Cordless Tools: Batteries interchangeable ?

[Montano]

I have a cordless drill that uses a 24v battery. I see other cordless tools from the same company that use 18v batteries. Is it OK to use a 24v battery on an 18v tool ?

:beer:

 

[Nitemare]

If they physically fit they will work for short-term use, but I wouldn't use them past this

 

[dighn]

I wouldn't do that.

 

[Gothgar]

They usually are made to not fit so that you won't do it, if it fits and works, I wouldn't recommend it, could cause a short or just plain destroy the tool.

 

[Soundmanred]

Just do it, and let us know how it works out when you get back from the ER.
If you lose your fingers, find someone to post for you.

 

[Jeff7]

That's 33.3% above its normal operating voltage.

I've got a thread somewhere in which I ask about using Lithium-ion cells with a drill - that'd be a 14.4V pack on a 12V drill. Even that is 20% over its recommended voltage, though this drops to around 13V when the drill is in operation. I'm fairly sure that it'll be ok - on brief tests, the drill didn't exhibit any odd behavior when run off the li-ion cells. I'm still waiting on an order though, before I'll build the pack. It was suggested in that thread, by our resident knower-of-everything , Rubycon, that I use some sort of protection (yeah yeah, protection, haha) circuitry on the pack. Li-ions can get mean if not treated carefully. The protection circuit monitors each cell for overcharging, overdischarging, and short circuits.

Once I get that circuit though, I'll be able to assemble the pack and put it to work.

33.3% above rated voltage is rather much, I wouldn't recommend that.

 

[dud]

Originally posted by: Montano
I have a cordless drill that uses a 24v battery. I see other cordless tools from the same company that use 18v batteries. Is it OK to use a 24v battery on an 18v tool ?

:beer:

Assuming the battery fits the tool ...

You can use a 24v battery in an 18v tool but realize that the innards of the 18v tool were designed (power/heat) to be run at 18v. The problems of running a tool at 1/3rd higher voltage are evident (heat/stress). You will probably severely shorten the tool life of the 18v unit.