Source: MASONRY CONSTRUCTION MAGAZINE
Publication date: January 1, 2007
By MASONRY CONSTRUCTION Staff
There's nothing more frustrating than to be on a work platform, about to drill an anchor hole, and have the battery on the power tool conk out. Masons are becoming ever more reliant on these carry packs of power to perform work tasks quickly and safely. In a world where time is money, and productivity means profit, changing dead batteries is a cost to be avoided.
Engineers of power tool manufacturers have responded to the need for greater productivity by offering not only longer lasting batteries, but also new portable sources of increased power. For example, Rigid Tool's Xli 24V power platform uses a 3.0 AH high capacity lithium-ion battery that allows the mason to work at full productivity longer than previous models.
Engineers report that the lithium battery powered tools up to 160% longer than an 18V Ni-Cad battery, and put out 23% more torque. The new technology also makes the battery “fade-free,” which means the mason can count on the last task performed by the tool before the battery quits will have the same amount of power as when work started.
Another feature is an embedded computer chip that allows the user to check charge levels. The chip also provides a diagnostic tool to help monitor the battery's overall condition. When its time to recharge the system, the battery is only out of commission for about 30 minutes. In addition, partial charge...
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