Tips for Maximising Battery Life for Your Makita Cordless Strimmer
Last updated: June 7, 2024
For many homeowners and gardeners, it’s a pleasure to keep their gardens colourful and well-kept. The Makita cordless strimmer is a well-liked option that provides flexibility and ease of use for trimming and edging without the inconvenience of cables. Like any battery-powered gadget, its longevity and effectiveness depend on your ability to maintain its battery properly.
We’ve compiled a list of vital pointers to help you get the most out of your Makita cordless strimmer and extend its battery life. These doable tips guarantee that your strimmer is always ready for action and performs at its best whenever you’re an experienced gardener or a weekend warrior.
Best Practices to Extend Battery Life
Best Charging Practices
To extend the battery life of your Makita cordless strimmer, here are some charging best practices:
- Use the Correct Charger: Ensure you use the charger specifically designed for your Makita strimmer’s battery. Using a charger incompatible with your battery can damage it and reduce its lifespan.
- Avoid Overcharging: Overcharging can degrade the battery’s performance over time. Once the battery is fully charged, unplug it from the charger promptly. Most modern chargers have mechanisms to prevent overcharging, but disconnecting the battery once it’s charged is still a good practice.
- Charge at the Right Temperature: Charging the battery in extreme temperatures can negatively impact its performance and lifespan. The optimal charging temperature range is typically between 10°C to 30°C. Avoid charging the battery in excessively hot or cold environments.
- Charge Before Storage: If you don’t use the strimmer for an extended period, ensure the battery is adequately charged before storing it. Lithium-ion batteries should be stored with a charge between 20% and 50% to maintain their health during storage.
- Avoid Deep Discharges: Lithium-ion batteries prefer shallow discharge cycles to deep discharges. To prolong their life, avoid completely draining the battery before recharging it. Recharge the battery once it reaches 20-30% remaining capacity.
- Monitor Charging: Monitor the charging process. If you notice abnormalities, such as excessive heat or unusual noises, stop the charging process immediately and inspect the battery and charger for issues.
Efficient Use
Using different speed settings efficiently can help optimise your Makita cordless strimmer’s performance and battery life. Here’s how:
- Task-Specific Speed Selection: Different speed settings are suitable for various tasks. Use lower speeds for lighter trimming and edging tasks where precision and control are crucial. Higher speeds are more suitable for cutting through denser vegetation or tackling tougher areas.
- Conserving Battery Power: When performing lighter tasks, such as trimming around flower beds or along pathways, using lower speed settings can conserve battery power. This helps extend the battery’s runtime, allowing you to work longer between charges.
- Maximising Cutting Efficiency: Adjusting the speed settings to match the density of the vegetation you’re cutting can maximise cutting efficiency. Higher speeds provide more cutting power for tougher grass and weeds, while lower speeds offer better control for delicate areas.
- Reducing Wear and Tear: Running the strimmer at excessive speeds when not required can increase wear and tear on the motor and other components. Using the appropriate speed setting for the task at hand can help prolong the lifespan of your strimmer and minimise maintenance needs.
- Eco-Mode or Variable Speed Settings: Take advantage of this feature if your Makita strimmer has an eco-mode or variable speed settings. Eco-mode adjusts the power output to match the job’s requirements, helping to conserve battery power and extend runtime.
- Experiment and Adjust: Take some time to experiment with different speed settings to find the optimal balance between cutting power, battery life, and cutting efficiency for your specific trimming needs. Adjust the speed settings based on the type of vegetation you’re tackling and the desired results.
Maintenance Tips
| Task | Description |
| Cleaning after Each Use | – Remove grass, weeds, debris, and dirt from the cutting head, guard, and exterior surfaces. – Use a brush or compressed air for stubborn debris. – Clean airflow by cleaning air vents and cooling fins. |
| Inspect and Tighten Fasteners | – Regularly check all fasteners, screws, and bolts. – Tighten loose fasteners to prevent parts from coming loose during operation. |
| Check for Damage | – Inspect the cutting line, guard, handle, and other components for damage or wear. – Replace worn or damaged parts promptly for safe operation. |
| Lubricate Moving Parts | – Lubricate moving parts or pivot points as per the manufacturer’s recommendations. – Reduce friction by using suitable lubricant for the trimmer head, shaft, and trigger mechanism. |
| Battery Maintenance | – Keep battery contacts clean and free of dirt and corrosion with a dry, clean cloth. – Store the battery in a cool, dry place away from sunlight and extreme temperatures. |
| Proper Storage | – Store the strimmer indoors or in a shed/garage, avoiding exposure to elements. – Hang or store on a shelf/rack to prevent moisture buildup and rust. |
| Winterisation | – Thoroughly clean the strimmer before winter storage. – Remove and store the battery indoors in a temperature-controlled environment. |
Common Mistakes
- Overloading the Strimmer: Avoid cutting excessively thick vegetation or branches to prevent motor strain and damage.
