Hello, everyone.
This is Enta.
Here's a really creepy story for today.
It's not just slope construction workers—tons of people use it on civil engineering and construction sites.Makita Batteries。
Are you Team Makita or Team Hi-Koki?
Which one do you guys prefer?
If you don't know this, it'll cause a fire on site. Seriously.
Is the battery I bought online genuine?
Recently, I've been seeing some that look just like Makita's genuine batteries,"Counterfeit Battery"Apparently, there are a lot of them out there...
The guy at the hardware store where we always shop told me this.
I hear Makita has also issued a warning.
"Compatible batteries" have been around for a while, haven't they? The ones without the Makita logo—the ones that are clearly from a different manufacturer.
They sell it with a sign that says, "This is not an OEM part."
That's a problem in itself, but what's really bad this time is something else entirely.
"Counterfeit products" that look almost exactly like the genuine articlesIt seems that large quantities of it are being imported from China.
In December 2023, the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry notified Yahoo! Auctions and Yahoo! Flea Market that “a large quantity of non-genuine batteries with model number BL1860B had been shipped from a factory in China, and there is a very high likelihood that this constitutes a violation of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Act.”
(Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry: Information Provided to Yahoo Japan Corporation, December 18, 2023)
Furthermore, Makita itself has issued a warning on its official website stating, “Beware of counterfeit and non-genuine batteries.”
This isn't just a matter of "it might be a little dangerous"; it's something the government is actively working on.
Fire accidents are actually happening...
You might think, “Isn’t that a bit of an exaggeration?” but it doesn’t seem to be.
According to a report released by NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation) in June 2024, the use of non-genuine batteries canHouse fires that completely destroy homes occur every yearand,
"There have been reports of incidents where the device caught fire simply while being left sitting after charging," he said.
(NITE, “Beware of Low-Priced, High-Risk Non-Genuine Batteries,” June 27, 2024)
Lithium-ion batteries contain flammable electrolyte.
Once a fire starts, it spreads rapidly. It would be no laughing matter if the prefab building at the site were to burn to the ground.
It seems they also understand the technical reasons behind the recent spate of accidents involving non-genuine Makita batteries.
In 2018, Makita released an ultra-fast charger (DC18RF).
This charges at a high current of up to 12A. The protection circuit in counterfeit and compatible batteries is a copy of Makita’s older, early-model circuit board, which is not designed to handle high-current charging; as a result, the charging process does not stop even if the battery becomes overcharged, leading to a fire.
(VOLTECHNO, “Why Accidents Involving Compatible Batteries for Power Tools Have Suddenly Increased”)
I suspect the original version would stop charging at this point.
5 Ways to Tell the Difference Between Genuine and Counterfeit Products
It’s easiest to see in the photos, but here’s a summary of the distinguishing features officially announced by Makita. (Makita News, Inc.）
① The font used for the company logo is different
The font used for the genuine "Makita" logo is slightly different from that on the counterfeit product. It's hard to tell just by looking at them individually, so please compare them side by side.
② The shape and height of the battery rails are different
The shape and height of the rail (sliding part) used to attach the battery to the main unit differ between genuine and imitation parts.
③ The terminals and air vents are different
The charging port and the inside of the ventilation slots on the side of the battery appear white on genuine products, whereas they are black on counterfeit ones.
④ Whether or not there is a white cap
One of the screw holes on the bottom of the genuine product has a "white cap." This is designed to prevent the product from being easily disassembled. Counterfeit products do not have this feature.
⑤ Presence or absence of red tape
Genuine products have "red tape" on the connector terminals to help verify proper installation. Counterfeit products do not have this.
High-resolution images—click here for more details
Even home improvement store models aren't suitable for professional work sites
We've been talking about counterfeit goods so far, but there's one more thing I want you to be careful about.
Those "Makita battery-powered tool sets" sold at home improvement stores—Home Improvement Store ModelMost of them are low-cost models.
It is a genuine product. It is not a counterfeit.
However, it is designed with the frequency and conditions of use by general consumers in mind, andIt wasn't designed with the assumption that professionals would use it intensively every day.
When professionals use them heavily every day, the difference in durability becomes apparent. The quality of the wear-and-tear parts—both the battery and the motor—is different.
If you use it every day in a harsh environment like a construction site, it will break down quickly.
Professional-grade tools and batteries are built to last.If you're going to buy one, go for a professional-grade modelPlease do so.
I made a super funny picture, so I'm posting it here lol
This is just way too much, lol.
So where should I buy it?
The answer is simple.
Makita Authorized Dealers, Hardware Stores, and Building Materials StoresBuy it there. That's all.
The manufacturer's suggested retail price (excluding tax) for the Makita genuine battery BL1860B (18V, 6.0Ah) is24,400 yenThat's it.
If you search for “Makita Genuine” on Amazon or Rakuten, you’ll find plenty of listings in the 16,000–20,000 yen range.
There is a very real possibility that this has become a hotbed for counterfeit goods.
Be wary of genuine products that are too cheap. (Even if they’re priced similarly, you might not be able to tell!)
To be honest, I don't really recommend online shopping because you can't see the items in person.
It's definitely best to buy from a trusted brick-and-mortar store where you're a regular.
If you skimp on a single battery and a fire breaks out on site, the damage could be incalculable.
What if a battery catches fire on the job site? It wouldn't just injure you—it could also endanger the workers around you.
Reporting to the general contractor, compensation for damages, and—in the worst-case scenario—suspension of construction. If the prefabricated structure burns down completely, who will be held responsible?
If this were a construction site, things could get even more out of control...
I've heard that these days, if you use counterfeit products on a job site, you won't be allowed on the site.
This isn't about skimping on genuine parts that cost a mere 20,000 to 30,000 yen each.
If you want to complete the job quickly, cleanly, accurately, and reliably, don’t use counterfeit products!
"Good work starts with good tools." That's what people have always said.
See you later.
