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I generally keep the batteries in the cab, if they are below 2 bars they go on charge - purley so that we don't end up on a job with all 4 batteries about to die
I have a variety of Makita cordless tools including a chainsaw, hedge cutter and strimmer which I always remove the batteries from.
However I do tend to throw a drill in the back of the van without removing the battery or locking the switch, which is a bad habit as numerous times it has moved or something has moved against it resulting in it starting up. A couple of times it has drilled holes in a box and a bag, at best you end up with a flat battery.
Some years ago I was installing a kitchen some distance from home, the gas fitter arrived looking flustered. I enquired if he was okay and he told me he finished the job he was doing beforehand and threw a bucket of tools into the back of his van. Whilst driving down the motorway he heard a block and a whoosh followed by a smell of burning cardboard. Things had moved about in the back of his van and something had fell on the ignition of his blow lamp which then set fire to a box, all whilst he was doing seventy in the outside lane of a motorway, be had to cut across two lanes of traffic to get onto the hard shoulder then get the burning box out of the back of his van before it all went up in flames.
Hence he was rather flustered and always removed the gas bottle from his blow lamp when he finished using it after that incident.
Andy
cor blimey! i only have the one battery machine and its securely fastened to the inside of the van so shouldnt have any major mishaps,just wanted confirmation that leaving the battery in wouldnt cause damage to the machine,thanks for your reply.
Always leave the battery in and never had a problem..... only remove it when I'm switching it to the spare charged one. I suspect this instruction is just to cover Stihl in case there's some sort of malfunction/accident with the tool whilst it's sitting doing nothing and something nasty happens..... exactly what, I can't imagine, but firms are very wary these days of getting sued
yes Graham that was also my thoughts,just had a panic moment when i read the manual,thanks for your reply.
The bigger question is where do you leave your hedgecutter with the battery installed ?
its locked away in my garage at night.
I was referring to more the operating temperature range of lithium batteries.
Recent temps of 35c would have seen inside van temps of 60-70c, outside the safe operating range which at least will decrease operating time and potentially damage batteries ion discharge.
The reverse will true in freezing temps but you’re unlikely to be using them in that case ?
thanks for that info Gary,will bear that in mind
Have to say, I've not given it any thought. I remove the battery after use and place it in a crate, the trimmer goes on the top shelf at the bulkhead end of the van. Both are secure although the trimmer sometimes rolls to its side. It isnt any trouble and should anything get stolen while parked, there is more chance of at least keeping the batteries.