16
BATTERY MAINTENANCE
For power, long operational life and light
weight your tool is powered by a Nickel-
cadmium battery pack.
Nickel-cadmium batteries are powerful,
rugged and will provide hundreds of
charge/discharge cycles if properly
maintained and periodically ‘exercised’.
Exercising is required to recover most of
the capacity lost during usage. This process
reduces the size of the active cadmium
hydroxide crystals on the anode, to expose
all surface area and restore capacity.
How to care for your Nickel-cadmium
battery
1. Never allow a battery to freeze.
2. Never charge a battery that has been
stored at or below 5° or above 40° C.
Allow it to sit at room temperature for
at least 30 minutes before charging.
3. Do not charge a battery if it feels
warm to the touch.
4. Never charge a battery after a short
use. Let it sit until it is needed again.
5. Never charge the battery until the tool
in which it is being used can not
produce useful work.
6. Do not leave a battery on the charger
after charging time has expired;
usually 3 to 5 hours. Your charger will
not damage the battery. However, the
heat it produces shortens the battery
operational life.
HOW TO EXERCISE A NICKEL-
CADMIUM BATTERY
1. Every two months or after 30
charge/discharge cycles, whichever
comes first, fully discharge your
battery. To fully discharge the battery,
place it in the tool that it came with
and work with the tool until it nearly
stops and no longer produces useful
action.
2. If the tool came in a kit with a
worklight, insert the battery into the
light. Turn the switch ON and leave it
ON until the filament is cherry red.
3. Let the battery rest for 30 minutes at
room temperature (approximately
21°
C) before charging.
4. Charge the fully discharged battery for
4 to 5 hours at room temperature.
MAINTENANCE
