Replies

1. 
   popawheelie | Mar 27, 2009 05:47am | #1

   I've heard they are interchangable. I don't remeber hearing about the tab.

2. 
   CRF | Mar 27, 2009 05:55am | #2

   Mine do not have a tab and I switch back and forth all the time.  Seems to work fine.

1. 
   JulianTracy | Mar 27, 2009 05:59am | #3

   Maybe it's just the drills/drivers that have a hammer mode? Maybe they figure those'll be getting more of a workout...Anyways - easy to cut it off - the batts fit fine after that.JT

1. 
   Shoeman | Mar 27, 2009 06:11am | #4

   If I remember right - which is a big if

   The 3 amp hour batteries will work in either the white or blue tools, but the 1.5 amp hours only work in the white tools

   I think the reasoning is that the high draw tools might overheat the 1.5 battery

   Don't really know for sure, but, that is the way I remember it

3. 
   bcarpentry | Apr 04, 2009 05:01am | #5

   I have the blue 18 v kit w/ the standard lithion batts and picked up a used wht drill w/ 2 compact lith ion batteries. I chiseled the tab off my tools months ago and haven't seen any problems yet. The compacts don't have anywhere near the power but they were "cheap."

1. 
   jpeaton | Apr 04, 2009 11:10pm | #6

   I called makita about this very issue and here is what they said....
   ok to use the 3.0 batteries with the 1.5 tools(white).NOT ok to use the 1.5 batteries with the 3.0 tools(blue)..they do indeed work but long term will burn up the motors in the blue tools.

1. 
   JulianTracy | Apr 06, 2009 06:07am | #7

   That's odd... because every manufacturer in the past has come out with two amp hours styles of batteries - and the only difference is how long they run the tool, but they are still putting out the same voltage.Like Dewalt's XRP batts vs. the XR batts. Or Bosch's platinum batteries compared with the red-topped models...Anyone here smarter than me in Batts technology that can explain how that is?JT

1. 
   JulianTracy | Apr 06, 2009 06:11am | #8

   I can see that it may be very similar to using a tablesaw on a long cheap extension cord - still technically getting 110 volt, but it's not good for the motor.But - did Makita then install auto-shutoff circuits in the white tools to avoid them from over working the 1.5 batts they came with?Because, I was always under the understanding that the white tools were identical to the green tools aside from the run time of the batts.They MUST have built in some sort of heat/power limit kill switch in them to avoid motor damage.So - maybe we can use the green tools with the 1.5 batts but just take care not to really use the heck oujt of them when using the 1.5 batts...JT

1. 
   Ryan1 | Apr 06, 2009 07:56pm | #10

   I wouldn't be so sure about saying that Makita MUST have built in some sort of auto shutoff for high heat/low power. Remember that to many engineers simple is best and the tab on the batteries should do the job and protect the tool's motor from undersized batts.The tab on the battery would be cheaper also. So now the bean counters are happy and so are the engineers, what more could Makita want? <G>

2. 
   Ted W. | Apr 06, 2009 03:10pm | #9

   I was thinking something along that line... sort of like running a heavy duty tool on a mile long extension cord will eventually burn out the motor from not getting enough juice.~ Ted W ~

   Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.netSee my work - TedsCarpentry.com