Treat your NiCad Skil 18v batteries well for optimum performance
It seems as though there are a lot of people who complain about batteries, for any type of device. It is no different when it comes to cordless power tools. If your Skil 18v battery does not say lithium ion on it, it is most likely a NiCad battery. This technology is not famous for lasting a lifetime. This is just the reality of batteries, even lithium ion ones. One of the biggest no-nos for NiCad 18v batteries is the fact that they do not respond well to being hooked up to a charger for longer than is required. People need to know that it is very important to follow the guideline for properly using NiCads. I also find that the manufacturer does not stress enough that mistreating your Skil 18v battery will lead to greatly reduced performance. You must follow the instruction that Skil provides with their new batteries in every way.
Maybe you have also complained that the battery in you cell phone starts to loose performance after a year. You are probably not following the guidelines for that either. Do not plug you phone in every night; wait till it is totally empty.
The same principle applies to your brand new Skil 18v battery, and every other battery type on the market. Don’t get me wrong; even with impeccable care, your battery will gradually loose its performance until it needs to be replaced. But it will last a long time, and you will definitely get your money’s worth. So get back to reality and accept the fact that your Skil 18v battery won’t last forever.
If you are often at a job site where you need to use your power tools intensively, following the proper care instructions will not be easy. Many people use rapid chargers and begin recharging their batteries while they are hot because they can’t afford to loose time. Unfortunately this is just bad for them and will considerably reduce battery-life. The smart way to solve this problem is to buy several extra Skil 18v batteries so you never run out, and allows plenty of time for cool-down before recharging is necessary. There will also be no need for a rapid charger, as this is very destructive. This may seem like a lot of money to spend in one shot, but it will pay off in the long term as the batteries will last at least twice as long. Do not forget to disconnect the Skil 18v from the charger as soon as it is done charging. All NiCads are also prone to something called memory. This means that if you do not fully use the battery’s charge, it will adjust to that charge-level and not last as long anymore.
The proper usage of your Skil 18v batteries is really very logical. Once you pay more attention to it, it will become second nature and you will be content with the battery’s performance.
For the very serious users that just can’t be bothered with the nuances of NiCad batteries, I would definitely recommend the Skil 18v lithium ion batteries. They are more expensive but can handle abuse a bit better than the NiCads. However, they will still loose performance over time.
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