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by Lio 1160 days ago
What surprises me is that even within a single brand there are multiple standards.

Right now I mostly have Bosch Professional 18v kit. If I want a small edging router I have to biy a while new Bosch Professional 12v kit… unless I go with the Bosch “amateur” system which is different again.

I think there might also be another 10v Bosch Pro system as well. Why?

It’s like an xkcd.
3 comments
bombcar 1160 days ago
12v used to be darn weak, but it’s much stronger now - M12 chainsaws aren’t complete jokes, for example.

Usually the 12v line is focused on compact and lighter duty, 18/20v on bigger demanding tools.

At least Milwaukee chargers can charge both, mostly.

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notjulianjaynes 1159 days ago
There's really only a handful of battery voltages used across all manufacturers. It makes more sense if you think about the series count of a battery pack instead of the advertised voltage. A single lithium ion cell will have a nominal voltage of 3.6v and a "Max" voltage of 4.0v (technically 4.2v, but you can extend the battery life by not charging to 100% capacity).

Thus a 10.8v (3 x 3.6v) and a 12v (3 x 4v) are the same thing, just measured differently.

As is an 18v (5 x 3.6v) and a 20v "Max" (5 x 4v).

36v and 40v are both 10 cells in series.

Etc.

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rodgerd 1160 days ago
> What surprises me is that even within a single brand there are multiple standards.

It's kind of annoying, but less so if there's at least some logic to it. I can get pretty much everything I need as a shit-tier home handyman from Ryobi's 18V range, but if I were a more committed gardener or DIY I could imagine I'd want their 36V range as well. And then be irritated that the higher-power range only covers some tools.

All that said it does seem like, I dunno, a relatively pointless complaint. Are there people who are that keen to mix and match their Bosch and Ryobi? It's all much of a muchness.

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Nullabillity 1160 days ago
> Are there people who are that keen to mix and match their Bosch and Ryobi?

Why wouldn't that be a perfectly reasonable thing to do? The default, in fact, unless artificial lock-in was created with bullshit like this.

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