generator vs battery tools

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vilasman

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I think I will be getting a job to wire two new houses, side by side...

Do you all think it is better to use a generator to start or use battery tools? Which is the better investment?

The developer is planning on setting the service pretty early on, but If I am going to set the service, thats a fair amount of drilling . screwing and cutting.
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

Man, that's "flip a coin" type of question. It all depends if you're planning on investing in hgh quality battery operated tools which will no doubt lead to a maintenance issue of batteries going bad, motors burning out because of too much load drilling wood, and gear strippage. Or, investing in a good portable generator, cople HD sets of extension cords, and a good Hole Hawg or 3/4" drive drill.
My suggestion is do the math for both a go for it.
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

Well, if it's only the usual service you shouldn't have many problems with decent tools. What are we talking about here?

Things like the backboard which require cutting can be fabricated off-site (I always do). I can think that you may have a problem hanging it on a poured concrete wall if you have to drill holes for anchors. This is where powder actuated tools come in handy. I also suppose that if you have to drill a hole through the concrete for the service entrance cable or conduit you would have a problem.

Once you have you service though you would use your Hole-Hawg or whatever. I wouldn't want to rough a house with battery tools but for just installing a service it all depends.

-Hal

[ January 26, 2005, 09:05 PM: Message edited by: hbiss ]
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

the 24 v bosch drill seem to have wrist breaking strength. you can charge with cheap cigarette lighter inverters running charger. but if you are going to do house after house, i'd invest in the ear plugs and go for a decent gerneator.

paul
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

I have a little 300W inverter for battery charging, it comes in handy for it's purpose. But I think the battery-powered solution to roughing would suck. I have a year-old 18 volt Milwaukee fat pack with three batteries, and I wouldn't get a floor drilled with it.

I would get a 5500 watt generator. Keep it at the house for a back-up, use it for work, and write it off on your taxes. :)

Think bigger. What about the next time you need a hot box or hot blanket for a PVC underground in a remote location? Your batteries won't help you. :)
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

Well I have a dewalt 18 volt drill, I have a milwaukee radio, cause the plan was to go to milwaukee 18 v drill, but the day that i finally got sick of my old dewalt cause the clutch is more or less bad, price and the fact that if i got another dewalt, i would then have 1-1/2 battery drills, made me go dewalt over milwaukee.

I am actually thinking Bosch 18volt this go round, cause, really I am thinking buy a set of basic tools and a jobox and leave them at the houses, thereby saving 1 to 2 hrs of packing, loading and unloading everyday.

Really I would only use the battery tools to do the initial service set up. The plywood, the SEC hole and screwing up the first temporary plugs. Ounce I get that stuff, I am definitely going to milwaukee corded tools, I've tried to drill a house with a Dewalt 18volt, coupled with age, thats more or less how I jacked the clutch up in it. Bur I am also thinking, that a cordless set of toys would be just the trick, for attics, hanging service heads and other such places where you only have 30 mins of work and a cord would just be a pain in the you know what.

On the other hand a generator provides endless power, on the other other hand , i live in an apartment so where am i going to store the thing, but on the 3rd other hand, we have a farm. So a generator would be useful.

I'm starting to believe it will be purely a matter of personal preference...

but last question.... which is easier to maintain a hardly used generator, If I got 8 houses in a year, it might get 30 days worth of use
or a moderately used set of cordless tools...
doing the rough stuff with my corded tools
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

ya know though fella's ya might be right about that generator bit though, I might need to think bigger
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

I did away with generators on my van. No gas to spill, no oil to carry except for the van. and the extra space the the generator took up was put to good use. For about three years now I have been using a Triplett? 3600VA 120/240 inverter with 10 deep cycle Delco voyger battery's in a inclosed rack that has a powered vent to the outside underneth. I use a Bull Dog? auto start system to maintain the batteries at full voltage. I installed twin 180 amp alt's also. The system is isolated from the truck batery but with the flip of a switch I can jump my self. The 3600 watt 120 volt true sine inverter supplys enough power to run my power tools with no problem. and next year when GM comes out with the one ton 4 wheel drive van. (they have a ? ton now but the drive train is too light) I'll have to move all this over to it. But it is worth it in every way. I would never go back to using a generator. I have a 200' #8/4 SJOW cord With a 4x box that get's me up to the houses. it is wound upon a self retracting hose real which is great for the end of the day. With the 4x4 van I won't need it as much.

Just some idea's
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

I agree that's a great system! Used something similar in the oilfield on our service trucks years ago only with a peanut xfmr of 480-120v, w/ a 100' lead wire. But, sometimes - the 480 wasn't available.

Used the converters, seem to work okay as long as you didn't load them too much and kept your engine running so it wouldn't pull the car battery down.

Still, w/ a generator, I feel you still have the extra muscle to tackle just about anything. Of course, the battery op tools are great for quick service jobs or hard to get to places like attics and crawl spaces under houses.

I guess it boils down to matter of preference and need.
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

I went for the generator. It is a Honda EU2000i model. The following specs: $800, 2000 Watts, very quiet (56 dBA) - stand right next to it and have a conversation, 45 pounds, 20 hours on 1 Gallon of gas at 1/4 load, Honda so very reliable and easy to start, self contained in a nice package with handle and very little space on the truck.

I bought mine online from Mayberry's in NJ to get the good price. Arrived in 2 days by FedEx.

Also used it for the 4 days we lost power in Hurricane Isabel - ran fridge and sump pump. Also because it is an inverter model (clean power) could run TV and computer.

Mark
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

I recently was at a jobsite where a few electricians were preping the floor to be roughed by drilling framing members and mounting boxes. The jobsite had no temp. power due to its location which required the use of generators or battery tools.

The electricians had a pretty creative setup. They basically strapped a battery and an inverter to a skateboard. This allowed them to bring their power source to wherever they were working without having to string out cords or handle a heavy generator.
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

definitely some invocative solutions...
I like the inverter solution the best i think, how much is the upfront cost? Where could I find a good inverter. Also I am interested in the 1 ton 4x4 GMC. In about 2 years i might be ready to buy one. I just hope it wont be ugly, I am still trying to get used to the look of the new chevy trucks
 
Re: generator vs battery tools

The inverter I found at a farmers market for about $150.00, the battery's are about $60.00 a piece. with about a hundred more in the hose reel. the 8/4 SJOW was part of a roll left over from a job that didn't get finished. $? The Bull Dog key less auto start system I bought from Sam's Club for $49.99 and if you go to the Bull Dog web site they will have the instructions to program it to start the engine when the battery voltage drops below 11.5 volts. It's funny they make one unit but sell it as different units and still include the connections for almost all configurations. They just don't tell you on the packaging? :roll: It can be program to start the truck when the inside of the vehicle get's to a preset temp. like to keep paint from freezing or to keep it cool inside. It can be set to start your truck at the same time every morning. A nice system.

But for real prices I just found it at Allied Electronics for.$531.05 Not a bad price?
CLICK HERE


PV3000HF%2Ejpg


PV3000HF Inverter

It's not the same one I have but it does the same thing 600 watts less would not hurt these as they can be run at 150% for about 45 min.

The actual cost will depend upon how elaborate you go but keep in mind the simpler you make it to set up and break down for a job is what pays off. Using a self retracting hose reel is the way to go and can be found at most auto repair equipment outlets. The inverter I have has 2 20 amp receptacles and 2 15 amp I think this one does too.

So you could get away with less that $1,000.00 Which will be cheaper than a generator in the long run.
 
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