M18- 2x 5aH or 1x 9aH?

[the force]

Just about to pull the trigger on a new m18 2703 drill and debating batteries with myself. Currently I can get two 5aH batteries or one 9aH battery for the same price ($159 cad). My thinking is he 2x 5aH would be preferable as the single battery is lighter and I can keep the second stashed in my sled (or truck) depending on ice depth. Technically I should get a few more holes with the 2x 5s? Or do the larger 9aHs run more efficiently?
Mostly in ice less then 14". Just purchasing the bare tool and batterie(s) for now as already have an impact driver and couple 1.5ah batts.

Thanks for any insight.

[3300]

i would pick the two. then if one goes bad your not out. also, you get 10 amps with two and 9 with the one. so an extra amp is a good thing.
the drill is rated the same with either battery so that means the 5 amp supplies enough amps. the 9amp would just be a longer run time per battery.

[mvanhank222]

I would get 2 just in case 1 fails. I have heard that 1 9ah will last longer than 2 5ah something to do with the amount of draw vs the total battery storage amount but I have no anecdotal or empirical evidence to support that just something I remember reading.

[Mancaveburnett]

I have the two 5ah and they have plenty of power to turn an auger for a lot of holes. I would get the two over the one because at some point that 9 will die and if its the only one and it dies your power auger is now done. At least if you have two and one dies you have a back up battery. Theres only so many charges a battery will take so you dont want to charge the 9ah before every outing you would still want to deplete the battery. So on your 3rd outing with one battery even though its a 9ah it may only have a quarter charge. Overall I love my fuel, good luck.

[OneMoreFish]

Was going to ask this same question today, but you beat me to it! Thanks for all the good answers.

[cwavs1982]

I thought about the same thing.  I went with the 2 - 5 amp batteries.  I head out with both batteries fully charged and have yet to run both of them down.  Besides, this drill can be used in the summer, and you always have one in the charger ready to go.  Would I like to have the 9 amp - yes, but will have to wait until I can find one on sale at a decent price. 

[OneMoreFish]

Kicking myself in the butt for not jumping on that $230 deal at Home Depot the other week!

[RStock521]

Kicking myself in the butt for not jumping on that $230 deal at Home Depot the other week!

  It's not as good of a deal, but Blaine Fleet and Farm has 2704-22 kit plus an extra 5.0AH battery (3 total) for $299.  They had the kit with no extra battery for $199 a couple weeks ago when I got it, so I'm sure there will be other deals to be had.

[tbern]

Deals should be coming back, black Friday and cyber Monday are just around the corner.

[Houligan]

As an owner of many M18 Fuel, M12 and M12 Fuel tools I highly recommend the 9ah batteries WOW!!!

Most will make this decision by price alone, and the mental hangup in thinking 2 5ah batteries is better for the price or the fact they got two, when actually one 9ah battery will do the same job of 2 5ah, so where is the savings? If worried about the summer usage save and buy another 9ah battery then. The 9ah batteries have a tremendous power run time and power all of my tools without a dead battery ever during a work day where the 5ah will. Most days only one out of four bars is used at the end of the day

Why worry about having a backup battery then turn around and buy a battery that will surely loose charge and needs that backup from the get-go.... Start with the best you can get then worry about the backup.

Also if buying the combo kits for any of the tools be careful. I went through a big deal for several months over this. When buying kits, first off most will not offer the highest powered batteries and most stores if a tool fails you have to return the entire kit/combo in order to get the one tool replaced. This is not very convenient if that kit has your batteries and charger in it. Buy the bare tools, charger and batteries you want instead. If you look for deals you can find good prices on bare tools.

[glenwyo]

Kicking myself in the butt for not jumping on that $230 deal at Home Depot the other week!

Just saw a new Milwaukee 2704-22 on eBay for $209 and free shipping. It's the whole kit that has two, 5 ah batteries. Also had seen a 2704 with one, 9 ah battery for $224 and free shipping.
https://m.ebay.com/itm/Milwaukee-2704-22-M18-Cordless-Li-Ion-1-2-Hammer-Drill-Driver-Tool-Kit-XC5-0/182902522462?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20161006002618%26meid%3D455b7b15041346a49f8af0e7171fcad5%26pid%3D100694%26rk%3D4%26rkt%3D29%26sd%3D172959267967&_trksid=p2385738.c100694.m4598

[the force]

Thanks for the great discussion gents! I concur with most of the thoughts. Now, just need to find that Black Friday deal!

