Since the cold weather has come (in Michigan), I’ve begun storing my batteries in a seperate bag so I can bring them in the house at night. It seems to help. Now when I get to the job I dont have to worry about dead batteries in the morning.
Anyone else do this? I’m bored and just wondering.
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Replies
MSA1, what batteries are you talking about? Car batteries? Gun batteries? Camera batteries?
Batteries don't work well when they're cold..and it has been cold. My car thermometer started out reading zero today, and quickly dropped to -4.
I don't know how accurate it is.
blue
Warning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Sorry Blue, I meant tool batteries.
I do believe that cold weather kills a battery. seen um go bad long before I expected
othewise, strange , hot battaries will not charge until cooled off
hpefully you got real ones
i bought a 18volt makita set off e-bay. one battery lasted about a month other turned to trash wihtin two months, clutch on drill went shortly after
thought it was the cold weather, nasty project, finihsed the project, contacted Makita
no such serial numbers
of course seller is long gone, St Croix or someplace warm
about a week later magazine article...............watch out for frauds
gee...............do you think...............maybe me.................
heat kills...
cold stops the process.....
Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming
WOW!!! What a Ride!
How cold is it there ?
Tim Mooney
How cold? 5f today.
Heck, 5F is balmy.
I also have a bag full of batteries, glue, caulk and such that comes in now that it is cold
Shoeman, someone usually takes the glue home too on our crew.
This year, I've taken another tact to dry out and keep my framing hose from freezing. I cut a five foot section of hose and rigged a female coupler on it. I stuffed the other end up into the heater blower outlet on my truck and capped it off with duct tape. Now, when I head home for the day, I put my hose in the cab and hook it up to the female. The hot airconditioned air blows through the hose for the entire one hour ride, there and back.
I haven't seen any sign of hoses freezing up....
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
when I was on a crew doing new construction in northern Minnesota, we used to duct tape together a large box out of 2" foam and keep all the caulking and such in there in a room in a corner of the basement - all we had for heat was a 100 watt light bulb, but it kept things operational
That's a great tip shoeman. I think I remember leaving some types of lights on in our JObox overnight. We've tried so many differnt things....
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Yeah, but leaving your flashlight on won't hack it.
seems to me we used to have to pour a little isopropyl alcohol down the lines every now and then on the real cold days
Seems like vans and shops to drive in would be in order if its that cold .
Tim Mooney
Tim, its expensive to heat a shop that is large enough to heat a van. Its much cheaper to heat a small container.
blueWarning! Be cautious when taking any framing advice from me. Although I have a lifetime of framing experience, all of it is considered bottom of the barrel by Gabe. I am not to be counted amongst the worst of the worst. If you want real framing information...don't listen to me..just ask Gabe!
Thats why I was asking how cold ?
Ive got an insulated shop . Drive a truck with the motor hot in it and its good for 0 anyway with out heat. Matter of fact a bucket of water wont feeze in the floor or paint for that matter. On the coldest nites I light a stove , but it isnt necesary. We only get down to about 0.
I painted and finished drywall and stored both in quanity. I understand everyone doesnt have a insulated shop or have purpose like I did , but the garage might be there.
I have put a heat lamp in a van out side holding mud or paint . Produce too, lots of times waiting to pull out for a flea market.
Tim Mooney
Edited 12/20/2004 9:30 am ET by Tim Mooney
I've kept my drill batteries (nicads) in the unheated garage (southern MN) for years. I'm guessing the oldest battery (of 3) is about 12 years old. Although it's true that they don't "put out" very well when cold, the cold doesn't appear to hurt them or shorten their life.
Heat, on the other hand, kills.
Picked up some second hand foam cooler bags and store corless batteries, drycells, and other battery operated tools or electronics (calculator & digital camera) in the bags and bring them in at night also. Takes several trips to load up the am though...
I got into the habit of emptying my truck of its contents every night after being robbed a couple years back. Although it sounds like a bit much, it normally doesn`t take fifteen minutes. It has increased my organizational skills tenfold. Tools that need maintenance get it.....batteries that need charging get charged...blades and bits that need replacing are replaced.
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
"DO IT RIGHT, DO IT ONCE"
Question I had was about the battery instructions that say don`t run the charger under 40 degrees ambient. I`ve done it several times out of necessity but always wondered whether I`ve shortened the life of the battery or risked fire or splodin`. Any comments?
Some batteries contain an internal thermistor, or there's one in the charger where it can sense battery temp. These detect the temp rise that occurs in a NiCad when it's fully charged. External temp too high or low will throw this mechanism off.
I know what you mean. I got ripped off about a year ago(cleaned out our flip house). When I replaced the tools, I never left anything on site but I do still leave them in my truck. I know its a risk but when the kids always forget to close the garage door i'm probably safer in the truck.