Sparks Electrical News March 2017

TOOLS OF THE TRADE

17

C ordless is ‘the new big thing’ in power tools and two tools from Black+Decker that have this capabil- ity, on top of being versatile, are the Multievo and the power screw driver. The Black+Decker Multievo is an ideal multi-tool, offering the patented ability to convert into different power tools when combined with different accessories. The Black+Decker 18V Li-Ion Multievo comes with a starter kit which includes a drill driver head and two 1.5 Ah batteries in a kit box. It also has 10 torque settings and the ability to convert into different power tools simply by changing the head. The battery holds a charge for 90 days when idle, so there is no need to recharge between each use and it comes with an easy to change spare battery. Additional heads can be purchased and include the Multievo Multi-tool: Jigsaw head; scissor attachment, impact driver; hammer drill attachment; trim saw attachment; router attachment; inflator attachment; reciprocating saw attachment; sander attachment; and oscillating attachment. The compact Black+Decker 3.6 V Li-ion screwdriver has a right angle attachment that allows for eight CORDLESS: THE NEW ‘BIG THING’ IN POWER TOOLS

pivoting positions to access all areas. It has an LED work light for visibility in dark areas, hidden corners, edges and inside furniture. The 1.5 Ah battery, once charged, holds its charge for up to 18 months when idle.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 472 0454

POWER TOOLS WITH LITHIUM-ION BATTERIES RS COMPONENTS (RS), trading brand of Electrocomponents plc (LSE:ECM), has announced the availability – from leading manufacturers such as Bosch, DeWALT and Makita – of a wide range of power tools that use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. The power tools are ideal as a replacement for those that currently run on nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries, which have been widely used in power tools for many years. Previously, the ad- vantage of this type of cell was that NiCd batter- ies would maintain a steady output voltage until they were almost completely depleted, whereas the voltage offered by alkaline or lead-acid types, for example, would drop with depletion of the battery. However, the cadmium used in this type of cell is carcinogenic and highly toxic and thus impacts on the environment when disposed in landfill. The EU Batteries Directive 2013/56/EU previously included an exemption for NiCd bat- teries used in power tools but this was removed as of 31 December 2016 and new NiCd power tool batteries can no longer be made available to the market. Li-ion battery powered tools are not interchangeable with NiCd types so upgrades in power toolswill be required. Key advantages of Li- ion batteries include: no memory effect; virtually no self-discharge; and the ability to be recharged at any time, regardless of the current state of charge. They are also smaller in size and lower in weight than their equivalent NiCd versions. These advantages mean that manufacturers can create higher voltage and higher capacity batteries and therefore a longer run time without increasing the weight or size for the equivalent NiCd version. The new range of power tools from RS Components contributes to the range of RS solutions supporting plant maintenance programmes.

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 691 9300

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

MARCH 2017