Battery technologies have come a long way since their inception. But some old myths are still sticking to this day. You will find people asking weird questions all over the internet about almost all kinds of batteries. One of the most asked question is can you overcharge DeWalt batteries?
You cannot overcharge a DeWalt battery just by putting it on a charger for an extensive amount of time. These batteries come with internal mechanisms that stop taking up more charge once the battery is full.
I will be discussing in this post other relevant topics as well as overcharging batteries. Once you reach the end, you will understand how these batteries work, why they cannot be overcharged, and everything in between.
Can You Overcharge DeWalt Batteries?
No, you cannot overcharge DeWalt batteries that easily. The chargers have a feedback system that cuts off the electric current once the battery reaches its full potential.
Years ago, they would just trickle a tiny charge into NiCads and later NiMh batteries over the course of around 15 hours.
After which it softly overcharged the batteries, which was marketed as not too awful but was extremely harmful to the batteries if kept on 24/7. It was up to you to remember to unplug them.
Most new chargers feature some form of feedback, which reduces or stops the current when the batteries are fully charged, and charge in 3–4 hours if they do.
Most current Li-Ion batteries feature clever electronic chargers that precisely monitor the charge and cut off the charge when the battery is full to safeguard it.
Can I Leave My DEWALT Battery On the Charger?
Although there are benefits to removing lithium packs when they are fully charged or somewhat earlier, I believe it is more of a safety problem.
You don’t have to worry about overheated Li-ion cells catching fire and exploding if the charger fails due to a power surge or something else.
Lithium cells that are in good condition can easily last 6 months between charges.
You can leave your DeWalt battery on the charger without any concerns about overheating or overcharging. It is the fault on the electrical line that poses a more serious threat.
How Do You Revive a 20v DeWalt Battery?
This procedure will allow you to transfer the charge from a fully charged battery to a fully discharged battery. This will ensure that the flat battery has adequate power to be charged regularly.
- Connect the positive terminal to the positive terminal* with one pair of scissors. (You could also use a paper clip or a razor blade.)
- Connect the negative terminal to the negative terminal using the second set of scissors.
- Allow 5 minutes for the scissors to be in position.
- Remove the scissors from the equation. The flat battery should now have enough charge to be recharged properly.
Or you can try to charge with mini boosts instead:
- For 2 to 3 seconds at a time, connect the battery to a power source. Disconnect the battery from the power source after 2 or 3 seconds. Just before the lights turn on, you should unplug the battery.
- Step 1 should be repeated for up to 30 minutes. This should provide enough power to charge the battery regularly.
How Many Hours Does a DeWalt 20v Battery Last?
In short, it mostly depends on how much power does the tool draws from the battery.
That will be determined by the tool you’re using. A chainsaw or angle grinder consumes far more energy than an impact driver or drill.
It has a capacity of around 100Wh, therefore if a chainsaw has a 1kW engine, the 20V 5 Ah battery will last about 6 minutes at full load.
A normal angle grinder uses around 600W; therefore 10 minutes should be enough. Impact drivers, such as drills, would last longer.
It’s important to note that this refers to “full load,” not “soft” cutting or drilling, or simply running the tool.
How Many Years do DeWalt 20v Batteries Last?
Like most lithium batteries, DeWalt batteries last around 3 years on average.
If you keep your batteries properly, they should last anywhere from 3 to 6 years on a shelf. What is the most important takeaway?
Keep your batteries away from direct sunlight. Extreme heat is the main adversary of Li-ion batteries’ overall lifetime.
You can check this link to maximize the runtime of your DeWalt battery.
How do you Store a DeWalt Battery?
Batteries should be stored and charged in a cool, dry environment. Batteries should not be exposed to liquids, oils, or severe temperatures. Batteries should be cleaned using a clean, slightly wet cloth rather than chemicals.
If your battery is no longer charging, bring it to a DEWALT Service Center near you for a quick, free, and secure disposal. Before storing the instrument for a lengthy period of time, disconnect the battery.
Before storing for lengthy periods of time, fully charge the battery (longer than 6 months). Batteries with noticeable deterioration or fractures should not be stored.
How to Reset a DeWalt Battery
- To remove the battery pack from the DeWalt power tool, press the battery pack removal button on the rear of the tool’s handle.
- Place the battery pack in the charger so that the metal connections on the battery pack meet the metal contacts on the charger.
- Allow eight hours for the battery pack to charge. The battery pack on your DeWalt has now been reset.
Bottom Line
Although battery technologies have advanced a lot, the old myths are still clinging to the internet.
In the old days of power cells, their users had to face different problems like overcharging, overheating, and many more. With the advancement of battery tech, scientists and engineers have got that covered.
You can keep your DeWalt batteries on the charger for as long as you want. These chargers are intelligent enough to sense when the battery is charged. And, they will act accordingly.
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