About a year ago there was an article in one of my home magazines about rechargeable batteries. Until I can locate it I will tell you the points I remember. All the tool companies recommended recharging Ni-Cads at the first sign of weakness. None suggested totally draining them and in fact the author stated that this could cause cell reversal in one or more cells and ruin the battery(which is exactly what I did to a Milwaukee 12 volt one week before I read the article. The author also explained that the batteries worst enemy is heat, heat while using, heat while charging and heat while storing. The higher voltage batteries will not last as long because of the additional heat they generate while in use. I keep my batteries in a small canvas work bag and take them out to the truck every morning and back in the house when I return where they are recharged whether they have been used or not.
As far as brand preference no opinion was given.
