Which battery will have to I make a choice?
It’s a query that comes up so much right here at Milwaukee®.
Whether or not you’re on the lookout for a alternative, an improve, or are new to Milwaukee, you’ve most probably spotted we have now a wide array of batteries to make a choice from.
So the place do you get started? How are you able to inform which Milwaukee battery is right for you?
The solution is dependent upon how deep you need to move.
Perhaps you’re no longer within the distinctions between one battery and any other. Perhaps you might be simply on the lookout for a typical REDLITHIUM™ ion-battery that will get the process performed and works together with your specific instrument, or set of equipment. Not anything fallacious with that.
However, perhaps you’re a stickler for the main points who desires to make sure you’re at all times getting absolutely the top efficiency from your batteries and equipment from one process to the following.
If that final phase sounds such as you, then the very first thing you wish to have to understand is that part of the struggle over persistent instrument optimization comes all the way down to which battery you’re the use of.
However do not be concerned–we now have were given you lined! Observe at the side of this straightforward information to be told extra about Milwaukee’s distinctive way to lithium-ion battery era and the way to select a battery pack that completely suits the process in entrance of you.
TL;DR:
Simplest have time for a fast primer? Skip forward to “Learn how to Learn a REDLITHIUM Battery.”
JUMP AHEAD:
Stay it Easy: 3 Pointers for Opting for A Battery
Milwaukee provides greater than 70 lithium-ion batteries and chargers for greater than 500 cordless persistent equipment and items of apparatus.
It’s true: We’ve got a lot of batteries. And realizing which one to select generally is a bit overwhelming.
That mentioned, there are a couple of easy guidelines that permit you to instantly slender down your seek:
- Do not sweat the age of your battery.
- Fit the labels to your instrument.
- Probably the most optimum battery is the one who comes together with your instrument.
Don’t sweat the Age of the Battery
Let’s assume you simply upgraded to a brand spanking new M18 FUEL™ SAWZALL® with ONE-KEY™ and are questioning if the five-year-old battery out of your earlier instrument remains to be suitable with the brand new fashion.
So long as your older battery remains to be in just right form, the solution is a convincing sure.
All Milwaukee batteries are designed to be back and forth suitable.
In different phrases, whether or not you purchased a battery these days, 5 years in the past, or 5 years into the longer term, that battery will paintings with any Milwaukee cordless persistent instrument inside its devoted persistent instrument gadget.
However wait a minute, what precisely can we imply via “devoted cordless persistent instrument gadget?”
That brings us to our subsequent tip.
Fit the Labels
Are all Milwaukee batteries interchangeable? That is any other query we get so much.
The solution is each sure…and no.
The best way to understand which batteries paintings together with your instrument(s) is to ensure their labels fit.
Right here’s what we imply:
All of Milwaukee’s cordless electrical persistent equipment and kit fall into one among 3 persistent instrument methods: M12™, M18™, and MX FUEL™ (M4™ and M28™ are the outliers).
Every persistent instrument gadget has its personal devoted line of batteries:
So that you could recap, whilst our batteries are no longer interchangeable throughout persistent instrument methods, they’re, then again, interchangeable inside them.
That’s why the most simple means to select a proper battery is to ensure the label at the battery suits the label to your instrument.
For instance, in the event you’re on the lookout for a battery in your M12 FUEL™ 1/4″ Hex Affect Motive force, then any battery (or charger) that bears the “M12” label will paintings with that instrument.
Moreover, any M12 battery may also paintings with every other instrument from the M12 persistent instrument gadget.
However hold on, what can we imply “any M12 battery”?
Is there multiple kind of M12 battery that’s suitable with the M12 persistent instrument gadget?
We’ve got such points of interest to turn you.
For now despite the fact that, let’s stay retaining it easy and transfer directly to the following tip.
The Maximum Optimum Battery is The One That Comes With Your Instrument
Possibly the perfect shortcut for deciding which battery gets the most efficient efficiency from your instrument is to easily stick to the battery that got here with the instrument while you bought it.
For instance, our M18 Brushless 1/2″ Top Torque Affect Wrench w/ Friction Ring Package comes pre-packaged with an M18 REDLITHIUM XC 4.0 Prolonged Capability Battery Pack, which delivers two times the runtime and 20% extra persistent.
This is the battery that our engineers have made up our minds to be probably the most optimum for this actual instrument and the packages it’s generally used for.
Easy, proper?
In fact, this tip is most effective useful if a battery certainly got here together with your instrument while you bought it.
Moreover, perhaps the precise software you take note is a bit of other from the overall use case. To not point out, perhaps via now you’re questioning: What is REDLITHIUM? And the way do you learn those battery labels, anyway? As an example, what’s up with that “XC 4.0” string of letters and numbers in that instance we simply cited?
