People love cordless drills because you can use them in settings that don’t have conventional power sources. They rely on batteries. But you have to pair the correct battery with the right drill. The voltage matters.
Can I Use 20V Battery On 12V Drill?
You can’t use a 20V battery on a 12V drill because of the risk of burning out the motor because the battery’s output exceeds the capacity of the drill. Secondly, the 20V battery may not fit the 12V drill. You may also void your drill’s warranty by using a battery with the wrong voltage.
If you have ever owned a drill, you know that these tools have specific voltage ratings. Those ratings are not arbitrary. They reveal the power the drill can unleash against a given task.
Drills with a higher voltage have more torque.
Therefore, you can use them to perform more challenging tasks. Tools with a lower voltage are the opposite. They are smaller, lighter, and less powerful. Therefore, 12V drills and 20V drills are not the same.
They have different power requirements. Their batteries will reflect these differences. If you’re tempted to add a 20V battery to a 12V drill, this is what you should know:
1). 12V Drill Should Use 12V Battery
According to Dewalt, a manufacturer designs a power tool to work with a particular voltage.
A drill with higher electrical demands requires a battery with a higher voltage. A drill with lower electrical needs should use a battery with a lower voltage.
Therefore, if you have a 12V drill, the manufacturer expects you to use 12V batteries. The best way to extend the lifespan of your drill is to follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Use the drill the way the manufacturer intended.
2). Using Exceeding Volt Run The Risk of Burn out
I don’t suggest you add high voltage batteries to drills with lower ratings. You can use a low voltage battery in a drill with a high rating. But the reverse is unacceptable because it can damage the drill.
You ran the risk of burning out. The difference is too big. A person using a 24V battery on an 18V drill is safer because the difference in power is small.
You can also use 12V batteries on a 9V drill. But a 20V battery is more likely to damage a 12V drill.
3). Mistmach Volt Battery Won’t Fit In The Tool
Depending on the brand, the 20V battery may not fit the 12V drill. Some drills have slots and contacts that only fit batteries with a matching voltage. Therefore, you don’t even have the option of experimenting with a 20V battery.
The manufacturer won’t allow you to use anything other than a 12V battery. If this applies to your drill, listen to the manufacturer. Fight the urge to tinker with the drill. Ultimately, an experienced technician can force a drill of any voltage to use batteries with a higher voltage. But this practice is dangerous.
4). You May Void Your Warranty
You may void your drill’s warranty by using a battery with the wrong voltage. Check the manufacturer’s terms and conditions. Some companies will refuse to honor their warranties if the consumer uses a battery from a different brand. Keep that in mind before you experiment with the wrong batteries.
5). Sometimes 20V Battery Isn’t Available
Do you even have the option of using a 20V battery in a 12V drill? It depends on where you live. People living outside North America don’t have 20V batteries. The closest option is a 24V battery.
Therefore, if you live outside North America, you’re out of luck. Companies outside North America don’t offer that voltage.
How To Calculate If 20V Is Compatible With 12V?
You don’t have to perform any calculations to identify the correct battery for a 12V drill. Check the manual. The manufacturer will tell you the right type and brand of battery to use. They will also specify the correct voltage.
Your only task is to obey the instructions of the manufacturer. While it is true that a battery with a higher voltage allows drills to perform more challenging tasks, the difference in rating matters.
You can use a 20V battery in an 18V drill because 18V and 20V drills are, more or less, the same.
You cannot say the same thing about 12V and 20V drills. You are more likely to damage the 12V drill because it was not designed to contend with the output of a 20V battery.
If I Use It, How Long Does It Last?
The average drill has a warranty of three years, which gives you an idea of the expected lifespan. If you used the wrong battery, there’s no way to tell how long the drill will last.
It depends on the usage.
- Are you making holes in wood or drilling through concrete?
- Do you use the drill every day or once every few months?
- Is the drill old or new?
The drill could last days, weeks, months, or even hours, depending on its age, brand, and the amount of strain it encounters regularly.
Does Brands Like Dewalt, Black & Decker, Hercules Make A Difference?
The brand doesn’t matter. The primary concern is the voltage. Most manufacturers will tell you to match the voltage of the battery to the voltage of the drill. But the voltage is not your only concern. You have to keep the following in mind:
1). Application
Make sure the power tool meets your requirements. If you think you need a 20V battery because you want to perform heavy-duty tasks, buy a 20V drill. Don’t waste a 20V battery on a 12V drill.
12V drills are light-duty tools that perform light-duty jobs such as driving screws into hardwood. Any device above 14V performs heavy-duty jobs.
2). Weight
Consumers rarely consider the weight even though it affects the types of jobs you can do. Long tasks that involve drilling at odd angles require lighter tools. Heavy drills will strain your arm. However, higher voltage drills and batteries are heavy.
Even if you could use a 20V battery with a 12V drill, it would probably make the drill an inconvenience because of the weight.
3). Type
Tool cobber has described three different types of batteries. Nickel-cadmium batteries are cheap and durable. But they are heavy. They also contain a toxic heavy metal.
Nickel-metal hydride batteries are lighter than nickel-cadmium and more eco-friendly. However, their performance in cold weather is disappointing, and they cost more money than Nickel-cadmium.
Lithium-ion batteries are the lightest of the bunch. They promise longer runtimes, and they require very little maintenance. Unfortunately, they are more expensive than any other option, and their performance in hot temperatures leaves a lot to be desired.
If your drill comes with a manual, it will tell you the correct type of battery to use. Using the wrong type will destroy the battery, the drill, or both. Additionally, the manufacturer will most likely void your warranty because you disobeyed their instructions.
4). Money
For many people, the budget is the most important consideration. How much are you willing to spend? If you need a higher voltage drill and battery, you should know that higher voltage drills and batteries are more expensive than their lower voltage counterparts.