PTI Study: Not all Lithium-ion batteries are created equal
Power Tool Institute promotes awareness of tested, listed OEM batteries.
It’s no secret that lithium-ion batteries are great for power tools. They can be recharged hundreds of times with greater energy output compared to other rechargeables. This is, in part, how they have earned their reputation for stability and efficiency.
However, not all lithium-ion batteries are the same. The Power Tool Institute (PTI) always recommends using only a lithium-ion battery made for that specific tool, by the tool’s manufacturer. There are simply too many unknowns about third-party batteries, some of which can create great danger.
Reputable original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) have their products listed with an independent certification lab such as UL or Canadian Standards Association (CSA) to evaluate products for compliance with internationally accepted safety standards. This listing process is mandatory for power tools used in work environments governed by OSHA. The introduction of a third-party battery to the tool system negates this effort to document performance and safety compliance because cordless power tools and their batteries are tested as complete systems.
This total testing protocol — comprising a dedicated combination of tools, battery, and charger — helps ensure each component part communicates properly with the other in order to monitor and control critical functions. Only the tool manufacturer is able to obtain this “system” certification. Each manufacturer uses its own, proprietary control circuity, which is not available to third-party component suppliers.
Some knock-off batteries may be listed to a general battery safety standard, but many are not tested or listed to any safety standard at all. A lithium-ion battery that is not intentionally designed to work properly with a specific tool and charger system can result in poor performance and shorter life, damage to the tool and charger, or, even worse, a battery bursting that may cause a fire or explosion.
For these reasons, PTI and power tool manufacturers recommend that only OEM lithium-ion batteries be used.
For more information on safe use of lithium-ion batteries, visit https://www.powertoolinstitute.com/pti-pages/battery-safety.asp.
CONTRACTOR SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The April/May 2024 issue of Contractor Supply magazine is here!
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Our cover story, Masters of Fasteners, visits Interstate Screw Corp. of metro Miami, which serves the fastening needs of south Florida, the Caribbean and Central and South America.
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