I'm curious about the best way to store cordless tools. Should I always remove the battery pack, or is it okay to leave it on for a day, week, or even a month? I came across a story where a tool caught fire due to a bad battery, which makes me wonder if that's a real issue. I'm mostly talking about tools like drills, saws, and sanders.
3 Answers
I honestly don’t stress about taking the batteries off my tools. I just use them until they die, recharge, and then they either go back to the charger or my toolbox. Sometimes they stay in the tool, especially for something like a tower light that I don’t use as frequently.
It's generally recommended to take the battery out of your tools when you're done using them, even if it's just for a day. While leaving the battery in for a short period won't cause major issues, it's better for battery longevity to remove it. The chances of a battery going into thermal runaway just from sitting in a tool are low, but if they do catch fire, it’s often due to excessive use or overheating. So, storing batteries at room temperature is a good idea—definitely not in a hot car!
I usually keep a smaller battery on my impact driver since I use it all the time, but for other tools, I store them in their cases with the batteries attached. It really depends on how often you use each tool. For tools that sit for a while, I think it's best to keep them in one spot and grab a battery when you need it.