Introduction
Once you own one STIHL battery tool, the next one gets cheaper, because you can share the battery. But that only works if you start in the right battery system. STIHL has several, and choosing the right one up front saves money and frustration later.
Here is a plain-English guide.
The systems at a glance
AS system: small and handy
The smallest batteries, built into compact tools such as garden pruners and shrub shears. Ideal for quick, light jobs: tidying shrubs, pruning small branches, and small patches of lawn edging.
AK system: home and garden
The AK system is designed for home owners with typical town sections. It covers mowers, line trimmers, hedge trimmers, blowers and small chainsaws. The batteries are light, the tools are easy to handle, and it covers everyday garden jobs well.
AP system: power and run time
The AP system is STIHL's professional range. It is also a great fit for larger properties and lifestyle blocks, where you want more power and longer run times. AP batteries come in a range of capacities, and AP tools include heavier-duty chainsaws, brushcutters, blowers and the battery KombiEngines.
AR system: backpack batteries
For people using battery tools all day, such as contractors and council crews, AR backpack batteries carry a lot of energy on your back and connect to AP tools by a cable. Most home owners will never need one.
How to choose
Think about your biggest job, not your smallest
If you have a large lawn, a long hedge or firewood to cut, choose a system that handles those jobs comfortably. Everything smaller will be easy.
Think about how long you work
A battery that runs out halfway through mowing is frustrating. If you work in longer sessions, look at higher-capacity batteries, or a second battery so one charges while you use the other.
Think about what you will add later
Most people start with one tool and add more. Choose a system that includes the tools you are likely to want next year, not just the one you want today.
Check compatibility
Many tools in the AK range can also run on AP batteries, but not every combination works. Check with us before you buy and we will make sure your batteries and tools match.
Caring for your batteries
- Store them indoors, somewhere cool and dry, never in a freezing shed or a hot car
- Charge them before long storage; do not leave them flat for months
- Use the correct STIHL charger for your battery
- Keep contacts clean and dry
Look after them and your batteries will serve you for many seasons.
Still not sure?
Everyone's section and jobs are different, and the best choice is usually obvious once we know what you need to do.
Choose the system for the work you actually do, and every tool you add afterwards gets easier and cheaper.
Bring your questions into STIHL SHOP Rotorua. Tell us about your property and we will point you to the battery system that suits it, with no pressure to buy.