Drill Battery Chargers: Usage and Test

Introduction 

The majority of cordless drills come with a battery charger, which can last for years. Most electrical equipment, on the other hand, is not faultless and can have technical faults after a lengthy period of use. In some cases, the charger may be in good working order but the battery isn't. A false alarm is always received in numerous scenarios. If your charger stops working, don't discard it right away.

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Test of the Drill Battery Chargers

Here is how you can conduct the test of the drill battery chargers:

Step 1: Check the Cordless Drill Battery Charger's Voltage Rating

The total voltage of your charger and the battery voltage rating is usually printed on the label of most cordless drills. 

Step 2: Setting the Multimeter Charger

Set the voltage on the multimeter to the same as the voltage on the battery charger. You can also gently boost the multimeter's voltage so as to acquire the best charging points for the drill. 

For example, if your cordless drill battery is 12 volts, you can adjust the voltage capacity of your multimeter to 13 volts. 

Step 3: Connecting to the Power

Connect the power drill battery charger to an electrical outlet.

Step 4: Connecting the Multimeter

You should properly connect the multimeter. You should try to connect the black wire and red wire to the positive and negative charges. Then, connect it with the multimeter. Here are the instructions:

Connect the multimeter's black wire to the battery charger's negative metal termination outlet. 

Connect the red wire of your multimeter to your battery charger's positive metal terminal outlet. 

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A circuit board can also be used to connect the battery connections to the multimeter.

This is how; you can connect the charger with the multimeter. 

Step 5: Analysis of the Charger Reading

Check your battery charger with the multimeter to see if it's working properly. Reread the results to double-check them.

Step 6: Reading the Results on the Meter.

By connecting the meter, you will be able to read the working functionality of the charger reading. The voltage reading on the multimeter will be higher than the battery charger's overall voltage rating if your battery charger is working properly. If the voltage reading on your multimeter is less than the overall voltage rating of your cordless drill battery charger, the charger is defective.

You should start looking for another charger if the results show that your charger is not working most efficiently. 

Cordless Drill Battery Chargers

Different types of batteries are used in drills. The majority of cordless models use a NiCad rechargeable battery, but others use a lithium-ion battery. While NiCad rechargeable batteries are capable of powering a variety of cordless drills, they are not particularly long-lasting. 

It is typical for a battery's capacity to retain a charge to degrade over time, reducing the battery's usable life, but a well-managed cordless drill battery should last up to 3-5 years or even longer. There are two types of cordless battery chargers. We have given the overview of both the types in the following sections:

1.Details of the NiCd Batteries

The extended cycle life of the charger is equivalent to the 1000+ charge cycles.

The moderate self-discharge range between 15% and 20%.

It tends to have a low capacity at 1.2 - 2.2 Ah. 

Charge time is ideal – ends up charging quickly.

The maintenance of the charger is quite easy. It requires deep discharge once a month

If you do not adequately maintain the batteries, the memory impact is high.

The drill battery chargers are highly sensitive, which is they are extremely difficult to handle. 

2.Details of the NimH Batteries

The cycle life of the NiMH batteries varies. If the user stores, charges and maintains the batteries properly, it can last as long as NiCd.

The self-discharge rate of the batteries is rapid. It ranges between 20% and 30%.

The drill battery chargers have a modest capacity, which are 2.2 Ah and 3.0 Ah.

Charge time is ideally quick.

The drill battery chargers require moderate maintenance. It only needs deep discharge once every three months.

It has a moderate memory effect. It will not occur with correct charging.

The drill batteries are sensitive to temperature. So, you have to handle the extremely sensitive batteries with greater care. 

Are Drill Battery Chargers Universal?

This question has the same response as the one about cordless drill batteries: certain drill chargers are interchangeable, while others are not. It's advisable to avoid swapping charges for cordless drills as much as possible. However, it is possible that it is necessary at times.

Pat Testing Drill Battery Chargers

Portable appliance testing is a precautionary measure that assures that the electrical appliances used in places of work, service, or hire will not harm or injure employees, customers, or renters. Various rules and regulations state that businesses must do such testing as often as deemed necessary to guarantee that the equipment is working properly.

PAT testing is not required for cordless power tools, but it is required for battery chargers that plug into the wall for electricity. It's worth noting that even larger devices that appear to be stationary require PAT testing. 

All IT equipment, including power cords to this equipment, should be examined. However, it is essential to test them independently from the equipment they power due to a different standard. Because electrical cable extensions are one of the most prominent sources of safety risks, they are the most frequently examined items.

Conclusion

These are the two types of drill battery chargers. You can choose a type of battery, which is suitable for your work. Both of the battery types are highly functional. You need to undertake the steps to maintain them. So, choose any of these batteries. 

Whenever a battery dies down, do not throw it away abruptly. You should check its efficiency and functionality using the multimeter. You can also conduct the Pat Test for examining its functionality. This is how you will be able to analyze whether you need to recondition or replace the drill charger batteries.