cordless drill battery charging
 

I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner

Better chargers charge and then go into a maintenance or trickle mode.
Yours may simply shut off and stay off until you remove and replace the
battery. I would check the Hitachi site and review information that may be
available. Or contact Hitachi.


wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner

I had a friend who lost his entire wood shop due to one of these "battery
chargers" that caught fire. Happen again? Probably not but I do not leave
my chargers turned on. You might consider putting the charger on a line
that gets shut off every nite. I always shut off my compressor line at the
fuse box along with the bench outlets, every nite. Throw the breakers and
lock the door.

--

Rumpty

Radial Arm Saw Forum: http://forums.delphiforums.com/woodbutcher/start

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wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner

On 22 Dec 2004 17:24:45 -0800, wrote:

I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner
you shouldn't have to, but if your manual doesn't say "don't", then it
should be ok..

I have 3 19v batteries and I usually have one on the charger for an
hour or so during the day, then pull it out... not taking any risk
that I don't need to with a $55 battery..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Borg has a little timer switch you can mount in a double electrical box with
an outlet and cord. Crank in the time for a full charge, or maybe less if
you haven't used the battery much, and let 'er go. Then you don't have
anything to remember and there's always a hot battery waiting.
Wilson
wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner

wrote:
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can
the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone)
so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that
turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner

I leave my 12v Hitachi batteries in and yes, the charger does shut off.
The red inicator light goes out after an hour or so. I have several
UC12SD chargers both in the shop and in the telco closet at work and
have never had a problem. They make some great cordless tools for the
price. My 12v impact driver has been put through torture for the last
year and it runs like new even if it looks kind of rough. I'd really
like another 12v flashlight but can't seem to find one without buying
another drill.

Jim

In article .com,
wrote:
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger? The only thing I know about the battery/charger is that
it's a Ni-Cad battery and the charger has an indicator light that turns
off once the battery is charged.

Thanks.

Charles Lerner




Some cordless tools come with "smart" chargers and some (usually the
cheapies) don't. You may have to RTFM*




(* Read The Fine Manual)
--

Larry Wasserman Baltimore, Maryland

wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone) so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the battery
or charger?

I have a hitachi 12v and I leave mine plugged in 24/7. It shuts off after
an hour or so.
SH

Slowhand wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can
the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone)
so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the
battery
or charger?

I have a hitachi 12v and I leave mine plugged in 24/7. It shuts off
after
an hour or so.
SH


Does the charger turn back on by itself after some time to "top off"
the battery if you don't use the battery for a while?

CL

wrote in message
oups.com...

Slowhand wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time. Can
the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless phone)
so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the
battery
or charger?

I have a hitachi 12v and I leave mine plugged in 24/7. It shuts off
after
an hour or so.
SH


Does the charger turn back on by itself after some time to "top off"
the battery if you don't use the battery for a while?

Yep.
SH

Slowhand wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...

Slowhand wrote:
wrote in message
oups.com...
I just got a cordless drill (12v Hitachi) for the first time.
Can
the
battery be left in the charger continuously (like a cordless
phone)
so
that it's fully charged at all times or would this damage the
battery
or charger?

I have a hitachi 12v and I leave mine plugged in 24/7. It shuts
off
after
an hour or so.
SH


Does the charger turn back on by itself after some time to "top
off"
the battery if you don't use the battery for a while?

Yep.
SH

Thanks for all the replies. As someone suggested I did call Hitachi
and they told me the battery can be in the charger continuously; they
said it stops charging based on temperature (I suppose of the battery)
and then will monitor the voltage in the battery and will begin to
charge again when/if the voltage drops. (just as SH observed)

Charles