All superb questions. To respond to them, we’re going to wish to dive a little bit deeper…
A Detailed Information: Learn how to Make a selection the Battery That’s Proper for You
As with anything else in lifestyles, opting for a Milwaukee battery that completely suits your particular wishes comes all the way down to the nitty gritty main points.
Should you’ve made it this a long way and are nonetheless hungry to be told extra about Milwaukee’s quite a lot of battery choices, the next move is to start exploring the other tiers and forms of batteries inside the REDLITHIUM ion-battery circle of relatives.
The REDLITHIUM Circle of relatives of Batteries
Milwaukee has led the cordless revolution since we invented the primary lithium-ion battery for persistent equipment just about 20 years in the past.
Our unequalled way to cordless persistent is one among perpetual evolution, aiming to repeatedly enhance upon the most recent and biggest applied sciences in lithium-ion battery cellular variety, pack development, and electronics.
The end result of this evolutionary manner is the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives of lithium-ion batteries.
All of Milwaukee’s lithium-ion batteries are a part of the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives, which is divided into a number of distinct tiers and varieties.
- A battery’s REDLITHIUM tier is a trademark of its total point of lithium-ion era.
- A battery’s REDLITHIUM kind is a trademark of its particular functions.
Let’s start with the tiers.
The 3 REDLITHIUM Tiers
The REDLITHIUM identify represents a state-of-the-art mix of electronics, chemistry, and thermal coverage that delivers dramatically enhanced efficiency in comparison to the contest.
Batteries inside the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives exist on a technological spectrum that’s divided into 3 tiers:
- REDLITHIUM
- REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT™
- and REDLITHIUM FORGE™
Every tier indicators a step up in lithium-ion era, with REDLITHIUM FORGE on the easiest, maximum complex finish.
Tip: To determine your battery’s tier, take a look at the label to peer if it reads REDLITHIUM, REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT, or REDLITHIUM FORGE.
Working out the 3 REDLITHIIUM battery tiers permit you to optimize the entire efficiency of your batteries and equipment.
In case your number one fear is at all times having the most recent and biggest in lithium-ion battery era at your fingertips, then the battery’s tier is what you’ll wish to focal point on maximum on your seek for the easiest battery.
REDLITHIUM
REDLITHIUM batteries constitute the core of Milwaukee’s lithium-ion era, the baseline of excellency for each battery we provide.
First offered in 2010, we’ve persisted to conform the REDLITHIUM line to ship a slate of batteries that suppose quicker and paintings tougher than every other lithium-ion battery in the marketplace.
REDLITHIUM batteries are to be had throughout all 3 of Milwaukee’s number one persistent instrument methods.
REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT
Launched in 2018, the Top Output tier of REDLITHIUM batteries harnesses extra complex electronics and lithium-ion cellular era to spice up the ability and function of Milwaukee’s core battery to even larger heights.
For instance, M12 REDLITHIUM Top Output batteries are 25% extra tough and run 25% cooler than usual REDLITHIUM batteries. Likewise, M18 REDLITHIUM Top Output batteries ship 50% extra persistent and run 50% cooler than their forebearers.
REDLITHIUM Top Output batteries are to be had throughout all 3 of Milwaukee’s number one persistent instrument methods.
REDLITHIUM FORGE
The latest and maximum complex addition to Milwaukee’s REDLITHIUM battery circle of relatives is the REDLITHIUM FORGE tier of batteries.
REDLITHIUM FORGE guarantees probably the most persistent, quickest charging, longest lifestyles, and maximum complex point of lithium-ion era.
Unveiled in 2023, FORGE represents not anything wanting the following soar within the cordless revolution.
Earlier generations of lithium-ion batteries around the persistent instrument trade had been constructed completely round cylindrical cellular era. FORGE, alternatively, guarantees to make use of subsequent technology electronics and probably the most tough lithium-ion applied sciences so far, together with pouch cellular and tabless cylindrical cellular era.
The mix of those components lets in REDLITHIUM FORGE to ship larger persistent and cooler working in a considerably lighter and extra compact battery pack.
For instance, the M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE XC6.0 delivers the same quantity of persistent in about part the dimensions and weight as probably the most greatest and maximum tough batteries of the former technology, the M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT HD12.0 (whilst equivalent in persistent, you need to notice that those two batteries do no longer have the similar run-time, which we’ll provide an explanation for extra in a second.
REDLITHIUM FORGE is recently most effective to be had within the M18 and MX FUEL persistent instrument methods.
The 3 REDLITHIUM Varieties
You’ll be able to slender your seek for the easiest REDLITHIUM battery additional via having a look at a battery’s kind, or relatively, its particular set of functions.
