro users who drive the market are not going to go for a weak, short-lived battery. Someday, the improvement curve will flatten and standards will be possible.
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
I bought several products from a "universal" line of small battery-powered devices, figuring that the battery packs would be replaceable and interchangeable. Not only did the battery packs die, but the company didn't add any models to their line, so both the product and its entire concept became obsolete. Some of the motors for these battery-powered devices make good robot effectors.
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
NiCd batteries need to be used regularly to be able to hold a charge. It's a poor choice for something that's going to sit unused for most of a year (not that it was your choice). You might have better luck with lithium batteries. There are also battery repair stores all over the place, so they might be able to extend your tool's lifetime when it comes to that. A cord on a hedge trimmer is going to be just as annoying if your hedge is large. And eventually the plastic insulation on the wiring is going to break down. Maybe you'll get twenty to thirty years out of it. Plan your budget accordingly. - Owen -
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
No Science here but if you are going to purchase a cordless anything in the Power Tool Visit the local Pawn Shop and look at the brands and the type of Battery the tool requires and the motor type Brush less vs Brushed You will find very few Milwaukee M 18 Lithium Brush Less tools Ryobi 18 Volt Lithium Brush Less Tools If you are shopping NEW this is a way to weed out what you do NOT want Ryobi and Milwaukee are both owned by Hong Kong based manufacturing company Techtronic Industries The price difference is HUGE by my standard that said I still believe you get what you pay for Side Note I have a 20 year old Dewalt Corded Drill will drive screws in 2 in OAK with no effort the Milwaukee Fuel Hammer Drill takes longer and more effort
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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The problem with battery standards is that battery technology is always improving. Today's best in class is tomorrow's noncompetitive entry, and the pro users who drive the market are not going to go for a weak, short-lived battery. Someday, the improvement curve will flatten and standards will be possible.
That may be, but does the battery format need to be different between vendors, and across technogies? A 20v battery shouldn't matter if is LiIon, NiCad or MrFusion. As long as it can supply 20v at the needed amps, the physical format shouldn't be an issue. Think of all the possible "D" cell battery options. They all supply 1.5v, and can be interchanged one for the other. New technologies don't always require new physical formats.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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That may be, but does the battery format need to be different between vendors, and across technogies? A 20v battery shouldn't matter if is LiIon, NiCad or MrFusion. As long as it can supply 20v at the needed amps, the physical format shouldn't be an issue. Think of all the possible "D" cell battery options. They all supply 1.5v, and can be interchanged one for the other. New technologies don't always require new physical formats.
Keep Calm and Carry On
Yes, but "D" cells are used for everything whereas a DeWalt battery is used only for DeWalt tools. Until there is an outside force to drive the need for interchangeability, no manufacturer has a reason to look at anyone else's format. Standards groups will not get involved because they have no need to drive a commonality. In auto manufacturing, the lithium cells used for cars are standardized due to the financial need for lowering the cost. Even the lead batteries used for powering gas-powered cars have no standards as the size of the draw dictates what capacity battery will be needed. At least they have standardized on 12v as a common voltage. But in tools, not enough consumers even care for anyone to take notice. "The squeaky wheel gets the grease".
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
I used to use rechargeable nicad batteries with bicycle lights. I learned from the seller that you have to fully discharge the battery before recharging it, otherwise it develops a type of memory where it will not hold more power than you usually use.
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
An 18v Ni-Cd battery is not going to last very long. All the cells are in series, and so they all discharge and charge at the same rate. But since they don't have exactly the same capacity, the weakest cell will end up being fully discharged first (and possibly reverse charged, which is especially bad for Ni-Cd cells), and it will be fully charged before the others, further stressing it. Once this cell goes bad the whole thing is toast. So fully cycling an 18v Ni-Cd battery can cause it to go bad sooner than mostly discharging it. I have several of the Ryobi one+ series of tools and batteries. All the Ni-Cd batteries have long ago gone dead and been discarded, and all the Lithium-Ion batteries I bought are still going strong. Yes they cost a lot more, but they are well worth the difference in price.
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JohaViss61 wrote:
brand new model of the drill was just £33.
33 for a drill ? That maybe explains it.
And it was a Black and Decker. The DIY stores are always promoting stuff. It is like a battle between them
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JohaViss61 wrote:
The downside was that while the drill was £41, the battery was £35. And a brand new model of the drill was just £33.
This is why I buy around November/December when I can get a drill motor, two batteries, charger, and case for $100. A lone battery is around $55.
"One man's wage rise is another man's price increase." - Harold Wilson
"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it." - Michael Simmons
"You can easily judge the character of a man by how he treats those who can do nothing for him." - James D. Miles
Too bad they never break down in October/November/December, but in February/March/April
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Maybe this is something well known, and I'm just late to the game: If you have a cordless tool, you are likely on a forced replacement scheme, and you don't know it. About 10 years ago I bought a cordless hedge trimmer, and its worked well. In the winter I bring it inside and store it, battery out, in the basement where it keeps relatively nice and warm. This year, after recharging the battery overnight, I went out yesterday to trim the hedge. The battery (NiCad) ran down after about 5 minutes, so I'm guessing its just not holding a charge any longer. No problem, I'll just go to the vendor, a national chain, and get a new battery, right? Um, no. That particular battery is no longer available. And so far, I've been unable to locate a third party replacement part. It looks like the battery pack is screwed together, so maybe I can take it apart, and replace the individual cells. Maybe. Its probably soldered together, and I'm not sure I'd trust my soldering skills if I have to solder directly to the replacement cells, if I can even find something suitable. So, in all likelihood, I'm going to have to bin an otherwise perfectly good hedge trimmer, just because I can't replace the battery pack. That's just wasteful. Not to mention an added cost. I do have an old pair of hedge trimming shears, and I used them to finish the job. Maybe I'll just stick with them. But if I replace the electric trimmer, I'll definitely consider a corded trimmer rather than cordless. So if you have cordless tools that are a few years old, it might be worth buying a spare battery pack, or two, for the future.
Keep Calm and Carry On
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I thought we learned that back in the '70s. Rechargeable batteries still have not improved sufficiently for occasional use by the average person. Professionals who use them constantly do get their money's worth.
This. My neighbor's a carpenter, and he's been all-in on battery-powered tools for years. What's especially convenient is that since he only buys tools from the same brand, his batteries are all interchangeable. What amazes me is that his batteries will run power tools all day. Why can't I ever get more than 3 hours from a lousy laptop? Both use lithium-ion batteries. To the laptop manufacturers: Make them bigger/heavier, I don't care.