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Thread ID: 141646	2016-01-27 22:59:00	Balance Chargers...Or Universal	kahawai chaser (3545)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1415149	2016-01-29 03:32:00	+1 except not the warehouse, buy a decent brand and it'll last for years. My old 7.2v makita drill and battery outlasted half a dozen replacements that were cheaper, still works now even though I rarely use it any more. Somewhere I still have a ryobi I was given for my 21st and never threw away but a new battery is worth more than a new drill is. Cheap is cheap, no matter what the brand. In fact a cheap warehouse job may be better than a cheapo known brand. My el-cheapo chineese generics are outlasting my more expensive known brand power tools. In fact, my warehouse drill press is EXACTLY the same as the known brand that cost 2x the price. Same product, different brand label Theres alot of snobbery against warehouse etc power tools. $40, who cares inf you dont get 10years out of it. They work just as well as brands costing 3x the price. I'll NEVER buy another expensive power tool. Whats the point unless youre using it every day. Most get used once every few months, if that, for the av punter If it costs $40 & fails after 5 years, thats no biggie as far as I see.	1101 (13337)
1415150	2016-01-29 07:37:00	RC cars & planes use lipo, the dangerous batt :) Most serious RC guys have good balance chargers, & store lipos in steel toolcases, charge the lipos in fire retardant lipo bags . Most lipos (99 . 9%) dont catch fire, but you only need one, and the only way to put it out is to smother it (sand) . The toy grade stuff , toy helis & planes have toy grade chargers . Thats an accident waiting to happen , a mate tried one of the toy grade chargers , he said it put the batt way over safe voltage . A couple of NZ RC guys have had nasty suspicious fires, burnt down a garage & a business, but they never say its the lipo . Perhaps thats for insurance purposes . :) In Aus, a small suitcase full RC gear & lipos caught fire , luckily while the plane was on the ground . :eek: Imagine if that happened while airborne . abc . net . au/news/2014-09-08/undeclared-batteries-sparked-plane-fire-at-melbourne-airport3a/5728574" target="_blank">www . abc . net . au OK . . . Thanks for the info, particularly about the fires . Think I'll abandon resurrecting my cordless drills with RC's and their chargers because of the risk . But . . . they still look good, including their cases . All solid as, but the batteries are the pivoting factor for them . Once they die, then simple approach it seems is to replace, perhaps with higher power/voltage stuff, Chinese cheapo's, or aftermarket equivalent accessories or whatever . As for Chinese cheapo's, I bought a "No . 8" 100 mm grinder recently, it was lighter than a toilet roll, had a hollow grip handle, brittle looking metal body, but handled grinding OK on mower blades .	kahawai chaser (3545)
1415151	2016-01-29 10:43:00	Cheap is cheap, no matter what the brand. In fact a cheap warehouse job may be better than a cheapo known brand. M I said nothing about cheap, I believe I said decent. For occasional use as you say it doesn't really matter, but if you use it a bit it's worth getting a good one. I have no problem with the warehouse and their products, it's improved greatly and they sell some very good stuff. They don't however have any particularly good cordless tools last time I looked. Even if you do buy a warehouse one, avoid NiCad drills with 3 or 5 hour chargers. They are basically useless, well they do work ok when charged but the battery goes flat over a few weeks so next time you want it you'll have to wait 3-5 hours. I think even cheapos often have 1 hour chargers now though. Also they don't work just as well as better tools, if they did tradesmen everywhere would have them. I do agree for occasional use though, I have a 13mm hammer drill I got from bunnings for $25 just to drill one hole in some concrete and have only used 3 times since. It's already paid for itself as far as I'm concerned and worked a hell of a lot better than my regular power drill does in concrete.	dugimodo (138)
1415152	2016-01-29 19:44:00	I recall a fire happened here in NZ due to a rechargeable. But what do hobbyists use? If anyone here operates model cars, boats, helicopter, planes, trains, drones, must be using some kind of universal or balance charger. Or are specific battery packs used? Voice of experience here :( 1987 $24,000 to rebuild my garage, repair the house and replace camping gear, freezer, tools, wood shed, Large Para pool etc etc. 2 full gas bottles mower petrol and polystyrene chilli bins fuelled the fire. Fire guys said it was started by No. 1 son charging his Tamiya car batteries in the garage while we were out. Have never left batteries on charge overnight or when we are out since that day :( Ken	kenj (9738)
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