There are 3 REDLITHIUM varieties:
- CP (Compact)
- XC (Prolonged Capability)
- HD (Top Call for)
Tip: To determine your battery’s kind, take a look at for the letters CP, XC, or HD, which generally seem close to the top of your battery’s label.
Working out the 3 REDLITHIUM battery varieties permit you to extra carefully tailor the efficiency of your batteries and equipment in your particular wishes.
Usually, a battery’s kind identifies the place it falls on a scale of persistent point, dimension, and run-time—with Compact at the low finish and Top Call for at the excessive finish.
Every of the 3 battery varieties can also be discovered inside each and every tier of the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives.
This is, REDLITHIUM, REDLITHIUM Hight Output, and REDLITHIUM FORGE all have their very own variations of CP, XC, and HD batteries.
CP (Compact)
- Maximum transportable
- Small and light-weight
- Much less persistent and run-time
Compact batteries are much less power-intensive, have shorter run-times, and are extra geared against ergonomics, portability, and ease-of-use.
Perfect Use: Compact (CP) batteries are perfect for smaller equipment utilized in lighter jobs, overhead paintings, and tight areas.
Instance: The M12 REDLITHIUM CP2.0
XC (Prolonged Capability)
- Maximum flexible
- Mid-level dimension and weight
- Stability of persistent and run-time
Prolonged Capability batteries are superb all-around work-horses that supply a steadiness of persistent, pace, and run-time for all kinds of process packages.
Perfect Use: Prolonged Capability (XC) batteries are perfect for jobs that decision for extra persistent and run-time however nonetheless take pleasure in a slightly lighter pack.
Instance: The M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE XC6.0
HD (Top Call for)
- Maximum tough
- Biggest dimension and weight
- Maximum persistent and run-time
Top Call for batteries ship probably the most persistent, longest run-times, easiest speeds, and less journeys from side to side to the charger.
Perfect Use: Top Call for (HD) batteries are perfect for power-hungry jobs that require uninterrupted workflows.
Instance: The M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT HD12.0
Tip: It is simple to get “Top Output” and “Top Call for” blended up. Be mindful, Top Output refers back to the tier of the battery, or its total lithium-ion era point, whilst Top Call for–indicated at the battery’s label via the letters “HD”–refers to its kind, or total functions.
Subsequent Degree: Run-Time, Energy Degree, and REDLITHIUM Variants
Your battery optimization adventure isn’t over in the event you don’t need it to be.
If you’re ready to navigate the tiers and kinds inside the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives of batteries, you are prepared to dive into the deep finish and discover the opposite distinctive options and battery variants Milwaukee has to supply.
There’s a wealth of knowledge you’ll know about each battery inside the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives, even past its kind, tier, and gear instrument gadget.
To take complete benefit of that data, you’ll wish to cross a layer deeper and be told extra about learn a REDLITHIUM battery and the packaging it is available in.
Run-Time
Run-time refers to how lengthy a battery can run sooner than it must be recharged.
The extra run-time a battery has, the extra paintings you’ll get performed together with your instrument in one consultation.
REDLITHIUM battery run-times are expressed in Amp hours (Ah).
Learn how to Learn A REDLITHIUM Battery
To determine your battery’s run-time, take a look at the quantity that looks on the finish of the battery’s label.
Let’s use the M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE XC6.0 for example.
The primary a part of the label is “M18”. As you’ll recall, this identifies the ability instrument gadget the battery is related to, in addition to its voltage.
2d is the “REDLITHIUM FORGE” a part of the label, which identifies the battery’s REDLITHIUM tier.
Subsequent is the “XC” , which identifies the battery kind.
In any case, the “6.0” on the finish of the label signifies the battery’s run-time.
So simply from studying the label, we will inform that the battery:
- Is suitable with M18 equipment
- Delivers 18 volts of persistent
- Is from the REDLITHIUM FORGE tier
- Is an Prolonged Capability (XC) battery
- Has 6 amp hours of run-time.
We’ll save a extra detailed breakdown of amp hours for all over again. For now, all you wish to have to understand is that the larger the quantity on the finish of your battery’s label, the longer it could possibly run.
Energy Degree
Energy point refers to how a lot persistent a battery delivers.
Extra persistent equates to quicker instrument speeds and the power to finish heavier accountability packages.
To be told your battery’s particular persistent point, take a look at the higher proper nook of the packaging it is available in.
There, you’ll to find the letters “PWR” and a bunch with decrease numbers indicating the bottom persistent point and better numbers indicating the easiest persistent point.
Energy point is impacted via quite a lot of components, and whilst you’ll get a common thought via checking a battery’s tier and sort, this isn’t at all times an excellent indicator of ways a lot persistent it could possibly ship.