[Houligan]

Be careful buying tools on ebay. Be sure to do your homework if choosing to do so.

Once purchased from an ebay seller with 100% positive feedback. Come to find out the tools were seconds being sold as new. Another would list the item with a price then turn around and order from their own homedepot or lowes account have it shipped to you as a gift or the shipping address. In doing so you cannot return if having any problems and if you do the refund goes back to the ebay sellers credit card not yours.

 I found the best every day prices at HomeDepot online shopping. Anything over $45, I think, is free shipping plus you have an outlet to return to if having any problems. Also some local brand home centers that carry Milwaukee tools will match HomeDepot prices if you mention any difference.

[the force]

Yeah I've bought lots of stuff off eBay but to save 40$ on a 300$ package the risk isn't likely worth it for me. Will go with the 5aH batteries as I can't quite picture using my impact driver with a honking 9aH battery for back yard jobs.
If anyone sees any Canadian deals give me a shout. BC fasteners currently has the best prices (quite a bit better then HD).

[Houligan]

Thought the topic was about using the battery for an ice auger and what would last not back yard projects. I use the 9ah batteries all day without worry of how big the batteries are. Maybe a little work out would help handle the big honking batteries 

[Deal Ninja]

I've been following this thread.  I'm off tomorrow and the weather is going to blow to do anything outside so...  I have nearly new 5ah and brand new 9ah batteries and a Milwaukee Fuel 2704 and a new Milwaukee Mud Mixer that I can fire up and leave running.  I will test both batteries on both tools for run time and any other observations I happen to make.  Should be interesting.  I'll post back tomorrow sometime with the results.

DN

[Houligan]

Great, would like to hear your findings.

Maybe suggest doing the testing under a constant load, say with a mud mixer in a bucket of mud or something like that just so there is some resistance. Length of open run time without a load might not mean much. Maybe time the runs and take timed short brakes so not to burn anything up. Say run for 5 minutes then brake for 1 minute until dead.

When wire wheel brushing some metal parts my drill got a bit, not hot but warm, using it on a constant run for about 15-20 minutes and for sure the 5ah lasted for a long time before loosing charge but when using the 9ah never had to charge and still had two bars left when done with the longest clean up of the parts.

[the force]

Haha yeah I must be getting soft with this office job. Haven't handled the 9aH battery so not actually sure how big it would be. Seriously for regular, non ice fishing use, you prefer the 9 over the 5s? Mostly buying for ice fishing but will obviously use the tool for its intended purpose as well.

[Houligan]

Since this spring I have bought and tried, Dewalt, Porter Cable, Ridgid, Makita, and Milwaukee tool sets. Not just one tool or battery size of each but many tools of each. It was months of trial for all these systems. Long story... The only thing close to the 9ah was the dewalt 60/20 max volt for run times in the 20 volt max tools but not so much in the 60 volt max tools.

So yes! I would highly recommend the milwaukee 9ah battery for your home use. My fishing partner has been working with the cordless stuff over the last few years on his ice auger while I was away at Marine tech school. I haven't yet tested 9ah batteries on the ice but will as soon as we start the season. I would think tools like the Milwaukee mud mixer due to its torque and the 9ah battery would be killer as far as cordless augers go. I see others using this combo already with the 5ah battery. They really need to also give the 9ah a go.

Deal Ninja says he is going to test the two (5ah to 9ah) so lets see what he comes up with.

[Deal Ninja]

Testing completed.  After Houligan’s comments, I decided to use my Milwaukee Vacuum as the test subject.  This thread was about batteries after all, not tools.  Equal loads on both batteries and the 9ah battery went 35 minutes and the 5ah battery went 18 minutes.  In other words, pick your poison... The batteries performed exactly the way you’d expect them to, with the 9ah providing slightly less than double the the 5ah’s performance.  They both ran full out until about 5 minutes before they both shut down.  My findings are 6 of one, a half dozen of the other.  I’m a little surprised.  I expected the 9ah to out perform the 5ah, but in the end, you basically get almost twice the run time out of a 9ah battery than you get out of a 5ah battery.  Long story short, if you can buy two 5ah batteries for less than one 9ah battery, go for it.  There is negligible difference in run times.

