Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.
we are in a record cold weekend here in the northeast. sat the temp never got above 5 degrees, with 30 mph winds. i had to finish a set of stairs for a deck we were working on. i had my newly acquired m12 system that is still growing, and i had my dewalt 18 volt system. all tools were outside for about 5 hrs, laying on the ground, in the snow, only thing that was babied was me, i kept running in to warm my hands. only trouble i had was the m12 xc3.0 batteries i just bought at home depot, they worked fine in the drill, impact driver, on and off in the m12 cir saw, and not at all in the hacksaw. 4.0 batteries worked fine in everything. 2.0 batteries worked fine in all but hacksaw. all four dewalt 18v were fine. when i got home i brought all the tools in to fully charge all batteries, we were goint to have record cold temps sat night. when i woke up sun at 5.30 am it was -18.. i put all tools out on deck for 3 hours, completely exposed. i know bit extreme but i was curious. at 8.30 this morn i went outside to test. all dewalt tools fired up no problem. in the m12 system, two 4.0 worked in everything but hacksaw, one 3.0 worked in everything but hacksaw, one 3.0 only worked in drill, impact, and all three lights. the two 2.0 worked in everything but hacksaw. all tools are the fuel version. after just a few minutes of warming up, everything worked. the hacksaw seems to need more push than a cold battery can give it. all in all i was really impressed with the performance of both systems, more so with the little m12 system.
Interesting I’m always cautious about leaving batteries in the cold.
Jimbo
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Right now where I live it’s 2 degrees and my Dewalt battery work good in it even my ni cads work good I also have the Milwaukee heated jacket and the m12 battery always seems to work great
Thanks for doing this test and letting the crew know the results! I don’t think I have to worry about that though I don’t think we will ever be in the those temps out here in southern Cali though it’s supposed to be cold right now but the news is reporting high 80’s lower 90’s :/
Bigmikez wrote:
Thanks for doing this test and letting the crew know the results! I don’t think I have to worry about that though I don’t think we will ever be in the those temps out here in southern Cali though it’s supposed to be cold right now but the news is reporting high 80’s lower 90’s :/
oh my drink some water….lol
as far as tools in the cold, I have a rule if I don’t want to be out in the cold my tools don’t have to be either…….I know I know, some people have no choice…….but on the other hand everyone’s cold is different….where we live -15 is chilly other parts of the world -15 is dangerously cold….
none of my tools ever come in for the night, no matter how cold or hot it gets, i have 8 toughsystem boxes, 4 of which are loaded with dewalt battery tools, for me i have no choice, and now that i know that this m12 system is one tough beast, its going to have the fate as all of my dewalts. lol
Ive left my impact in my car trunk with the same battery all winter. Every time Ive pulled it out to use it, its worked flawlessly. Ive always been worried though
I’m sure their fine just me being cautious and babying my tools for storage
Jimbo
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the big thing i guess is not to try and charge them at extreme temperatures
The chargers won’t let you anywaysmohawkdec wrote:
the big thing i guess is not to try and charge them at extreme temperatures
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Most chargers have a temperature delay to prevent damaging the battery
Jimbo
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My m12 stuff was working in my unheated garage when I got up this morning. Not sure how cold it was in there but it was -52 deg Celsius with the wind chill out side and my hands were sure cold.
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wilkinsondom wrote:
My m12 stuff was working in my unheated garage when I got up this morning. Not sure how cold it was in there but it was -52 deg Celsius with the wind chill out side and my hands were sure cold.
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Damn dude you live on the North Pole!?
Jimbo
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Nope, just northern ontario.
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My tools always stay in shop all winter. Batteries come in with me.
Yep, went to charge one of my 20V battery’s that was out in the garage overnight and the charger was having none of it.