Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Milwaukee). This thread is read-only.
Is it true Milwaukee batteries don’t perform in the cold weather?
All the older lithium cells didn’t like extreme cold but the new red lithium and newer batteries do ok in the cold. The tools might be a little sluggish though for the first few seconds, but for the most part that’s a no issue with lithium batteries now.
where we live we experience many days with sub zero temps during the winter, I wouldn’t want to use any tool with batteries in that kind of weather. I especially would never leave them outside overnight……
All lithium batteries have a harder time in cold weather. The newer lithium cells are beter then they user to but youll still notice the difference 🙂
Trying to charge em in sub zero temperaturen ! Thats what kills batteries !!!
I keep mine in the heat for charging and storage but I’ve taken them out to build a shed and a fence when it was around 20 outside and they did just fine all day long.
Lithium cells deteriorate faster in the heat and for longer life being kept cool is recommended
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Craigh9916 wrote:
Lithium cells deteriorate faster in the heat and for longer life being kept cool is recommended
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By “in the heat,” I meant the heated part of the house as opposed to in the garage or in the back of the jeep, both of which routinely get below freezing in the winter. I’ve heard that freezing isn’t really a good condition for battery storage, but of course that’s just anecdotal.
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The new m18 5.0s supposedly can operate down to 0°F… That’s one of the upgrades on the newest batteries along with being water resistant. Supposably….
As long as they are kept and charged in normal temperaturen. Sure.
If you keep em in your car overnight when it is freezing. Good luck 🙂
Best kept partly charged not empty or completely full.
Yes that’s trueredmed wrote:
Best kept partly charged not empty or completely full.
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All types of batteries have a constant decrease in capacity with temperature. It won’t last as long at 60 degrees as it will at 70, but you wouldn’t notice. At 0 it will be much less, but not as much with LiIon as with alkaline or NiMH. Milwaukee is probably using the same cells as everyone else, so expect cold performance to be on par with commercially available 18650 LiIon cells. They’re usually made by Panasonic, Samsung, LG, Sanyo, Sony, etc.
Used them Last winter in very cold temps. They work, just charging them takes sooo long.
actually they are better than some others My m18’s charge when its bitter cold but many of my coworkers dewalt xr’s will not charge in the cold
Charging a battery in cold weather that’s warmed up from use will go much faster than charging a cold, dead battery. If it’s really cold out, start your day by putting your batteries in the heated part of your vehicle to warm up before you start.
@glass
Depends on what you think is ‘better’. Charging any lithium batteries in sub zero temperatures will limit their lifespan.
Lithium ion cells should never be charged when it is freezing.
Lithium-ion cells will:
1. Always deteriorate, but the rate is highly dependant on the charge and the temperature of it. Around 50 % charge is the best, and room temperarature, and then you would need to charge them once in a while, since the charge will drop a little bit in storage. But of course, this is not very practical. But then again, life span is very high like this. So not any problem at all to lower it a bit. By for example always charge the batteries 100 %.
2. If you use the batteries in the cold, or overheat them very often, you would drain the life quicker (in an exponential maner). But even so, the automatics in the batteries usually protect themselves to do any very high damages to them.
3. Would hold a lesser charge at low temperatures, so your batteries will have a lesser working capacity at low temps. Especially sub-zero. So you could actually get more of the charge if you use some of the power to heat them up a little bit. Just like Tesla’s batteries in the Winter-pack.
I don’t know about milwaukee, but the Makita charger don’t want to charge the batteries at too low temps or high. Becouse it would drain the lifespan too much. And people would get angry.
Good thing is, cold batteries will heat up quickly at low temps. So you just have to work quick. 😉