Battery tool cross reference?!?

[Fuddy1952]

I have mostly DeWalt 20volt assorted tools I use mostly, but then a variety of Ryobi, Milwaukee, Black and Decker, etc. ones.
Is there a cross reference of what fits what?
What I've found is a 20V DeWalt battery won't physically fit a 20V Craftsman, although it's close. I'm sure it's done on purpose so you have to buy their battery.
I just now noticed WalMart has a 2 pack 20V, 5AH batteries for $75! A great deal.
I've repaired some battery packs by replacing the Li-Ion batteries using same voltage and amp hour rating.
A cross reference would be great, or adapter?

 

[Gunny]

I don't think there are any batteries that work on a competitors tool, but there are a few adapters for using different batteries on specific tools, selection is very limited.

What used to burn me was back when a company would make a tool, then later on, drop that tool and come out with a new one, same voltage, but the batteries wouldn't interchange. I've got two Black and Decker drills, both 12 volt, but the batteries are different. Years ago my wife bought me an 18V Skill, when the Li-Ion battery died, guess what, Skil had changed their 18Volt line. All three are sitting on a top shelf in my shop, just gathering dust.

I finally went with Ryobi and their 18Volt system. Same battery works across the whole platform, Li-Ion or lithium . My Li-Ions died several years ago, so as they aged out, I'd replace them with lithium. Right now I've got at least 22 tools that all use the same battery, a much more convenient system. I saw a commercial the other night where Ryobi claimed they had over 100 tools in the 18 Volt line up now.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I bought an 18 volt 1/2" cordless impact gun from Canadian tire. I figured it would be handy in my mobile mechanic work. It wasn't long and the battery's were toast. I took a battery apart and added 20' of extension cord to it with battery clamps. I now have an impact that works all of the time. It does quite well on 12 volts and I don't have a lot of money tied up into something that doesn't get used very often but it's there when I need it.

I have since invested in some of the Milwaukee M18 line of tools. I'm pretty happy so far.

 

[bunyip]

I have since invested in some of the Milwaukee M18 line of tools. I'm pretty happy so far.

I have some of those and love them, the old 18v drill I had struggled with a 1/4 inch auger, this one pushes a 3/4 through an 8 inch post and doesn't evev work up a sweat.
I have Nikon batteries for my cameras and a friend has canon, the batteries are identical in dimension and voltage but the terminals are on opposite sides.
I swear they come out of the same factory.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I bought an 18 volt 1/2" cordless impact gun from Canadian tire. I figured it would be handy in my mobile mechanic work. It wasn't long and the battery's were toast. I took a battery apart and added 20' of extension cord to it with battery clamps. I now have an impact that works all of the time. It does quite well on 12 volts and I don't have a lot of money tied up into something that doesn't get used very often but it's there when I need it.

I have since invested in some of the Milwaukee M18 line of tools. I'm pretty happy so far.

That is great thinking!

 

[4get gto]

Craftsman was notorious for updating their battery tools only to have old ones obsolete. I remember trying to buy a new battery and it was more than a whole new drill kit.