2 ms·

> "how can we be sure 3rd party batteries won't explode in our tools?" Hopefully the response to that would just be laughter. IIRC, many of the proprietary ba

> "how can we be sure 3rd party batteries won't explode in our tools?" Hopefully the response to that would just be laughter. IIRC, many of the proprietary batteries used in power tools today use commodity cells internally, either 18650s or 20650s. Not many (any?) are developing their own proprietary cells. Their secret sauce is the plastic shell and connector shape. What we need, IMO, is standardized sizes and quick-connectors for batteries that are about 10-20x the capacity of an 18650. Big enough for the kind of power a tool needs, small enough that there's not much excuse for a hand tool or lawn mower not to fit them.

adolph 5y ago
> Their secret sauce is the plastic shell and connector shape. And load leveling, over/under current protection, metering UI, etc etc. Also, not all 18650s have the same characteristics for dis|charge rates, and capacity.
- rootusrootus 5y ago
  I assume power tool manufacturers use commodity charging circuits, rather than trying to second guess with their own proprietary creation. > Also, not all 18650s have the same characteristics for dis|charge rates, and capacity. This is true, but I have one charger that handles them all. Not just 18650s, either, but bigger batteries and smaller ones too. It is a solved problem, and not something that a power tool manufacturer needs to try to solve again.
  - adolph 5y ago
    Having watched a few Big Clive amd AvE teardown videos of various doodads, my impression is that manufacturers have different opinions about circuit optimization. https://www.youtube.com/c/bigclive https://www.youtube.com/c/bigclive https://www.youtube.com/c/arduinoversusevil2025 https://www.youtube.com/c/arduinoversusevil2025
cptskippy 5y ago
Different cells and cell configurations have different requirements for charging and discharging. You can discharge cells too rapidly damage the cells and potentially cause a fire.

adolph 5y ago

> Their secret sauce is the plastic shell and connector shape. And load leveling, over/under current protection, metering UI, etc etc. Also, not all 18650s have the same characteristics for dis|charge rates, and capacity.

rootusrootus 5y ago
I assume power tool manufacturers use commodity charging circuits, rather than trying to second guess with their own proprietary creation. > Also, not all 18650s have the same characteristics for dis|charge rates, and capacity. This is true, but I have one charger that handles them all. Not just 18650s, either, but bigger batteries and smaller ones too. It is a solved problem, and not something that a power tool manufacturer needs to try to solve again.
- adolph 5y ago
  Having watched a few Big Clive amd AvE teardown videos of various doodads, my impression is that manufacturers have different opinions about circuit optimization. https://www.youtube.com/c/bigclive https://www.youtube.com/c/bigclive https://www.youtube.com/c/arduinoversusevil2025 https://www.youtube.com/c/arduinoversusevil2025

cptskippy 5y ago

Different cells and cell configurations have different requirements for charging and discharging. You can discharge cells too rapidly damage the cells and potentially cause a fire.