As an example, batteries within the REDLITHIUM Top Output tier are normally extra tough than the usual REDLITHIUM batteries within the tier underneath. Alternatively, it’s additionally true that there are examples of usual REDLITHIUM batteries that experience extra persistent than Top Output.
That’s why we advanced the ability point scale: to take away the guesswork and obviously be in contact how your particular battery stacks up when it comes to persistent.
We’ve most effective simply begun the method of categorizing our batteries via persistent point, so keep tuned for more info.
Run-Time vs Energy Degree
Does a excessive persistent point equate to longer run-times, and vice versa?
It is a level of bewilderment we frequently run into and it’s price a temporary diversion into the weeds to provide an explanation for.
Briefly, no: Energy point and run-time aren’t at once similar.
…no longer at all times, anyway.
To be transparent, there are certainly examples of batteries that experience each a excessive run-time and a excessive persistent point. Alternatively, this isn’t a rule that applies around the board.
Let’s examine 3 batteries to get a clearer thought of what we imply.
Batteries with the similar run-times will have other persistent ranges.
Have a look at Battery A and Battery C.
Each have the similar run-time of 6 Ah.
Alternatively, Battery A is at persistent point 3 and Battery C is at persistent point 4.
So even supposing their run-times are the similar, Battery C has a better persistent point than Battery A.
Batteries with the similar persistent ranges too can have other run-times.
Now take a look at Battery B.
Of the 3 batteries, Battery B has the easiest run-time of 12 Ah.
Alternatively, Battery B and Battery C are each at persistent point 4.
So even supposing their persistent ranges are the similar, Battery B has a better run-time than Battery C.
On this instance, Battery B (the M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT HD12.0) used to be our unmarried maximum tough M18 battery till the hot creation of Battery C (the M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE XC6.0).
With the advances in electronics and lithium-ion cellular era related to REDLITHIUM FORGE, we will now fit the ability point of the REDLITHIUM Top Output tier in a miles lighter and extra compact battery pack.
As you’ll see from this situation, then again, this spice up in persistent point does no longer equate to an extended run-time.
REDLITHIUM Variants
In any case, it’s time to discover probably the most battery variants within the REDLITHIUM circle of relatives.
Realizing your battery’s persistent point and run-time are a very good get started, however we acknowledge that there is also different components which might be additionally essential so that you can imagine.
Perhaps you’re on the lookout for a battery that’s ready to resist extended publicity to the weather.
Or in all probability your precedence is a battery that runs cooler and fees quicker.
If this is the case, we’ve were given you lined.
Resistant
Resistant batteries have an upgraded housing that gives higher coverage in opposition to commonplace oils, greases, and solvents.
To determine in case your battery is Resistant, take a look at the packaging and label for the phrase “Resistant”.
Perfect Use: Resistant batteries are perfect for transportation upkeep, concrete, and business staff who often disclose their equipment to liquids and different harsh environmental components that may degrade efficiency or purpose a battery to wreck through the years.
Examples: All REDLITHIUM MX FUEL batteries are resistant, and all REDLITHIUM FORGE batteries are deliberate to be resistant as smartly, together with our a lot touted M18 REDLITHIUM FORGE XC6.0.
Different examples of resistant batteries come with the M12 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC5.0 Battery and the M18 REDLITHIUM XC5.0 Resistant Battery.
COOL-CYCLE™
Cool-Cycle batteries have vents constructed into their housings that supply high-speed air-cooling, permitting them to price a lot quicker than different REDLITHIUM batteries for much less downtime.
This impact is completed with chargers that experience Cool-Cycle capacity that blow air during the Cool-Cycle batteries’ integrated vents, enabling some fashions just like the MX FUEL REDLITHIUM FORGE HD12.0 to price to 100% in as low as 45 to 65 mins.
Perfect Use: Warmth may cause a battery’s efficiency to dip or shutdown totally. That’s why Cool-Cycle batteries are perfect for development staff whose batteries are vulnerable to heating up, whether or not because of strenuous use or publicity to excessive warmth at the job-site.
Packs that come off the charger will now return at the instrument at a cooler temperature, because of this prolonged runtime for the following software
In any case, retaining the cellular and electronics cool whilst charging will lengthen the entire lifetime of the battery, handing over at the longest lifestyles promise of FORGE.
Examples: Cool-Cycle is recently to be had in MX FUEL REDLITHIUM FORGE 8.0 and MX FUEL REDLITHIUM FORGE HD12.0 battery packs.
Pair those batteries with the Cool-Cycle succesful MX FUEL™ Tremendous Charger.
Backside Line
Alternatively easy or complicated your particular wishes may well be, we are hoping this information permit you to make a choice a REDLITHIUM battery this is simply best for you, anywhere you’re on your Milwaukee adventure.
