Upping the amps
I new batteries marked 2.6 Ah, but my old drill’s batteries are marked 2 Ah. The salesman said I could use the 2.6-Ah batteries in my old drill. Is this correct?
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Q:
When my 14.4-volt cordless drill batteries gave out, I found I could buy a new cordless drill with two batteries and a charger for about the same price as two replacement batteries, so that's what I did. The new batteries were marked 2.6 Ah, while my old drill's batteries were marked 2 Ah. The salesman said I could use the 2.6-Ah batteries in my old drill. Is this correct?
—John Watkins, Ozark, Ark.
A:
So long as the new batteries fit into the old drill and are the same voltage, they'll work just fine, John. Batteries with higher ampere-hour (Ah) ratings store more energy than batteries with lower Ah ratings. Your old drill will run roughly 30 percent longer with your new 2.6-Ah batteries than with the old ones.