ASB Trade › Guides › How to choose cordless tools: a 12 V or 20 V battery platform
How to choose cordless tools: a 12 V or 20 V battery platform
Platform first, model second: 12 or 20 V, brushed or brushless, how many amp-hours, bare tool or kit, INGCO 20 V or DeWalt 18 V XR, and which tool to buy first.
Platform first, tool second
The battery and charger are a sizeable part of any set's cost, and they fit only tools of their own brand and series. So you choose a platform rather than a drill: one battery should work in the drill driver, the angle grinder, the jigsaw and the work light. Buying the first tool effectively picks the brand for years; after that it only makes sense to buy bare tools without batteries.
ASB Trade carries two such platforms: INGCO 20 V, a broad range on a single battery for home and semi-professional use, and DeWalt 18 V XR, a professional series for daily work (DeWalt prices on request). The 18 V and 20 V labels describe the same battery of five lithium-ion cells: 18 V is the nominal voltage, 20 V the maximum right after charging.
12 or 20 V
12-volt tools are compact and light: a 12 V drill driver is handy for assembling furniture, fitting sockets and lights, working in boards and on a stepladder, where weight matters. But drilling concrete, cutting metal and running a grinder or circular saw need a power reserve, and that is the 18/20 V platform.
If you want one all-round tool, take 20 V: a hammer drill driver on this platform covers furniture as well as drilling into brick. Electricians and fitters often keep both voltages: a light 12 V for everyday use and 20 V for heavy jobs.
Brushless motor
A brushless motor is controlled electronically: no rubbing brushes, less heat, more output from the same battery and a longer life. Such a tool runs longer on one charge and does not lose speed under load. For occasional use a brushed model is fine; for daily work, a grinder or a rotary hammer the difference is noticeable. In both the INGCO and the DeWalt XR line-ups brushless models carry the word Brushless in the name.
Amp-hours: capacity, not power
Ah shows how much energy the battery delivers, that is how long the tool runs on one charge, not how strong it is. 2 Ah is a light battery for a drill driver and a work light; 4 Ah is the all-rounder for a drill and jigsaw; 5–6 Ah and up is for the angle grinder, circular saw and reciprocating saw, which drain a battery quickly.
A practical set is two batteries: one in use, one on charge. A fast charger brings a 4 Ah battery back in about an hour, enough to keep going. Lithium-ion batteries do not mind partial top-ups, but dislike frost and being stored fully discharged.
Bare tool or kit
The first tool is bought as a kit: tool + two batteries + charger + case. After that it is cheaper to buy bare tools (body only): the same tool without battery and charger, noticeably less expensive, and the batteries from the first kit fit it. That is how a set of five or six tools on two or three batteries builds up over time.
What to buy first
For home and dacha the usual order is: a 20 V hammer drill driver (drills wood and metal, brick with hammer action, and drives fasteners), then a 125 mm angle grinder, a jigsaw or circular saw, a work light and a cordless vacuum. For an electrician: a 12 V drill driver and an impact driver for long screws and anchors. For construction: an SDS-plus rotary hammer on 20 V and a grinder on a 5 Ah or larger battery.
INGCO 20 V suits when the tool is needed a few times a week and the kit price matters; DeWalt 18 V XR is for daily work and heavy loads. Both platforms, batteries, chargers, bits and drill bits are at ASB Trade: come with your task and we will put a set together.
Frequently asked questions
Do INGCO batteries fit DeWalt tools?
No. Each platform is compatible only with its own tools and chargers. Choose the brand before the first purchase.
Which is better, 2 Ah or 4 Ah?
A drill driver is fine with 2 Ah and is lighter with it. A grinder, saw or rotary hammer needs 4–5 Ah or more, otherwise the battery is flat after a few minutes.
What is the difference between a bare tool and a kit?
A bare tool comes without battery and charger. It is bought as the second and later tools, once you have batteries from the first kit.