Best battery set for value and utility?

[aCircle]

I was trying to find a thread on this and couldn't -- let me know if I've missed it, please!

Just picked up a CTC-SYS. Seems like a somewhat controversial tool, but I'm stoked on it. Right now the only 18v tools I'm running are the driver and impact (from the HPC/TPC set) but my assumption is that in the years to come I'll be rotating some of my corded Festool out to cordless. That means that my two 4ah batteries need some friends.

My question is about the new tabless batteries versus some of the discounted prices. I could buy two more one-off 4ah batteries (link) for $86 a piece or, potentially, load up on 4x of the 5ah (link). Or just make do with two and let it be for now.

Then there are all sorts of options in between. I don't think the 8ah will ever make sense for me since I likely won't be using the cordless Kapex or table saw and the weight just wouldn't be worth it.

How are you all thinking about this? If you have a bunch of the 18v tools, are there certain battery sizes you reach for more than others?

 

[mino]

Presuming you are US-based..

Get a pair of the 5Ah ones and the SCA 16 /eventually you want a pair of those/.

Those 5Ah packs are the technological sweet spot today. They are priced to sell and are a great value for static tools use or where weight not a major concern generally. They use (more) reliable cells by the nature of not needing cutting edge cell tech, and are higher performance than the 4Ah ones you already have.

Then I would look for the TBX stuff ..

ADD:
Were you in Europe, I would strongly advise to get a couple of the 3.0 packs. Better even, the 3.1 Bluetooth-enabled packs if you can still find them and "relegate" your 4 Ah ones to the CSC.

Both cases as a hobby user you want the SCA 16 charger(s). Fast chargers allow you to get away with fewer packs in practice which makes all kinds of sense for a low-intensity user.

 

[aCircle]

Ah, that's helpful -- thanks! And yes I'm in the USA. Sounds like this energy set (577079) would be the move, if we think two of the 5ah would be right. Get two of the 5ah and the dual fast charger.

 

[mino]

Ah, that's helpful -- thanks! And yes I'm in the USA. Sounds like this energy set (577079) would be the move, if we think two of the 5ah would be right. Get two of the 5ah and the dual fast charger.

The TCL6 DUO or the TCL 6 are not fast chargers - not in this context. The SCA16 is.

You are better off just getting two of the 5.0 packs and /optionally/ one SCA 16 to go along. You lose the systainer but still save a few bucks.

It takes about half the time to charge the 5.0 packs on the Airstream SCA chargers as compared to the TCL 6. The difference is even bigger if you have high-drain tools that heat the packs like the AGC 18 or such. With TCL 6 the charger has to wait for the pack to cool, easily half an hour, with Airstream it can cool it down actively in minutes.

Long term, you want two SCA 16 fast chargers for the two-battery tools. The TCL 6 you presumably already have is still fine for the low-drain packs charging. Going with the DUO, ends up with you having three chargers, all "slow" meaning you get pretty much stuck with that. Having one TCL 6 and one SCA 16 is also fine. The only negative being you will want a second SCA 16 after that. Heh.


The TCL 6 (6A max charge rate) is a "fast" charger in the context of the long-discontinued "standard" TCL 3 (3A max rate) chargers ..

Writing more extensively as yours is not the only query in this direction lately ..

 

[Dr. P. Venkman]

One caution about the 5.0’s while you own only the drills and the CTC-SYS: at the current prices, they’re the best Ah for your buck, but they might not be the batteries you’ll prefer.

The 5.0’s are fine for your drill and driver (though I have always preferred the smaller and slightly lighter 4.0’s), but more importantly, 5.0’s don’t fit in your CTC-SYS.

Your workflow and how you typically use the vacuum will dictate whether running the vacuum with the two 4.0’s and dedicating the 5.0’s to the drill/driver for now makes sense.

 

[Cheese]

I believe the CTC-SYS will only accept 4.0 Ah batteries.

 

[mino]

I believe the CTC-SYS will only accept 4.0 Ah batteries.

Yeah, I misread the CTC as the CSC ...

That said IMO for the OP getting a couple of the 5.0 packs is the next /minimal/ step. With needing packs for the drills, OP is not going to have two sets of "free" 4.0 packs to play around anyway.

Later on, as TBX packs come, get a pair of them for vac use. That will leave the OP with a good diverse set of packs for various uses.

Getting more 4.0 HP packs now that TBX4 is around the corner seems .. unwise .. while the 5.0 packs will still have their place even after the TBX4 comes out.

 

[Cheese]

Like Mino mentioned...I think the new tabless TBX 4 will ultimately be the best solution for the CTC-SYS. When being discharged, they produce little heat so they don't "need" the Air Stream chargers to cool them down and they can be re-charged immediately. However, they do benefit from the amperage available from both Air Stream chargers, 8 amps & 16 amps respectively while TCL chargers only offer 6 amps max.
I'd like to see Festool offer a TCL 8 Duo or TCL 9 Duo to go along with the new tabless batteries. That would charge the tabless batteries quicker than the TCL 6 Duo and still be useable on a 20 amp circuit.

 

[aCircle]

Thanks all! And yes, I'm aware that the CTC-SYS only accepts the 4ah. Right now, that would mean that my two 4ah batteries would basically live in the CTC-SYS and the two additional 5ah would be for the drill/driver and other tools.

My thinking is that more tools would likely come with the Tabless 4ah batteries that would better serve the CTC-SYS in the long run.

Super helpful advice on the charger. Although, in this context given I'm buying them one-off, why wouldn't I just buy the 4ah? @mino you mentioned that the 5ah is different tech than the current 4ah, right?

 

[luvmytoolz]

I'm not really at all familiar with the details on the CTC SYS, what is the factor limiting the unit to 4ah batteries?

I'm assuming a physical fitment issue?

 

[Cheese]

I'm not really at all familiar with the details on the CTC SYS, what is the factor limiting the unit to 4ah batteries?

I'm assuming a physical fitment issue?

Ya, even the 5 A batteries don't fit let alone the 8 amp items.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Ya, even the 5 A batteries don't fit let alone the 8 amp items.

Thank god they fixed that design with the SYS 50 then!