UPDATE: The DeWalt Bluetooth battery is now for sale and the ToolConnect App is available for download. Read the full story here:
There are a ton of tools on any given job site, which makes it close to impossible to be able to monitor where they all are. Not much can hold up job site progress more than rechargeable batteries going missing or not being charged. To solve that issue, tool manufacturing giant Dewalt is soon releasing a line of Bluetooth enabled rechargeable batteries.
The Dewalt DCB203BT and DCB204BT Rechargable batteries can transmit data and allow a user to control them remotely through the use of the new Tool Connect App, also created by Dewalt. The app, which will be available for both Andrioid and iOs, can communicate with each battery and determine how much battery life each one has, alert the user if the temperature gets too high, and can even send an alert or disable the battery if it leaves signal range. Being able to disable a battery when it leaves a range is especially important for theft deterrence. Now, you’ll know exactly when someone tries to remove it from the site and, even, if that person successfully gets it off site, the battery won’t work anyway.
If you’re the type of person that doesn’t like lending your batteries because you never get them back, Dewalt has even added a Lending Button to the app, which allows you to specify an amount of time another person can use your battery and, when time expires, the battery will shut off. After all, sharing is caring, but getting your stuff back is even better.
“Smart” tools and equipment is an exciting trend in the construction industry and this is no exception. The new batteries will be available in late July wherever Dewalt products are sold.