Buying Ryobi 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:
- Ryobi Battery Model and Part Numbers
- Ryobi Battery Voltage
- Ryobi Battery Capacity
- Ryobi Battery Retailer
Ryobi Battery Part Number and Model
The number of Ryobi cordless power tools is extensive and being sure you get the right battery for your Ryobi 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 Ryobi battery is to match the model of your cordless tool to the battery. An example of both of these would be at the Ryobi 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: BID1211 CCD1201 CHD1201 CHD1202 CTH1201 CTH1202 CTH1202K2 FL1200 HP1201M HP1201MK2 HP1201KM2 R10510 RY1201 TDS4000 TF1100
Compatible Part Numbers: RYO-12, 1400652, 1400652B, 1400670
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 Ryobi 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 Ryobi to confirm.
Ryobi Battery Voltage
When buying your Ryobi 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 Ryobi Power Tool Batteries and scroll down to see the various voltages. The voltage of the Ryobi 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.
Ryobi Battery Capacity
The battery capacity of your Ryobi 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 Ryobi 12V Battery page and you will see that this Ryobi 12V Battery has a capacity of 3300 mAh (this is the same as 3.3 Ah). This high capacity battery is 154% greater than the original 1300 mAh battery. Therefore expect longer runtime with this 3300 mAh Ryobi battery than the lower capacity version. Again the higher the capacity the greater the runtime (time between charges).
Ryobi Battery Retailer
Finally when choosing your Ryobi 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 Ryobi batteries.