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Wednesday, April 12, 2006

BATTERIES AND CHARGERS


Nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries represent the latest breakthrough in batteries.

They're smaller and run longer than standard nickel-cadmium (Nicad) batteries.

NiMH batteries also pose less of a hazard when it comes to disposal than Nicads because they don't contain any cadmium, which is highly toxic.

Makita, Bosch, Hitachi and DeWalt offer NiMH batteries, and other manufacturers will soon produce these power cells too.

All cordless drills come with a battery charger, with recharge times ranging from 15 minutes to three hours.

But faster isn't necessarily better. A contractor might depend on fast recharges, but slower recharging isn't usually a concern at home, especially if you have two batteries. What's more, there are drawbacks to fast charging.

A quick recharge can damage a battery by generating excessive heat, unless it's a specially designed unit.

If you want a speedy recharge, go with a tool from Makita, Hitachi or Panasonic, whose "smart" chargers are equipped with temperature sensors and feedback circuitry that protect batteries.

These units provide a charge in as little as nine minutes without battery damage.

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