I want to turn all my power tools and batteries a universal connector like USB-C. I have a 3d printerand skills so getting the manual interface is easy enough, but I don’t a lot about ports and tech. I’m learning fast, but I’m not quite there yet.
From what I understand, I’d need to put a female port on the battery which isn’t difficult and has been done plenty for charging.
I’d need to put a male plug on the tools to interface with it, and my initial research says I can’t just solder the power pins to the cables in the tool, I’ll need a circuit board that requests the 20v from the usb source? Is that doable? It looks like I can pick them up on AliExpress. But I need a qualified adult to verify that’s what I need to do.
From there, would I be able to cord them with this method or would I need to build a better usb charger port?
Is there a better port to use? Usb-C is nice and small so I can fit it in wherever I like, but can it handle tool use? Would it be better to do usb or something else?
If you want tools to run off a wire, independent of battery, I’d suggest just buy mains powered tools with built in cords. It’s not worth the hassle - sorry that’s not a very diy answer. I think you’d find most diy tool projects would just use mains rated motors and such.
The power requirements is sort of the reason battery tools take a lot longer to charge than to run down (continuous).
Since you need approximately mains level power, then you need mains rated connectors, or probably even fatter wires depending on how much current there’ll be down at 20V. The tool itself probably has thermal cutoff(s) somewhere in it if it overheats, so you don’t want wires or connectors generating too much heat where that thermal cutoff won’t detect it.
I’d assume you don’t want to add a mains AC:DC 20V 20A converter into the “hand” tool side of the cable so that probably means thicker cables.
Mains powered tools are just designed better to do this @110/220V~. It keeps the current down so you can have thinner, lighter, longer more flexible wire.
Better just limit the USB to top up the battery at lower power. The battery would still deplete in use, but you’d be topping it up in between.
Yeah, I think for better or worse, the most universal and least consumerist “cordless” system is picking up your favorite used Mains corded tools, and getting yourself a Jackery/Ecoflow/whatever battery bank to plug into. This can be really cost effective for a DIY setup.