Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt 3.3Ah NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

by Panasonic

• 15.6-volt Ni-MH 1/2-inch cordless drill/driver kit with keyless chuck
• Compact and lightweight yet powerful; dual speed ranges (0-400/0-1,300 rpm), 390 inch-pounds of torque, and electronic brake
• Durable plastic exterior and soft-pad grip for cushion
• Includes drill/driver, Two 3.3Ah batteries, 1-hour charger, and carrying case
• 9-inches long; 4.4 pounds; 1-year warranty

Product Description

Amazon.com

The Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit is a powerful, cordless tool with an ergonomic design that lets you work comfortably and effectively, whether you're a professional contractor or a serious do-it-yourselfer. This high-quality tool is an ideal choice for general construction, plumbing, electrical installation work, and finish carpentry.

Panasonic's EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH Cordless Drill/Driver at a Glance: Max. torque: 390 inch-pounds Speed at No Load: Low 65-450 rpm; High 200-1,450 rpm Clutch torque: 9-61 inch-pounds (3.0 inch-pounds per stage, 18 stages) Charging Time: 55 minutes Weight (including battery): 4.8 pounds

The EY6432GQKW is ideal for general construction, plumbing, electrical installation work and finish carpentry. View larger.

Powerful, Two-Speed Design For Versatility
This powerful 15.6-volt drill driver delivers a maximum of 390 inch-pounds of full-time torque, so you can be confident that it will get tough jobs done while letting you maintain control. And with a two-speed gearbox, you can ensure that you're using this tool smartly and effectively.

The low-speed setting of 65 to 450 rpm is ideal for tough jobs requiring high torque, such as drilling with large bits and driving screws in a controlled manner, while a high-speed of 200 to 1450 rpm is great for more general drilling and fastening in metal.

18-Speed Clutch for Tackling Tough Jobs
The EY6432GQKW is also equipped with an 18-stage clutch. This clutch system helps ensure accuracy and control while you're working, and it further extends the life of your drill driver by making sure the correct amount of torque is available for a variety of applications. This helps prevent driving screws too far, snapping them off, and damaging materials as you work.

Thoughtful, Ergonomic Construction for Ease of Use
A well-balanced tool like this drill driver is easier to work with, and it allows you to work long hours more comfortably. The EY6432GQKW measures a compact 8-3/16 inches in length and weighs less than five pounds. Ideal for both right- and left-handed users, this tool's ergonomic design includes a comfortable, contoured rubber grip to reduce fatigue during extended use. And convenient placement of the variable speed control trigger and forward/reverse switch permits simple, one-handed operation.

A heavy-duty keyless chuck means that a lost chuck key will never bring your work to a standstill again. And it makes changing bits fast and easy, which is important if you switch tasks often or wear protective gloves on the job.

Reliable, Quick-Charge Battery Power
Effective battery power means no more tangled extension cords that can limit your movement or cause a safety hazard. That's why this Panasonic drill driver is powered by a 3.3Ah Ni-MH battery pack that can be fully charged in just 55 minutes. This high-tech battery is industry exclusive, with 75-percent more capacity than the 2.0Ah Ni-Cd batteries that come with many standard drills.

This means less time spent waiting and more time spent working. And even when there isn't time for a full charge, the inverter charger features an "Emergency Charge" function that charges the pack to 15-percent of its full capacity in just five minutes.

This kit comes with a convenient second battery pack, so you don't have to worry about buying one separately.

What's in the Box
Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt Drill Driver, two Ni-MH battery packs, universal charger, and molded case.

