Festool Lithium Cordless on its way!!

[powertoolworld]

I spotted the new Festool T12 and T15 on Ebay.de this week but they have since been removed.

The general opinion is that they will be released in October in the UK.

The batteries are a similar design to the current models so that older batteries can be used on the new tools. I would not think that the new batteries would work on the older tools C12 etc.

I will post pictures later.

 

[Frans]

Old news, we've known this for a week ;D

See this thread.

 

[Greg in Memphis]

Hey Powertoolworld
The news of you posting pictures sure aint old to me.
I'd be very interested in a close up of the new batteries if possible. I am hoping that they fit my C12, and, hopefully take the same charger.

Greg

 

[ken257]

Hey Powertoolworld
The news of you posting pictures sure aint old to me.
I'd be very interested in a close up of the new batteries if possible. I am hoping that they fit my C12, and, hopefully take the same charger.

Greg

Unfortunately Lithium Ion batteries are a different technology and require a different charger. I would say that a new charger will be needed, not just the batteries. Although I see no reason why they would not work with the C12.

 

[Greg in Memphis]

Ya know
If the new Li-Ion batteries were interchangable with the C12, and with the T12 and the T15 were to use the same charger...
It seems like pretty good marketing. A lot of people with C12s may be taking a good look at the T15.

Ken, please don't tell me the T12 will have one charger and the T15 another type.

Greg

 

[Dan Clermont]

I am pretty happy with my C12 batteries and they last forever!! Not too sure why I'd need/want the Lithium Ion version.

I know many manufacturers out there sell Lithium Ion batteries for their drills and IMO they need the extra battery life cause the batteries in the drills are inferior (Panasonic makes an excellent drill as well). Not sure why people want to upgrade their C12's and am hoping someone can enlighten me as to why the Lion batteries are a big upgrade for a Festool drill

Thanks
Dan Clermont

 

[mantonuc]

There are several advantages to Li-Ion batteries.  The biggest probably being the energy density.  Simply put, one can get more run-time from a given size/weight battery.  Another advantage is that they do not suffer from nearly as much loss-of-charge while sitting on a shelf...  One other advantage is that they do not suffer from the "memory" affects that Nicad batteries were famous for...

Matt

 

[Dan Clermont]

There are several advantages to Li-Ion batteries.  The biggest probably being the energy density.  Simply put, one can get more run-time from a given size/weight battery.  Another advantage is that they do not suffer from nearly as much loss-of-charge while sitting on a shelf...  One other advantage is that they do not suffer from the "memory" affects that Nicad batteries were famous for...

Matt

Hi Matt

I agree with everything you say and the current Nicads are memory prone. However, the C12 is already the lightest drill on the market from what I know and Festool tests all batteries for performance before installing them in battery packs.

The Festool batteries also should not lose charge whilst sitting on a shelf. My old dewalt drill did that but my Festool C12 doesn't

Look forward to seeing the new drill and any other improvements Festool may have come up with

Dan Clermont

 

[mantonuc]

I know I mentioned this else where on the site but one thing that I would really like to see on the new drills is a little LED light on the end of the drill...  For some reason, when ever I am doing projects (unless in my shop), there is never enough light (probably just my age)...  That little bit of illumination always seems to come in very handy...

I am hoping Festool will have something new at the IWF next week, or at the very least some "show" specials...

Matt

 

[Frans]

I doubt the Li-Ion batteries can be used right away on the existing drills. The drills contain some electronics to prevent the battery from getting damaged under heavy use and such, which will probably be a bit different with Li-Ions. Also, the charger will probably need to be adapted.

I do think the older Ni-MH and NiCads will fit the new drills.

 

[bruegf]

one thing that I would really like to see on the new drills is a little LED light on the end of the drill

I'd also like to see them make a separate light like Craftsman and others provide w/ their drills.  I use the light for more often than the drill.

Fred

 

[MiterMaster]

Any idea when these will be released in USA?  Also, anyone have a vague idea on price?

Mike

 

[bronx]

Any idea when these will be released in USA?  Also, anyone have a vague idea on price?

Mike

Price is c12 ish (acording to danish prices)

I doubt the Li-Ion batteries can be used right away on the existing drills.

They van be used on the c12.

Yyes - there will be another new charger but the new one will take both new and old betteries (acording to a ad on ebay.de)

 

[robtonya]

I doubt the Li-Ion batteries can be used right away on the existing drills. The drills contain some electronics to prevent the battery from getting damaged under heavy use and such, which will probably be a bit different with Li-Ions. Also, the charger will probably need to be adapted.

I do think the older Ni-MH and NiCads will fit the new drills.

Dewalt has an upgrage of Li-Ions for their older drills, probably would need a new charger though. It beats buyin a new drill when all you want is a new, better battery.

 

[Steveo48]

..... Another advantage is that they do not suffer from nearly as much loss-of-charge while sitting on a shelf...  Matt

They hold a charge for a very long time.  I've had them on the shelf for over 6 months and they behave like they just came off the charger.

Proctor and Gamble owns a stake in Duracell and announced they are puching into the LI battery market.  Very good news for all of us.

 

[powertoolworld]

Hey Powertoolworld
The news of you posting pictures sure aint old to me.
I'd be very interested in a close up of the new batteries if possible. I am hoping that they fit my C12, and, hopefully take the same charger.

Greg

Hi Greg

Sorry if the news is old! I did search the forum but could not find any reference SORRY ALL!

Images of batteries as requested tho (these should be new!)

 

[Greg in Memphis]

Hey powertoolworld
Thanks for the Photos.
It looks like I'll have a problem with that battery as it is, with that bulge on top.
Other than that extra top piece, and the side dimples though, it looks just like my 1. a/h battery (BPS 12 c NiCD). Maybe just a hair taller.
It looks like you could stuff the same LiIon guts in the NiCD battery housing...If Festool saw a market for it.

See ya

Greg

 

[Kimmy]

The new screwdriver is an 10,8 lithium. Strength up to 40 Nm. And on Festools own statistics you can screw 180 6x220mm screw on one charge. i have the brusquer right in front of me. I realy looking forward to try it  ;D

Kimmy

 

[Anthony]

Hey powertoolworld
Thanks for the Photos.
It looks like I'll have a problem with that battery as it is, with that bulge on top.
Other than that extra top piece, and the side dimples though, it looks just like my 1. a/h battery (BPS 12 c NiCD). Maybe just a hair taller.
It looks like you could stuff the same LiIon guts in the NiCD battery housing...If Festool saw a market for it.

See ya

Greg

Hi Greg,

The bump on top is another set of terminals. 6 in total (top and bottom) if I recall correctly. What the new T-12 and T15 drills can do is fit the Ni-Cd and Ni-Mh battery packs as well as the new Li-ion. Because the lower terminals are the same, but the top terminals are new, and the Li-ion packs will not fit the C12 or TDK models.

Having opened up one of the new Li-ion battery packs (one of the new Protool ones not the actual Festool one) there is significantly more complicated inside than the Ni-Cd and Ni-Mh packs.

 

[Sean]

will these li-ion be lighter than the festool drill it is replacing?  i have C12, best drill i ever own.  but, for li-ion i use makita lxt, super light and very durable.  from the picture of the newer version festool, it looks the same, but with li-ion technology - so not sure if this be better than my makita, therefore no sense for me to get this one.

also my makita lxt impact driver is very small and compact, hard to beat that combination.  wonder if festool will be releasing a li-ion impact, or just li-ion drill / driver? sean