DN

[tbern]

Thanks for doing the tests DN. Also a little surprised how close to 2 to 1 , the 9 over the 5 was.

[RStock521]

Testing completed.  After Houligan’s comments, I decided to use my Milwaukee Vacuum as the test subject.  This thread was about batteries after all, not tools.  Equal loads on both batteries and the 9ah battery went 35 minutes and the 5ah battery went 18 minutes.  In other words, pick your poison... The batteries performed exactly the way you’d expect them to, with the 9ah providing slightly less than double the the 5ah’s performance.  They both ran full out until about 5 minutes before they both shut down.  My findings are 6 of one, a half dozen of the other.  I’m a little surprised.  I expected the 9ah to out perform the 5ah, but in the end, you basically get almost twice the run time out of a 9ah battery than you get out of a 5ah battery.  Long story short, if you can buy two 5ah batteries for less than one 9ah battery, go for it.  There is negligible difference in run times.

DN

Thanks for posting your findings. Good to know. 

[the force]

My last reply didn't work for some reason. Thanks for doing the testing DN and for sharing your experience Holigan!

[Houligan]

Thank you for the efforts Deal Ninja!

I still would recommend the 9ah battery and would go further to recommend two 9ah batteries. You will not be disappointed.

Did not intend to confuse people. My earlier comments were never about tools but the DIFFERENT tools because they are different brands of batteries which is what the subject is about.

[Ice Scratcher]

Not even getting into brands...

Just battery size...

I have 6 right now, 4 4ah and 2 2ah...

I really like the 2ah for assembly jobs, when your dealing with 1000s of fasteners, and working off a ladder doing a bunch of one handed type of stuff above my head..

My 4ah are great for bigger tasks like running big lag bolts and such..

I guess if I only used my drill for an auger, and could only pick one battery, it would be a 9ah.

I would much rather have 4 4ah, than two 9ah... I'll be running my flasher off one, my radio/shanty power supply off another, and my auger off another.. Off of those three batteries, I should get a full day and night of use. But still have the other 4ah for backup, and for dire situations, I can use the batteries out of the other items if needed too...

Little batteries have their place, if you build stuff like this alone...

YMMV...

<°)))>{

[Houligan]

Never once thought to myself, wish my drill was lighter and do work by myself. I returned and replaced the 5ah batteries, now have 6 9ah batteries. Nice project by the way, looks great.

Cheers!

[Ice Scratcher]

Never once thought to myself, wish my drill was lighter and do work by myself.

Its not something that I've ever cryed about or wished for.. But after running a 4ah for half a day, then switching to the lighter 2ah, the difference is noticeable, and appreciated..

<°)))>{

[DTro]

Larger capacity batteries are more efficient with high torque loads, I think if you want a fair comparison between the two scenarios you have to apply a load similar to drilling ice.  Believe it or not, a 9ah battery will provide more torque than a 5ah battery.   This video proves it.   

&t=203s

[mvanhank222]

Farm and fleet had 2 9ah for $199 with the rapid charger last week

[straightShot]

  It's not as good of a deal, but Blaine Fleet and Farm has 2704-22 kit plus an extra 5.0AH battery (3 total) for $299.  They had the kit with no extra battery for $199 a couple weeks ago when I got it, so I'm sure there will be other deals to be had.

Home Depot and Grainger have the same thing.  It's $299 for three batteries and the hammer drill.
2704-22-48-11-1850  The "-48-11-1850" is the third battery.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M18-FUEL-18-Volt-Lithium-Ion-Cordless-Brushless-1-2-in-Hammer-Drill-Driver-Kit-with-Free-M18-18-Volt-XC-5-0Ah-Battery-2704-22-48-11-1850/206581415?MERCH=REC-_-rv_search_plp_rr-_-NA-_-206581415-_-N