STIHL batteries has put together an expert guide to understanding and looking after a battery.
The charge of battery-powered tools shows no signs of receding any time soon. Both professional users and homeowners are coming around to the benefits of battery: less noise, lower vibrations and no emissions.
If you’ve taken the plunge and invested in a STIHL battery power tool, there are plenty of ways you can make the most of it. Read on to see ten top battery hints and tips…
1. Clean power tools will use less battery power
Tools kept clean work with less friction, which means less power is needed to run the tool and the battery will run for longer. Make sure all parts of the machine (such as the saw chain or brushcutter cutting tools) are free from dirt and well lubricated.
2. Don’t use damp or wet battery
Trying to use a wet battery in your batterypowered tool is a bad idea. But if it does get wet or dirty, simply switch off the machine, remove the battery, wipe it down with a cloth, then put the battery somewhere under cover and let it dry. If the openings in the battery or the charger are dirty, clean them gently with a soft brush.
Make sure that the battery’s contact points don’t come into contact with anything metal, either. This can cause damage.
3. Charge the battery correctly
The optimum temperature for a battery during charging is between 0°C and 40°C. Batteries may not charge if they are colder or hotter than this. STIHL chargers have an integrated cooling function which actively cools the batteries while charging.
4. Get to know the LEDs on your battery
Most people know LEDs on the battery can be used to show how much charge remains. But they can also indicate faults. If the LEDs are red instead of green, any of the following could be causing a problem:
• One red LED means the battery is too hot or too cold. If the battery is too cold, slowly warm it up (e.g.: by leaving it inside for a while), but don’t put it on a heater or radiator as it’s likely to get too hot too quickly. If the battery is too warm, it might be obvious, but it needs to be allowed to cool down. Those using an AL 300 or AL 500 charger can put a warm battery on charge as these chargers actively cool the batteries while connected
• Three red LEDs continuously lit up means that the machine itself (rather than the battery) is too warm – again, just allow it to cool down before using it again
• Three red flashing LEDs means there is a fault in the tool, and it should be taken to an approved STIHL dealer where it will be assessed it
• Four red flashing LEDs means there’s a fault in the battery. Again, take it to an approved STIHL dealer fault diagnosis.
5. Get to know the LED on your charger
Charging begins automatically when the battery is placed into the charger. All STIHL chargers have an LED display and again, this can be used to show up faults with the charger:
• If the LED on the charger shows as green then changes to red, the charger is carrying out a self-check after being plugged in
• If the LED on the charger is green the battery is charging as normal
• If the LED flashes red, there is something wrong with the charger. Take it to an approved STIHL dealer and it will be assessed it for you
• If the LED does not light up at all, the battery may already be fully charged as the charger automatically switches off in this case. If the battery isn’t fully charged and the charger is properly plugged in, take it to an approved STIHL dealer who can investigate further.
6. Charging little and often
Charging often, but for short periods of time, to continuously top up the battery is absolutely fine and will have no effect on the battery’s performance. The battery can also be removed from the charger at any time without any problems, so batteries can easily be charged while work stops for a cuppa.
7. Lithium-ion batteries and deep discharge
Deep discharge causes damage to batteries and reduces its long-term capacity, so you get less charging cycles. STIHL’s intelligent battery system monitors the voltage in the individual Lithium-Ion battery cells so it is impossible to exhaust or over charge the battery and damage it in this way.
8. Speedy charging times won’t affect lifespan
STIHL offers quick chargers for those who don’t have the time to wait.
Some people think charging a battery quickly will reduce the overall lifespan of the battery, but this isn’t the case with STIHL power-tool batteries. STIHL chargers actively protect the battery during charging, thanks to the in-built cooling function, so batteries can be charged hundreds of times over without a noticeable loss of capacity.
9. Storing
STIHL doesn’t recommend storing powertool batteries. Take it out and store it separately in a clean, dry place out of direct sunlight and ideally in some packaging, such as cardboard, to protect it. It can be stored at a temperature between -10°C and 50°C. If the battery isn’t going to be using it again for a while, STIHL suggests leaving it with a charge level of between 40% and 60% (or two green LEDs). Please also make sure it is kept out of reach of children.
10: Choosing the right battery for your power tool
STIHL always recommends a specific battery for all its battery power tools, and it might not be the one with the biggest capacity. That’s because STIHL takes into account weight and balance as well – for example, when using a hedge trimmer, a lighter battery will make the tool easier to use.
Think about how a power tool, battery and charger will be used. Will there be time to charge the battery so there’s a long enough run time for the planned job? Would a biggercapacity battery or a quick charger be more appropriate? Or maybe even a back-up battery?
Your STIHL Dealer is best placed to answer these questions and will be happy to help you choose the right tool and battery for the job.
To see more STIHL battery-powered product, go to stihl.com.au/en.