How do Reciprocating Saw Batteries Differ From Typical Rechargeable Batteries?
There are many myths and misconceptions about reciprocating saw batteries among fire and rescue personnel. Our greatest fire service experience with NiCads is as a power source for our portable radios or pagers. As firefighters, our most fundamental belief about rechargeable NiCad batteries is that they develop a “memory.” Fire station discussions also include warnings of the “dangers” of recharging a partially used battery and war stories of how batteries left on chargers will get “lazy” and not hold their charge when really needed. All these statements and others you may have heard about rechargeable NiCad batteries DO NOT apply to batteries used in cordless reciprocating saws. Radio and pager NiCad batteries are not used in the same manner that we use 18-volt saw batteries. Similar to a marathon runner, portable radio or pager batteries discharge their energy slowly over a long period. The battery discharges a slow, steady current through out the 12 or 14 hours that the unit is turn
