Cordless batteries in a tool sale: record the condition honestly
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Describe a used cordless battery from evidence you have. A charge indicator, a recent recharge or a tool running briefly does not give you a measured remaining capacity.
Buyers need to know which packs are included, which equipment they belong with and what is known about their condition. They also need clear warning of reported faults. Do not hide a troublesome pack underneath the working tools in a mixed case.
Give each pack its own line
The cordless tool-kit inventory identifies the whole package. Add this battery record when packs differ in age, condition or supporting evidence:
| Field | Entry to make |
|---|---|
| Pack reference | A temporary inventory reference tied to a photograph |
| Manufacturer and model | Exact legible markings; record unreadable details |
| Marked specification | Transcribe the label without treating it as measured performance |
| Ownership and inclusion | Included, retained, hired or unresolved |
| Reported behaviour | Specific symptom and who reported it |
| Visible condition | Factual observation, without opening the pack |
| Existing test evidence | Date, method, result and assessor, if documented |
| Decision | Normal catalogue review, further assessment or withheld pending advice |
Do not combine different packs into one row saying “all good”. If three packs have records and a fourth does not, the fourth remains a separate uncertainty.
A brief functional observation can be described as exactly that, with its date and circumstances. It should not become a claim about run time under a buyer's workload. Avoid “holds full charge” unless the evidence supports the precise meaning being claimed.
Keep condition checks within competence
Record reported overheating, physical damage or other defects without attempting charging experiments or repairs. Obtain appropriate specialist advice about suspect batteries, including storage, handling and transport. This guide does not provide those procedures.
HSE's guidance on electrically powered equipment makes condition and suitability part of managing electrical risks in Great Britain. Use the manufacturer's instructions and competent assessment for the particular equipment; check the applicable requirements separately in Northern Ireland.
A PAT label on a charger does not establish a battery's capacity or condition. Keep the charger report attached to the charger it identifies.
Decide the lot after the record
A complete, accurately described kit may be easier to understand than loose packs spread across lots. That is a lotting decision, not permission to include an unresolved battery. Use the small-lot sorting worksheet once the inventory is reliable.
For a surplus sale, give UK Auction Group the pack list alongside the tools and chargers. Flag anything withheld or awaiting advice before photographs and quantities are approved.
Explore the workshops and tools guides.
Sources
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.