Makita LXT Tools Work With 1.5 Amp Hour Batteries and 3.0 amp Hour Batteries



    Makita tools can take two different size Lithium-Ion batteries. There are the two different sets of Lithium-Ion tools from Makita: The LXT tools, using the 3.0 amp hour battery (BL1830) and the compact tools, using the 1.5 amp hour battery (BL1815). The LXT tools are not designed to work with the “compact” batteries. This can be fixed easily though. The two batteries both give the same power (18v). There are simply twice as many cells in the 3.0 battery than there is in the 1.5 battery, which means that the BL1830 will last twice as long. Makita did some market research when they were going to first introduce the 1.5 batteries and found that if a customer put the 1.5 battery on the LXT tools, they tended to say that the tools themselves were no good because of the battery life, when in fact it was the fault of the smaller battery. What they did is put a square of plastic on the LXT tools (where the battery slides on) to prevent the smaller battery fitting the tool.  That square does not exist on the 1.5 amp hour tools so the 1.5 amp hour tools will actually take both types of batteries without modificatio. It is actually very easy to punch out that square of plastic and then be able to use your batteries with any LXT tool that you may purchase (once the plastic squares have been punched out on the tools). Just be aware that they will last half as long as they would with the 3.0 amp hour batteries. This information has been provided to me by Makita and I have been assured this will not damage the the battery or any LXT tool.

    Makita tools are available for purchase on Hardware Sales Inc’s eBay store.  Hardware Sales (Hardware-Sales-Inc) is a direct Makita distributor and an eBay Top Level Titanium Powerseller.  Our knowledgeable staff has the utmost dedication to a high level of service and customer satisfaction.  Please contact us directly if you have any questions regarding this guide.