Lithium. Really?

[Fr J Hackett]

Battery tools have been a revelation to all that do anything past the odd job. I and many others do reasonable amounts of work far surpassing what might be done even by the cruising yachtsman, we have or are changing our corded tools for battery for the convenience and usability that they offer. Cost is obviously an issue but in the long run worth it.
There are undoubtably a few jobs and you have mentioned one ( sanding off the old antifoul) that would certainly benefit from the larger corded disc sanders but there is another and far better option that JM has given, get it done professionally by blasting with some of the different mediums.

 

[lustyd]

I suspect corded might have the edge there too since it'll be a long tedious nasty job. You'll be dragging a power cord but you wont be lifting a battery

Some cord and a milk bottle sorts that. Fill the milk bottle to match the weight of the sander and use it as a counterbalance. Your sander/polisher now weighs zero.

You’re welcome

 

[ducked]

Some cord and a milk bottle sorts that. Fill the milk bottle to match the weight of the sander and use it as a counterbalance. Your sander/polisher now weighs zero.

You’re welcome

So ANY sorted sander is a corded sander?

 

[zoidberg]

Some cord and a milk bottle sorts that. Fill the milk bottle to match the weight of the sander and use it as a counterbalance. Your sander/polisher now weighs zero.

You’re welcome

Thanks for that reminder. I have a lower-half hull 'light sanding' to do and, with a busted shoulder, have been procrastinating for weeks. It looks like your comment has just run me clean out of excuses...!

 

[ducked]

Didn't say it was.

OTOH my considerably older and much more heavily used cheapo corded drill, which, IIRC, has had one brush replacement, was stilll working when I was back in The Yook last year, though it did latterly get supplemented with a slightly better corded drill (Bosch), and I have a yet slightly better corded drill (Ryobi) in Taiwan that I might take to the UK.

Given that troika, I'm unlikely to be buying a battery drill if I can avoid it/unless I actually have a specific need for it.

Oh wait...The Ryobi is, of course. 120VAC, so probably isnt worth shipping.

I suppose thats an argument for battery, since you'd only have to change your charger (assuming they arent dual voltage) if moving to another supply regime.

 

[rotrax]

In 2003 a visiting American Speedway rider gifted me a DeWalt cordless power screwdriver. It was, of course 120v.

I bought a cheap 120v to 240v transformer, plugs directly into a 240 socket. The DeWalt charger was taped to this and is still working today, despite one battery dying. The other is fine.

22 years-not bad sevice. It did a great deal of professional work - at least 9 years - as it was my 'go to' tool when building spoked motorcycle wheels to run the nipples down somewhere near the starting point for trueing up..

 

[Sea Change]

In 2003 a visiting American Speedway rider gifted me a DeWalt cordless power screwdriver. It was, of course 120v.

I bought a cheap 120v to 240v transformer, plugs directly into a 240 socket. The DeWalt charger was taped to this and is still working today, despite one battery dying. The other is fine.

22 years-not bad sevice. It did a great deal of professional work - at least 9 years - as it was my 'go to' tool when building spoked motorcycle wheels to run the nipples down somewhere near the starting point for trueing up..

That's quite impressive for what is presumably a NiCd battery.

 

[rotrax]

That's quite impressive for what is presumably a NiCd battery.

Yes, exactly my thoughts too.

 

[zoidberg]

Really?

Access Restricted

I've removed bottled gas from my boat, and I've managed to live with the consequences.

I'm fairly careful around my 3 AGM batteries,

I do 'belt and braces' when clipping in.

Geez, it's boring when there's no sudden disaster about to overwhelm and snuff me out!

 

[Bouba]

Well…here’s one dog who might disagree about the safety of lithium
Assistant fire chief's dog escapes unharmed after chewing on lithium-ion battery, sparking house fire

 

[fredrussell]

Lithium? Pah! You lot need to move on:

BLUETTI Pioneer Na Portable Power Station (Sodium-ion) | 1,500W 900Wh

 

[zoidberg]

Are you aware, 'fredrussell', that there are some members on 'ere that still use paraffin lamps and pencils...?

 

[Wansworth]

Are you aware, 'fredrussell', that there are some members on 'ere that still use paraffin lamps and pencils...?

‘You’re lucky’!

 

[Sea Change]

Lithium? Pah! You lot need to move on:

BLUETTI Pioneer Na Portable Power Station (Sodium-ion) | 1,500W 900Wh

That's about £200 worth of battery in an £800 box... you'd better be sure you need the extra bits that it comes with!

 

[MikeBz]

I was about to ask when sodium batteries are likely to be available in a form factor suitable for a boat’s house bank, and then… https://www.bmstechnologies.co.uk/product/pgn-l5-sodium-ion-batteryl5-case-12v-100ah/

I wonder whether insurance companies have heard of it yet?

Safer than LifePO4, longer life, better at low temperatures (maybe not a big issue in a boat), and sodium is the 6th most abundant element on earth.

 

[ducked]

I was about to ask when sodium batteries are likely to be available in a form factor suitable for a boat’s house bank, and then… PGN L5 Sodium Ion Battery(L5 Case) 12V 100AH – BMS Technologies LTD

I wonder whether insurance companies have heard of it yet?

Safer than LifePO4, longer life, better at low temperatures (maybe not a big issue in a boat), and sodium is the 6th most abundant element on earth.

Safer than LiPO4? Heresy!
Until it isn't of course
Then it'll be all "Why on earth are you STILL using LiPO4?" and the Lead Lugging Luddites will be able to relax.

 

[geem]

I was about to ask when sodium batteries are likely to be available in a form factor suitable for a boat’s house bank, and then… PGN L5 Sodium Ion Battery(L5 Case) 12V 100AH – BMS Technologies LTD

I wonder whether insurance companies have heard of it yet?

Safer than LifePO4, longer life, better at low temperatures (maybe not a big issue in a boat), and sodium is the 6th most abundant element on earth.

Not great for retrofit to anything 12 or 24v. The voltage range is 15v to 8v to use the 100% capacity. How would you boat handle those voltages. If you narrow your operating voltages to replicate lead voltages, you lose capacity so need more batteries.
I am yet to be convinced they will replace lithium

 

[lustyd]

How would you boat handle those voltages

Running at 30V and stepping down to 12V would be no different to a 24V system which is increasingly common anyway. I doubt 15V will worry much stuff on a boat other than bulbs.

 

[geem]

Running at 30V and stepping down to 12V would be no different to a 24V system which is increasingly common anyway. I doubt 15V will worry much stuff on a boat other than bulbs.

What about low voltage? Lots of stuff will switch off like fridges and electronics. Motors will slow down and pull more amps.

 

[lustyd]

What about low voltage? Lots of stuff will switch off like fridges and electronics. Motors will slow down and pull more amps.

I was ignoring the low one, yes you’re right.