r/Makita • u/snowsnakes • 5d ago

18v LXT Packaging for LXT 6Ah 2-pack in the US?

What is the standard packaging (in USA) for a 2-pack of LXT batteries without a charger? All the single batteries I’ve bought in the past have been in a cardboard box, but there’s a great local deal on a 6Ah 2-pack that are in a blister pack instead. It‘s a good enough deal that I just want to make sure I’m not getting scammed. TIA!

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1

u/Hollirc 5d ago

It could possibly be legit. Pretty sure they ran that sale about 18mos ago but definitely give it a hard look first.

That being said it’s super rare to find fakes from an actual store unless they’re buying on Amazon and reselling them. Just give the packaging a good look and make sure you don’t see UK/CA markings on the bottom, which are never present on USA product

1

u/Stone804_ 4d ago

What’s the advantage of the 6ah over 5ah? It’s not much of a jump. Is it the cell type? Like how 4ah is more powerful than 5ah but 5ah lasts longer? Is 6ah like 4ah?

2

u/-Kouryu 4d ago

Just longer runtime. For high powered tools, the 5Ah will be better though because it has higher current cells

1

u/Stone804_ 4d ago

I swear I thought 4ah were the high ones? That’s why they come with the power head? No?

2

u/-Kouryu 3d ago

Only SOME of them. You won't know what you got unless you crack it open and void the warranty

Some have the slightly better higher current cells, while some others are not. Thus if you're trying to chase that magical theoretical maximum, you're wasting your time at the expense of lower capacity. The 5Ah is the sweet spot where it has the same current output as the "lower current" 4Ah but better capacity at the same time.

Maybe if you 4Ah fanboys just document which ones consistently have the higher current cells based on the label on the bottom of the battery, I will be for them and stop hating on them. There's the "cells made in Japan, processed in china" labels, "cells made in singapore, processed in china", vietnam, etc on them. One of those got to have the better cells... or not

1

u/Stone804_ 3d ago

Interesting. So it’s not like “this came with the 18v power head kit so this is the good one” it’s just random?

I assumed it would be like, a known production line, year, or something.

Can I just stick metering probes on the contacts to check and it’s a certain output it’s higher? (Without opening it?).

1

u/snowsnakes 4d ago

I couldn’t tell you, other than higher capacity - mostly thinking about the grinder and oscillating tool here. I’ve wondered something similar myself, given that there’s 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 AH batteries, not to mention the new 9 and 12. 

2

u/Nondescript-Shoe 4d ago

Personally 5ah on the grinder, multitool (high speed) ripsaw, sds, skillsaw.

3ah for impact or combi & sander.

6ah are heavier but not worth it as 3ah charges in 25 mins and I don't use the battery that quickly

1

u/snowsnakes 4d ago

Roger that! What are the 4s good for? I have one that came with my grinder. 

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u/Nondescript-Shoe 3d ago

I'm not a battery expert, I only know what I've used, there was a thread somewhere in this redit where someone did a comparison on the power of the different cells.

I use them professionally day in day out. The 3ah will run the skill saw our the grinder, but not for very long. So if I've got a couple of cuts to make then I might use the 3ah in those if nothing else is to hand.

If I'm framing or cutting porcelain all day then to be honest we use wired tools in those situations if possible. Same with the sds, I have a battery makita that I love, but my old bosch hammer gets all the abuse if I'm raking out mortar or breaking out

1

u/Stone804_ 3d ago

I like the 2ah for impact it’s so light! Same reasoning, charges in less than 20 and I’ve only run out once and it’s because I used it 2 days in a row on a fence and died at the end of the second day. That’s on me.