Battery-operated tools give you increased mobility in the field -- unless the battery's dead. Prevent battery problems by using these field manual survival tips. The No. 1 thing to remember is that heat is your battery's biggest enemy. It saps energy and shortens its life. Store cordless tools in a cool place, and don't let them lay out in the sun or keep them in a hot truck or in your car trunk. If a battery gets heavy use and runs down, let it cool off a while before re-charging because chargers generate heat. Also, use tools until the battery runs all the way down. Partial charges create problems. Also, so-called "quick chargers" don't always bring all cells up to full power; after 10 or more "quick" power-ups, charge a battery overnight to top it off properly. Finally, if not used often, a battery will also run down. So, if you're attacking a big job, plan ahead and charge ahead of time. And that's the On The House tip for today.