I have an 18 volt drill and don’t have an extra battery except for a 19.2 volt battery. For extra runtime, I am wondering can I use a 19.2 volt battery in an 18 volt drill. Thus, I experimented on it and discovered some handy results.
The limit of run time is a common problem of using a cordless drill. Therefore, many DIYers use different voltage batteries in an emergency without compromise the further impact. So if you are planning to use this combination of a 19.2 volt battery and an 18 volt drill, read this guide before proceeding.
This article will inform you about the crucial consideration factors as well as the potential results of applying this combo, so you can decide safely.
Check before using a 19.2 volt Battery in an 18 volt Drill
As long as the 19.2 volt battery fits in the battery case of your 18 volt cordless drill, you can use this combination to run the power drill. But you shouldn’t use this combo for a long time and on a large project as it will hurt the motor and could damage the power drill as well. Let’s discuss it briefly!
Compatibility
The main thing to look for is whether the 19.2 volt battery will fit on your power drill and charger. If the battery doesn’t properly fit into the battery case of the power drill, you are no longer able to use the drill. Likewise, the battery must fit with the charger so the battery can get charged to offer the required energy to the cordless drill.
When it comes to compatibility, most batteries are compatible with the same manufacturer and are hardly compatible with a different brand. For example, if you try to use a Dewalt 19.2 volt battery in a Ryobi 18 volt drill, you won’t be successful.
The type of battery
The second vital consideration is the type of battery, whether it is lithium-ion or NiCad. In general, the power drill and battery support a certain type of battery for what they are designed for. For example, if your cordless drill and charger are designed to work with NiCad batteries, you will feel disappointed if you try to run the tool with a 19.2 volt lithium-ion battery. This combination of a power drill and a battery will cause some issues.
The most potential risk is that the cordless drill won’t offer the desired run time and it can damage the motor of the drill as well. For the charger, both the lithium-ion and NiCad batteries get charged differently. So, if you use the wrong charger for the battery, it will quickly overheat the battery. Even this incorrect attempt can completely damage the battery.
Potential risks of using a 19.2 volt battery in an 18 volt drill
Effect on the 18-volt drill: What would happen to the 18 volt drill if you used a 19.2 volt battery on it? Since the difference in voltage between the cordless drill and the charger is negligible, it won’t cause any serious issues. In particular, you can use this combo of 19.2 volt battery and 18 volt drill safely for a short time.
Usually, cordless drills run on a DC motor. So, using a little higher voltage battery on the power drill will increase the speed of the spin of the motor. If you apply this combination to a large project, it could possibly overheat the electrical components.
But if you mostly need to handle light tasks in the home, running an 18 volt cordless drill with a 19.2 volt battery won’t cause any instant problems for the power or hammer drill. Some expert enthusiasts believe that using a higher voltage battery for a long time can cause extra wear on the motor of the drill. Therefore, it can shorten the overall longevity of the cordless drill.
Risk on charging: Charging a higher voltage battery using a charger that is designed for an 18 volt battery will reduce the overall life of the battery. Apart from these, if you charge a 19.2 volt battery with an 18 volt battery charger, it won’t be able to fully charge the 19.2 volt battery.
Repeating the task regularly will result in the untimely failure of the battery. Another potential issue is that it may cause the charging curve. Both the lithium-ion and NiCad batteries require certain charging patterns.
Otherwise, they will get overheated and may end up with a lower life span. Usually, a charger is designed with a special chip that checks the compatibility of battery. If the battery and charger match, the charger then transfers the charge rate to the right profile appropriately. Therefore, using a mismatched charger and battery can’t offer improved results.
So, Should I use a 19.2 volt Battery in an 18 volt Drill?
Highlighting the considerations and potential risks, using a 19.2 volt battery in an 18-volt drill won’t hurt you especially for a shorter time and in-home use. For a shorter time, this slight voltage difference won’t cause serious damage to the drill.
However, for safety reasons and to ensure the longevity of your cordless drill, it’s best to keep a set of 18-volt batteries in the toolbox. This preparation will not only ensure longer run time over the large project but also help maintain the cordless drill’s longevity.
FAQs on Can I use a 19.2 volt Battery in an 18 volt Drill
Is it ok to use a higher voltage battery in the drill?
It is safe to use a lower voltage battery on the cordless drill if the battery properly fits into the power drill. But you shouldn’t use a higher voltage battery on a drill because it puts high pressure on the motor. Due to getting the higher voltage energy, the motor can get extra wear and start spinning at a higher speed, which can damage the motor of the drill.
Can I use a battery from a different manufacturer in the cordless drill?
In general, cordless drills don’t accept batteries from different brands, as the batteries in cordless drills aren’t interchangeable. For example, you can’t use a Dewalt cordless drill’s battery in a Bosch cordless drill. But you can run different power tools from the same brands using their manufacturer’s battery. For instance, you can run the Dewalt reciprocating saw and circular saw using the same battery manufactured by Dewalt.
Is a 20v battery compatible with a 12v cordless drill?
No, due to the large voltage difference, using a 20v battery on a 12v drill can burn its motor. But you can use 20 volt batteries on other 20 volt tools and chargers without facing difficulties.
Final words
Hopefully, you have learned whether you can use a 19.2 volt battery in an 18.0 volt drill or not. Since you know the consideration factors and potential risk of using a combination of a 19.2 bolt battery and an 18 volt drill, you can confidently take further steps.
But if you are still going to apply this combo, we recommend that you don’t continue for long. It’s better if you keep extra batteries in the DIY toolbox as these aren’t expensive attachments and are worth buying considering the cordless drill’s longevity.
