Metabo LTX 18v – Now with 4Ah Rating and 33% Longer Run Time


Independent Review by Peter Brett


Most people understand that an 18v drill is more powerful than a 14.4v drill for example. But what may not be clear to many users is the Ah (Amp hour) rating of the battery. In a nutshell, the more Ah in a battery pack, the longer it will last - it is like comparing the size of petrol tanks in cars. On similar cars, a bigger petrol tank will give more mileage than a smaller one. However, it is not the


case that you can build a bigger Ah rating into a battery by just making it bigger or whatever. The technology of charging and current storage in a battery pack is more complicated the more amps you want to pack in. As a result, many manufacturers choose a reasonable Ah rating for the intended use of the product and keep it simple. For example, a DIY rated cordless drill will usually have a rating of between 1 and 2 Ah, while a professionally rated drill will have a rating more towards the 3 Ah mark. Next time you see those £99 offers on a cordless drill you might just want to check out the Ah rating! Metabo, a much


respected German company, has been putting a lot of research and development into cordless technology in the last few years and now has a product development philosophy of "consider designing a Cordless Version First." This is a recognition of the fact that the world has "gone mobile" and cordless versions of tools we might never have even thought about, like circular saws and routers, are now commonly used. Accordingly Metabo is now launching the first 18v 4Ah Li Ion battery packs and they are currently in the shops. The good news for users who have purchased 18v Metabo tools in the last two years or so, is that the new batteries are completely compatible with the old 18v "slide-in style battery" tools, so if you want the benefits of an average 33% longer running time compared to the old batteries, you just need to buy the new ones. Newer tools like the Metabo INOX range are also compatible with the new battery packs. It is necessary to mention the chargers too. These are sometimes referred to as "smart chargers" because they effectively manage how the batteries are charged


by monitoring the temperature and air cooling if necessary, protecting the individual cells in a battery pack and managing the discharge and recharge rates. Without the chargers, the 4Ah battery technology would not be possible. In order for me to get a "feel" of what the new 4Ah batteries are like in use I was sent a Metabo 18v LTX combi drill to try out. I have already tested the


"old" version of the LTX in a previous issue of ToolBusiness and Hire, and frankly, if I could have made off with the drill I would have done - it is a great piece of kit. And these are some of the reasons why I liked it so much :- It is remarkably compact for an 18v combi and yet is really powerful and torquey. Due to the fact that it has


a low centre of gravity it is easy to handle and balances nicely on the flat battery pack when you put it down. Handling is also helped by the sparing but sensible use of rubber overmoulding for the handle and the trigger - you really can feel where your hands are being ergonomically fitted to help you grip the machine.


Controls are located logically and operate easily and positively. For example,


rather than have to choose a torque setting by moving a collar behind the chuck, an alloy lever on top of the motor housing gives a choice of seven click-stopped positions. The truth is that some torque collar setting systems don't work that well, but this lever system is top class. Similarly, the swop over from hammer mode to drill mode is achieved by moving the black sider switch on the nose behind the chuck. The net result of using these methods is that the overall length of the drill from butt to chuck tip is a mere 25 cm - small enough for many jobs in kitchen and shopfitting. Choosing between drilling


and screwdriving mode is done via a pair of red lug switches on either side of the body (suiting left or right handed users). The overall quality of the


alloy gearcase and ABS body moulding is reassuringly German, and is up there with the best in the business. Visually and with no extra


weight, not much has changed with the addition of the 4Ah battery pack. On the base of the handle there is still a bright white worklight aimed directly at the chuck end that illuminates the work area very well. Next to it is the famous, and I find very useful "Impuls" feature exclusive to Metabo drills. This is great for extracting or driving awkward screws - the next best thing to having an impact drill built in. The battery pack slides in from the front and most users would notice that the 4Ah pack has a bright red strip across it. It also has a small black switch on the back that illuminates a row of LEDs that tell you roughly how much power you have left in the battery. In truth, given my deadlines, I was hard pressed to use all the power in a couple


of batteries and then recharge them so I could check the recharging times. I mostly used the drill in screwdriving mode and found that the all-metal chuck gripped tight by simply clicking it tightly closed against the motor brake. Even a bit of impact drilling didn't make it lose its grip. The Metabo LTX was just as good as I remembered it, but lasted what was a noticeably much longer time on each charge. It was obvious to me that in a trade or site environment this would be a huge advantage since it means that you can work longer and never run the risk of running out of power if you have a battery in the drill and one in the charger. Oh and PS Mr Metabo, if I could keep the drill a little longer while I finish a couple of jobs…?


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