Have you replaced your gas or electric tools with battery power? What do you think of this trend?
My friend Angela writes: "I read Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance as a freshman in college. I maintained two Honda 3-wheelers for graduate field work plus a couple of around-town Honda C-70 Passport motorbikes. But by the time I reached my 40s and beyond and we had a lawnmower, a chainsaw, and a snowblower to maintain. I did NOT enter Zen-like states of blissful satisfaction as I worked to keep those cantankerous small engines running well. And a few years ago I left all that maintenance behind as we adopted 100% battery-powered electric equipment.
It started with a weed trimmer, then a chainsaw, then a snowblower, and then a lawnmower. All of these easily handle the chores at our 3-acre foothills home. The chainsaw, snowblower, and lawnmower are all in the same brand “ecosystem” (EGO) and have interchangeable batteries. And all this equipment works like a charm. No more grousing at fussy engines. No more storing gasoline or worrying about it going bad in non-use seasons. No more stinky gas. Lots less noise. And that’s some Zen I can get into!"
Large tools that run on rechargeable batteries have become increasingly popular. While earlier models faced power-related challenges, advancements in battery technology have addressed these issues. I personally know a number of homeowners who use battery-powered lawnmowers and snowblowers and appreciate the convenience of not having to rely on an extension cord.
My son, along with Angela and another friend, opted for the EGO brand of mower and snowblower, which are highly praised in many reviews. According to him, the mower works wonderfully for his small yard, while the snowblower, although slightly more efficient than a shovel, struggles with the heavy wet snow common in Colorado. Angela, on the other hand, purchased a larger model to tackle this issue.
Sam Anderson, our friend, began using large electric tools with a battery-operated mower over a decade ago. However, the early models also had weaker non-replaceable batteries. He has been using an EGO mower for seven years, which has proven to be very reliable. Two years ago, he acquired a snowblower from the same brand, and it has also served him well. The EGO batteries have a long lifespan, as he is still using the original ones.
Another brand of tools in use that we know of are ECHO. Unfortunately batteries for one brand do not work with tools from another brand although within a brand the batteries are interchangeable.
We started buying battery powered hand tools over a decade ago. Originally I had an 18v kit of several types, a drill, circular saw, flashlight etc. but the batteries did not have enough power to use the saw. The drill worked fine.
After giving that drill to my son, I decided to switch to Dewalt drills. DeWalt no longer sells the older 18v battery type, so I purchased 18 to 20v converters. As a result, I have gradually acquired almost all Dewalt brand tools to ensure interchangeability of batteries. I now have four chargers and rotate the batteries.
Some of my batteries have stopped charging over time and I have replaced them. I mark them with a sharpie to keep track of their lifespan, which is typically around five years. In my experience, off-brand batteries do not last as long as name-brand ones. The Lion batteries I use are recyclable, but they do pose a fire hazard. It is not safe to travel with these batteries by air. However, in everyday use, they are not considered dangerous. It is crucial to properly dispose of depleted batteries by taking them to a recycling facility.
John Avenson is a big fan of battery powered tools. He writes: “Not your father's tools anymore! The advent of cordless tools has created many rewards. First is about saving time. Being able to just grab a drill and begin work, and do it as fast as you can say this sentence makes doing household jobs a breeze. Gone are the days of searching for an extension cord and the hazards of climbing a ladder with that long cord. Gone are the days of a tattered power cord hanging with exposed wires out the handle of a heavily used old drill. Gone are the days of untangling a long extension cord and wrapping it back up. What a time savings cordless tools are. I recommend mounting the battery charger on a wall for further time savings because you will always know where it is and the battery slides onto it faster just needing one hand to mount it. With the battery power increasing every year today's tools are better that just a few years ago and the prices keep coming down. It's good to read or watch YouTube about comparison ratings between brands as some triggers and clutches are better functioning than others.”
When we interviewed the owners, they expressed a preference for their battery-operated tools, particularly over small gas engines. They also appreciate the convenience of not having to deal with trailing electric cords. As long as the used batteries are recycled, these tools are considered a relatively eco-friendly option.
Information about recycling Lithium Ion batteries.
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