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How to Increase Power of an Impact Driver

Impact drivers are power tools use to drive screws into metal, plastic and wood. There are corded and cordless (also called battery) impact drivers. The cordless impact drivers allow for increases of power. The cordless drivers have rechargeable batteries from 7.2 volts to 18 volts. By purchasing a new battery for your impact driver, you can increase the power of the impact driver.

Things You'll Need

  • Rechargeable battery
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Instructions

    • 1

      Read the owners manual of the impact driver to see what type of batteries are recommended for the unit. If you don't have the manual, check the manufacturer's website for a copy of the manual or contact customer service.

    • 2

      Choose a battery that fits your needs, lifestyle and budget. The three main types of rechargeable batteries are nickel-cadmium, lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride. Each battery has its pros and cons. For example, nickel-cadmium batteries, most commonly used in power tools, are cheap, but heavy. Lithium-ion batteries are the most expensive, but run at maximum power. Nickel-metal hydride are the most eco-friendly, but they lose power while in use. Another consideration is voltage. Batteries run from 3.6 volts to 48 volts. The higher the voltage, the greater the power capacity. But the design and quality of the impact driver also determines how much power a battery has.

    • 3

      Attach the rechargeable battery to the cordless impact drive using the connector. Plug the power cord into the electrical outlet. Allow the battery pack to charge the impact driver for the prescribed amount of time or until the "Charged" light comes on the power tool. The time varies widely depending on the type of battery and the impact driver.