VPX CAN THEY BE (FAST CHARGED)

[big beam]

I just got some of the B&D newish batteries and the charger takes 6 hrs to charge 1 battery.I think silver fox said it uses two 1.1 ah batteries with the same chemistry as A123 cells.Number one is my info right if so how fast can you charge these safely?
BTW I bought the vacuum and it uses 2 batts an is the quietest dustbuster type vacuum I ever owned.Lots of power but it only runs 6 mins on a full charge.

 

[LuxLuthor]

Yes they can be fast charged. Here is more than you will ever need to know about these cells.

 

[big beam]

Thanks LUX
I used to race RC cars.Back then the state of the art was panasonic1900 SCE.We've come a long way baby!
DON

 

[Glasstream15]

I have 3 VPX tools, the 14V drill, 7V screwdriver and 7V light. 1 2 cell charger and 1 1 cell charger and they charge in just a couple of hours.

BTW, I like the drill and driver. The light is somewhat weak but has many hours runtime. Mostly I use the Ryobi One+ system for power tools. Great stuff for homeowners, but the little 14V VPX drill is smaller and lighter and easier to use. It does not have the power of the 18V Ryobis, but it's a great little tool.

I just wish the VPX batteries were available a bit cheaper.

 

[bob_ninja]

I have 3 VPX tools, the 14V drill, 7V screwdriver and 7V light. 1 2 cell charger and 1 1 cell charger and they charge in just a couple of hours.

BTW, I like the drill and driver. The light is somewhat weak but has many hours runtime. Mostly I use the Ryobi One+ system for power tools. Great stuff for homeowners, but the little 14V VPX drill is smaller and lighter and easier to use. It does not have the power of the 18V Ryobis, but it's a great little tool.

I just wish the VPX batteries were available a bit cheaper.

My charger is a single, also slower 5 hour type. Not sure which one is faster.
Actually I started using the smaller single batt driver and found even it is powerful enough on lower speed setting for most tasks. Not to mention many times lighter than my bigger 19.2V drill. I like it a lot.

Yeah, batteries are bit expensive at the moment. High demand. The RC people keep buying the new power tool packs for their cars/planes, so they alone have boosted the demand a lot.

I found a new Lithium power pack for my older 19.2V tool set. The new Lithium pack costs 3x more than the older NiCd!!!! Ouch.

 

[bob_ninja]

....
BTW I bought the vacuum and it uses 2 batts an is the quietest dustbuster type vacuum I ever owned.Lots of power but it only runs 6 mins on a full charge.

I got it as well and was impressed with it. I like the entire dirt bin design, how dirt drops down below the air flow. Just wish it would be easier to clean the filter.

As for run time, if you need 6min or more than it is probably better to use a regular vacuum, something bigger. The longest I use it for are stairs, 2-3 min. Then I just leave them in the charger and by the time I need it again they are recharged.

Also the empty batt LEDs are a nice touch.

 

[Glasstream15]

.

I found a new Lithium power pack for my older 19.2V tool set. The new Lithium pack costs 3x more than the older NiCd!!!! Ouch.

Ryobi has come out with Lithium batteries that fit all their older 18V One+ tools. The only problem is, you have to either buy new tools to get the batteries or buy a combination of 1 battery and a charger. So I bought the Lithium battery and charger and the battery is great. And it charges all the older NiCd batteries too. But now I just want a couple more Lithium batteries and they are not for sale, at least yet, separately.

Oh well

 

[bob_ninja]

How much was batt/charger combo? I am sure as supplies increase they will start offering batteries alone in the future.
For my 19.2 system the new battery is just too expensive. I'll wait as my NiCds are still going strong.

 

[Glasstream15]

How much was batt/charger combo? I am sure as supplies increase they will start offering batteries alone in the future.
For my 19.2 system the new battery is just too expensive. I'll wait as my NiCds are still going strong.

The battery and charger combo is $100. And you're pretty much limited to Home Despot for Ryobi tools, at least around here. And I still have a bunch of the NiCd 18V batteries, so not really in a hurry. And the NiCds for the Ryobi One+ are 2 for about $42, so they are a good deal.

As much as I like the Ryobi system, and I won't tell you how many tools I have that use that system, I do hope the VPX prices come down and they expand the system. I think the tools are pretty good, not as strong as the Ryobis, but well made and a lot lighter.

 

[bob_ninja]

Hmmm, those are better prices. Mine are from Sears, about $120 for new Lithium pack, or $70 for a pair of NiCd.

Yeah, VPX are smaller but still pack a decent punch. Yesterday after work I was cutting smaller tree stumps. They are a pain in the a... when a lawn mower blade hits them. Once I actually bent a blade. They are often hard wood, pain to cut close to the ground. Chainsaw ends up with all kinds of dirt, etc.

I did most of the work with a bigger 19.2V pack reciprocating saw. Of course after 2-3 stumps the pack was done. Smaller single battery VPX mini-saw also cut, albeit much slower. I have 2 batteries, so I would just switch them as each got tired.

Towards the end as VPX batteries were depleted and I forced them some they warmed up some. Not hot, but warm. Of course, they didn't last very long either. But then I have 2 of them. So between 2 saws and 3 batteries I got some work done.

Anyway for the time being most new Lithium packs are too expensive. I am actually thinking about getting more NiCds when they go on clearance, as the new batteries become prevelant.