Founded in 1915, Makita Corporation first started out as an electric motor company. The company was selling and repairing electric motors back then and it took them nearly 60 years to become an electric power tool manufacturer. The Japanese manufacturer then started to spread its range of products across the world.
Since the 70s Makita has been exporting their power tools and they haven't stopped their expansion ever since. This also increased the need to innovate which is where Makita excels even today. But all these power tools that Makita has created have to be powered by something and batteries are usually the first and most convenient choice.
Types of Battery Packs
Li-Ion
If you want a battery pack that Makita is most proud of, it's the one that relies on the latest technological advancement in battery technology, lithium ions. A lithium-ion Makita battery is the most convenient as it has a big capacity whilst being a lot smaller than its older counterparts.
Because of their battery technology Li-ion Makita batteries can be made in all kinds of shapes which can make for better tool balance, giving manufacturers more versatility. Li-ion batteries also do not require any maintenance and have no memory effect whatsoever. Li-ion batteries are lightweight too and have a high energy density without being as sensitive to heat as NiMH batteries.
NiMH
Talking about NiMH batteries, they are known for being a cost-effective alternative to Li-ion batteries. NiMH or nickel-metal hydride batteries are light too and have a high energy density. Although they are not as light as Li-ion batteries they are definitely lighter than NiCd batteries. NiMH batteries are also able to run longer from one charge than NiCd batteries.
A NiMH battery like a NiCd battery is prone to memory effect but this can be avoided with NiMH batteries. This is done by discharging the batteries deeply once every three months. NiMH batteries are also very sensitive to temperature and thus they must be operating in a certain temperature range in order for them to perform well.
NiCd
Makita batteries or battery packs have been around for a long time now with the oldest battery technology they've had being NiCd. A nickel-cadmium Makita battery lasts a long time, usually around 1,000 charges. These batteries also have a high current glow and are very cost-effective. NiCd Makita batteries are robust too but because of that they are quite heavy and have a low capacity.
But there is a different reason why they are not as common nowadays and that is because cadmium has been found to be toxic. Although NiCd batteries have a fast optimal charge time they do require the most amount of maintenance. This is usually in the form of deep discharging which should happen once a month in order for the battery pack to reach the end of its long lifespan.
Battery Basics
Ampere-Hour
Looking at different types of batteries isn't going to help you buy Makita batteries suitable for your cordless power tool. You should also pay attention to their properties. An important factor here is the ampere-hour rating which refers to the capacity of the battery. The higher this number is the bigger the capacity of the battery and the longer you can use it on a full charge.
Voltage
The voltage of a battery, expressed in V (volts) refers to the strength of the battery. The higher the voltage of a battery pack the more power it is able to deliver to the tool. Meaning you can get quicker fastening, drilling, and cutting times if you buy Makita batteries with a higher voltage. But a higher voltage battery won't work in every power tool as the tools need to be able to handle the voltage at which the battery is supplying the charge.
Cycle Life
Batteries with a high voltage rating usually deteriorate faster since a lot of power is sent through. This is where you should keep the cycle life of the battery. The faster it gets through one full charge the sooner you'll need to get a new one. Make sure the capacity of the battery and its voltage coincide. Meaning they work together to make for the longest run time possible in regards to the capacity of the battery.
Self-Discharge
The self-discharge rate of batteries refers to the amount of charge it loses when it's not being used. The higher the self-discharge rate the quicker the battery will run out of charge. Li-ion batteries are the best when it comes to their self-discharge rate since it is very slow and sometimes not present at all.
Memory Effect
What Li-ion batteries are immune to is memory effect. This is a process where a battery is constantly being partially drained and charged which results in the battery “remembering” the charge it had before it had been drained. This makes the battery use the short charge period as its new capacity instead of its newly charged state.