Not sure where you going with your comment that "they" prefer NiCad in power tools. "They" (manufacturers) make almost[*] 100% LiIon tools these days. LiIon is a hands-down winner in this application, even though they scare you.
[*] Someone might still make NiCd, still.
The context was compared to NiMH.
Gotcha. Is anyone still making NiCD or NiMH tools? I haven't seen any in a long time.
Don't know. It's been too long since I dug into hand tools much. I remember having an RC boat which ran ok on alkaline cells. Then I got rechargeables for it and it TOOK OFF like a rocket. Seems the lower resistance of the NiCd made a big difference. But it only ran for five minutes, lol.
Most stuff designed for Alkalines ran like crap with NiCds, due to the lower voltage. Some stuff didn't run at all (UVLO). NiCds also have a horrible self discharge and short life, particularly multi-cell packs if not kept charged. A real bad combination for tools. LiIon fixes all that.
Self discharge for sure. But I don't know about the short life. I have a Makita power tool with NiCd batteries and that thing ran for 15 years before the battery wouldn't charge. It was often left laying around uncharged so it wasn't pampered either. I was amazed. A new battery pack costs as much as a new tool with Li-ion. Actually, I think the tool I replaced it with
*also* used NiCd, to my surprise and it crapped out after a much shorter time. Finally I got a hammer drill with Li-ion and all is good.
You bet! A LiIon will still be good after five years sitting on a shelf. Try that with a NiCd. You're lucky if you get one. I never have, even with "high quality" rebuits.
That was true with NiCd, too. Cost price.
Alkalines have lower voltage. 0.9V terminal discharge voltage vs 1.15V
Stuff that quits at 1.2V was not designed, or perhaps was designed to sell batteries.
Idiot. alkalines start out at 1.5V, where NiCds are about 1.3V. MANY devices simply refused to work.
How it was designed is irrelevant. It was.
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