Whether you have a garage full of Ryobi tools, a work truck packed with Milwaukee or DeWALT, or use any other major power tool brand, you know that the battery packs are just as important as the tools. They’re expensive, too. And chances are, you’re not storing them right. Thankfully, a few new habits or systems can extend runtime and prevent premature failure.
Tell me if this sounds familiar. You keep your power tools and all those 18V ONE+, M12, or M18 battery packs in your garage, in a hot work truck, or sitting on the charger for days at a time until you need a new battery. Another common habit is running the battery until it’s completely dead. These mistakes can prove costly over time, so here are a few tips to get more out of those battery packs.
Maximize your battery runtime and lifespan
While every major power tool brand has slightly different recommendations for storage and use, they’re all roughly saying the same thing.
The idea is to keep your battery packs at a safe, healthy temperature and a decent charge level.
Another way to say it is to store your power tool battery packs in an environment a human would enjoy. As in, not your 90-degree garage, not too hungry, but not too full. A few small changes to your storage, charging habits, and even your workflow will make a huge difference.
In the end, you’ll have stronger battery packs that last longer than ever. Here are all the recommendations condensed into one list:
- Store your power tool battery packs at 50–60% charge (or similar)
- Always avoid excessively high or low temperatures
- Never let the battery completely discharge
- Rotate and use all your battery packs often
The biggest mistake most owners make is how they store the battery packs. The reason the storage method is a concern is the temperature your battery will reach, both at the low and high ends, when it’s left in a garage or a vehicle.
Basically, the two biggest concerns for your power tool lithium-ion battery packs are temperature and charge level. Whether it’s an 18V ONE+, Ryobi’s 40V, Milwaukee M12 or M18, DeWALT 20V MAX or ATOMIC, RIDGID, Makita, or anyone else, the logic is the same.
For storage, your tool battery packs should not be stored when the battery is too low or too full. Almost every manufacturer suggests storing your battery packs at 40%–60% charge. For most models, that’s two bars on the fuel gauge.
A mid-charge state helps minimize chemical stress, protecting your battery’s long-term health. Additionally, the mid-charge status helps prevent battery degradation, a common problem with all lithium-ion cells. Just as your phone doesn’t last as long as it did when it was new, your power tool battery packs will eventually degrade.
- Color
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Red
- Warranty
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Returnable within 90 days
Milwaukee’s M18 XC (extended capacity) 5.0Ah battery is a perfect blend of weight, power, and performance, ideal for any job.
Temperature is just as important
Don’t let that battery get too hot, or too cold
A big reason you’ll want to keep the battery at a mid-charge state is to better regulate temperature and the internal cells during warm summers or cold winters. And that’s the second-biggest mistake people make.
Your power tool battery packs should be kept at a temperature range that a human would want, and almost every manufacturer recommends storing them between 60°F and 77°F.
When the temperature gets too high or too low, it’ll affect the battery and tool performance, battery cell performance, charging speeds, and, not to mention, make it drain faster. Keeping your power tool battery packs in a hot garage, outdoor tool shed, or truck all summer won’t do them any favors. And the same rings true when it gets cold in the winter.
I don’t know about you guys, but my garage easily gets over 90 degrees F in the summer. That’s too hot for your power tool battery pack. To make matters worse, most people throw their battery on a charger in that hot garage. When combined, your battery cells are reaching dangerously high temperatures, causing degradation. That’s bad.
Obviously, removing your battery packs every day or finding a place in the house isn’t ideal, but it’s better than replacing several $200 battery packs. I actually store mine in a hall closet, and that’s where both my charging docks live, too.
Get the most from your battery packs
In closing, here are a few more tips that’ll help your battery last longer and perform better. Don’t just keep using the same battery until it’s dead, then swap it out. Rotate all your battery packs often, and before they’re completely dead. Each time I use one of my tools for anything beyond a small job, I put it at the back of my row of battery packs, ensuring it doesn’t drain too low, and another one will be used next.
Basically, I’m rotating a new battery between different drills and impact drivers, especially my weed wacker and 40V lawn mower. If you wear the same shoes every day, they’ll wear out quickly. But if you switch between 3–4 pairs, they’ll all last for several years. The same logic applies to your battery packs. In fact, I have all my Ryobi and Milwaukee battery packs numbered on the bottom with a Sharpie, and I use that to somewhat keep track of which ones I use, rotate them often, recharge when necessary, and keep them around 60% during the summer and winter.
By following a few simple rules and steps, you will have battery packs that last longer, run stronger, and you won’t have to deal with warranty replacements or buy a new one as early.
