So I bought my Milwaukee drill back when 18 volts was the "standard", now it seems 20 volts is the standard.

It appears that the new 20 volt batteries have the same layout. Can I use 20 V battery with no motor damage?

IDK if it would fit, but there's plenty of fanboy groups for (nearly every) major tool group

if it would fit, i would expect that there's either little risk and/or a voltage limiter on the battery -

if you tear down battery packs, you will find that they good ones use samsung or japanese cells, ganged together and using a voltage reg such that current draw doesn't impact voltage (much) -

hey, here's a fun thing ... ever seen inside a 9v battery? it's 6 1.5 v cells in a case!!

I know that I can buy a 20 volt adapter to run20 volts in an 18 volt drill. It is a factory made adapter.

Actually the motor is the same, 18 or 20 volt. It just a little advertising gimmick. They used to advertise the constant run voltage (18) but I think it was Dewalt that had to one up everybody by giving the starting voltage which is 20. It’s the same for all brands whether they say so or not.

quote:

Originally posted by Cougarz:
Actually the motor is the same, 18 or 20 volt. It just a little advertising gimmick. They used to advertise the constant run voltage (18) but I think it was Dewalt that had to one up everybody by giving the starting voltage which is 20. It’s the same for all brands whether they say so or not.

Exactly. Voltage (and the number of cells in the battery) is the same. It is just advertising gimmick.

Jiri

Thanx to one and all.

With the cost of replacement batteries and charger, a whole new drill kit is almost a gimme anyway

by the by, i tend to think of the brands as the battery cult - as long term, the battery is the consumable --

for the home gamer medium-light duty, ryobi's 10,871 tools that fit the same battery "forever" is marketing genius