- Neglecting Maintenance: Regularly clean, lubricate, and inspect fasteners to ensure optimal performance and safety.
- Using the Wrong Line or Accessories: To avoid damage, use only suitable attachments and the suggested line size and type.
- Improper Battery Care: Store the battery in a cool, dry place, avoid extreme temperatures, and follow the manufacturer’s guidelines.
- Ignoring Safety Precautions: Follow safety guidelines, wear appropriate PPE, and avoid operating in wet conditions.
- Storing the Strimmer Improperly: Store in a clean, dry location away from moisture, dust, and extreme temperatures.
Accessory Recommendations
- High-Capacity Batteries: Invest in high-capacity batteries for your Makita cordless strimmer. These batteries typically have larger capacity ratings, allowing you to work for longer periods between charges. To extend runtime, look for compatible batteries with higher amp-hour (Ah) ratings.
- Fast Chargers: Purchase a fast charger designed for Makita batteries. Fast chargers can significantly reduce charging times compared to standard chargers, allowing you to spend less time waiting for the battery to recharge and more time working.
- Battery Cooling Fans: Consider battery cooling fans or jackets designed to dissipate heat during charging and operation. Excessive heat can degrade battery performance and lifespan, so keeping the battery cool can help maintain optimal performance over time.
- Battery Protectors: Use battery protectors or voltage regulators to prevent overcharging, over-discharging, and short circuits. These devices can help prolong battery lifespan by ensuring that the battery is charged and discharged within safe limits.
- Battery Adapters: Look for adapters that allow you to use higher-capacity or compatible batteries from other Makita cordless tools with your strimmer. This can provide additional flexibility and options for extending runtime without investing in separate batteries.
- Battery Maintenance Kits: Consider purchasing battery maintenance kits that include cleaning tools, protective cases, and conditioning products. Proper maintenance can help prolong battery lifespan and optimise performance.
- Spare Batteries: Always have spare batteries on hand, especially if you have large areas to trim. This lets you quickly swap out depleted batteries for fully charged ones, minimising downtime and ensuring continuous operation.
Best-Selling Makita Cordless Strimmers
Makita DUR189Z 18V Brushless Line Trimmer (Body Only)
- Brushless Motor
- Automatic Torque Drive Technology: This technology adjusts RPM (4,000 – 6,000 minˉ¹) based on weed density to save energy and lower noise.
- Length Adjustable Bending Pipe Shaft
- Overload Protection
- Electric Brake and Soft Start
- Constant Speed Control
- Reverse Switch: For grass clipping removal.
- Wire Guard: Reduces risk of damage to fences, flowers, or ornaments; foldable for convenience.
- Speed Indicator: Displays 3 RPM levels and overload, overheating, and over-discharge status.
Makita DUR191LRT8 18V LXT Brushless 300mm Split Shaft Line Trimmer with 1x 5.0Ah Battery
- 2-Section Shaft: Easy and space-saving storage and transport.
- Brushless Motor: Offers more endurance, longer life, and a compact design.
- ADT (Automatic Torque Drive Technology): Automatically regulates speed for optimal performance based on requirements.
- AFT (Active Feedback Sensing Technology): Stops the motor when the tool is blocked.
- Universal Protective Hood: Suitable for metal, plastic, and line heads.
- Electronic Current Limiter: Provides overload protection.
- Electric Brake and Soft Start
- Constant Speed Control
- 3-Speed Settings: High, medium, and low.
Makita DUR193Z 18V LXT Cordless Grass Line Trimmer (Body Only)
- Maximum Cutting Width: 260mm
- 5-Position Adjustable Cutting Head
- No Load Speed: 7,800rpm
- Telescopic Shaft: Adjustable from 1,248mm to 1,436mm with a loop handle
- Easy-Loading Bump and Feed Trimmer Head
- 1.65mm Four-Leaf Nylon Line
FAQ
What should I avoid cutting to prevent straining the motor on my Makita Strimmer?
Avoid cutting through excessively thick vegetation or branches to prevent motor strain and potential damage.
What are the key safety precautions when using my Makita Strimmer?
Follow all safety guidelines in the user manual, wear appropriate personal protective equipment, and avoid operating the strimmer in wet conditions or near water.
How does the automatic torque drive technology (ADT) help with battery life?
ADT automatically adjusts the RPM according to the density of weeds, which helps save energy and extend battery life.
At Toolden, we offer a wide range of Makita Grass Trimmers to suit a wide range of domestic and commercial applications.
Unsure which to choose? Need some help with your order? Our new help centre has a wide range of helpful articles and guides!
If you have any additional queries, please do not hesitate to contact us at 01358 726719 or by email at admin@toolden.co.uk