Buying Panasonic batteries for your cordless power tools takes some consideration if you are going to get the best value from your battery purchase. But what are the specific factors you should consider when buying your next battery?
The factors to consider are the:
- Panasonic Battery Model and Part Numbers
- Panasonic Battery Voltage
- Panasonic Battery Capacity
- Panasonic Battery Retailer
Panasonic Battery Part Number and Model
The number of Panasonic cordless power tools is extensive and being sure you get the right battery for your Panasonic is essential. Be sure when you are reviewing a particular battery you match the battery part number on your old battery to the battery you are considering to buy. Another aspect to buying your next Panasonic battery is to match the model of your cordless tool to the battery. An example of both of these would be at the Panasonic 12V Battery page.
On that page you will see both a compatible model list and a list of compatible part numbers. They both look like:
Compatible with and fits these models: Panasonic 12V
Compatible Part Numbers: EY9201BW
As you may discover, though, the compatible model list and a list of compatible part numbers are extensive they may not cover all of the available Panasonic 12V tools. If your part number or model is not on the list be sure to ask the retailer. Chances are it probably fits and the retailer can cross reference your model with Panasonic to confirm.
Panasonic Battery Voltage
When buying your Panasonic batteries it is essential to buy the right voltage. An incorrect battery voltage will damage your battery, charger, power tool or all three. The voltage will be listed on your battery. The various voltage examples are: 7.2V, 9.6V, 12V, 14.4V, 18V, 24V. To see examples of the various voltages go to this page Panasonic Power Tool Batteries and scroll down to see the various voltages. The voltage of the Panasonic battery is an electrical measurement of energy potential. Mathematically voltage is commonly measured by V= I x R; where V=Voltage, I=Current, R=Resistance. Voltage can also be defined as Electrical Potential difference – a quantity in physics related to the amount of energy that would be required to move an object from one place to another against various types of force. In the fields of electronics the electrical potential difference is the amount of work per charge needed to move electric charge from the second point to the first, or equivalently, the amount of work that unit charge flowing from the first point to the second can perform. A battery contains four unique types of voltage measurements (float, nominal, charge, and discharge). Each voltage measurement type residing in a battery effects battery life.
Panasonic Battery Capacity
The battery capacity of your Panasonic battery is also a very important factor. In a nutshell the higher the capacity the longer the battery will last in between charges. For big jobs this longer runtime is critical and worth the extra money it will cost. To see an example go back to the Panasonic 12V Battery page and you will see that this Panasonic 12V Battery has a capacity of 3300 mAh (this is the same as 3.3 Ah). This high capacity battery is 120% greater than the original 1500 mAh battery. Therefore expect longer runtime with this 3300 mAh Panasonic battery than the lower capacity version. Again the higher the capacity the greater the runtime (time between charges).
Panasonic Battery Retailer
Finally when choosing your Panasonic batteries, be sure to consider from whom you are buying. Factors to bear in mind when selecting the retailer is: price, ship costs, where they ship from, how long shipping takes, battery availability, customer service, return policy, warranty, and the testimonials about the retailer from previous customers. All these factors will help you come to a decision about where to buy your Panasonic batteries.