Product Description

This model features the longest running 3.3 Amp Ni-Mh batteries in the industry, compared to other 18 Volt tools. The drill/driver weighs only 4.8 pounds but delivers 390 in./lbs. of torque. Max. Torque (in.-lbs.): 390, Volts: 15.6, Chuck Size (in.): 1/2, Keyless Chuck: Yes, Clutch Settings: 18, Reversible: Yes, Variable Speed: Yes, Side Handle: No, Battery Amp/Hour: 3.5Ah, Battery Included: Yes, (2) 3.5Ah Ni-MH batteries, Charger Included: Yes, 55-minute charger, Case Included: Yes, Tool Weight (lbs.): 4.8

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

341 of 346 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific combination of power, weight, size, & ergnomics... January 10, 2005

By Victor H. Agresti TOP 500 REVIEWER

Amazon Verified Purchase

Panasonic EY6432GQKW 15.6-Volt NiMH 1/2-Inch Cordless Drill/Driver Kit

Originally posted this review in January 2005; updated in February 2011. I own two of these drills, with a total of four 3.5 amp hour NiMH batteries.

Power. The Panasonic's 390 inch pounds is sufficient for most drilling and driving applications. However, putting things in perspective, my DeWalt DW235G 1/2" Heavy Duty 7.8 Amp corded drill has much more torque; so don't buy a cordless drill thinking you will have the "most powerful" tool.

Chuck. Terrific one-handed keyless chuck will tightly hold any bit, from tiny 1/16 inch round bits to 1/2 inch bits. Very quick to change out bits, even with one hand. My Panasonic chuck wobbles a tad and sometimes the shaft turns 1/2 revolution or so when trying to tighten the chuck, before it locks in place. (One Panasonic reviewer said "It is difficult to center small bits in the chuck"; probably a result of the chuck being open too far -- simply close-up the chuck more before inserting the bit.) Terrific electric brake. Release the trigger and the chuck stops instantly.

Weight. I can use it all day without arm fatigue. Heavier drills can be uncomfortable to use overhead for any length of time, and I'm 6/4 260 lbs.

Size. Relatively small for a powerful drill - e.g., it's shorter and 1/3 lighter than my Milwaukee V28 hammer drill/driver. Consequently, the Panasonic can be used in tight spots where larger drills won't even fit.

Run-time. Excellent run time due to the excellent NiMH batteries and their high amp-hour rating. When not in use it maintains a charge longer than any NiCad tool. On big jobs, keep the spare Panasonic battery in the charger so it will be ready when needed. On a construction job when the Panasonic is used frequently, a battery discharges about once a day. On rare days, I change out batteries twice. The battery does not get hot sitting in the charger for hours (or even days).

Battery life. Batteries began to noticeably deteriorate after 5 years of serious use. At the 6 year mark, my two drills are still usable, but run-rime is ˝ of what it was, drill speed is reduced, power is diminished, and the charge only lasts a week. At this rate of decline, by 6.5 years, the NiMH batteries will be completely dead. By comparison, the NiCAD batteries on my [previous] Porter/Cable, Delta, and Bosch cordless drills were totally dead within 3 years.

Clutch. Offers a wide range of choices, from a few pounds of torque for small screws, to drilling a large hole. The "lock" position bypasses the clutch to provide maximum torque. It's pretty easy to snap a screw and/or Phillips bit by over-torquing.

Charge time. About 30-40 minutes. However, this isn't important if the spare battery is kept fully charged, because run time is far longer than charge time.

Ergonomics. Fits my [large] hand well, has no sharp spots, nothing pinches my fingers and the grip is comfortable. The reverse switch is perfectly logical.

Speed control. Excellent, going smoothly from a dead stop to full speed. Release the trigger and it stops instantly.

Gearbox. No problems with either of my Panasonic drills, so the gears must be steel. (One reviewer said the motor was turning but not the chuck; my guess is he had the speed selector set between high and low.) Steel gears are important to me ever since my Porter Cable 14.4 v drill stripped its nylon gears after two years.

Noise. The Panasonic whines a little, as though its gears are really tight. So what; it is not annoying.

Auxiliary handle. The Panasonic does not come with such a handle, probably because it is not sufficiently powerful to need one. E.g., the Milwaukee V28 hammer/drill is much more powerful (it's also huge and more costly), has a side handle that's useful when working with large bits that can bind and stop instantly. I.e., that handle could save your wrist from a nasty sprain if the drill continued turning before you could release the trigger.

Ruggedness. Drills have been dropped onto the floor a couple of times from about 5', with no obvious effect.

Tool case. Case is molded plastic, has metal latches, and fits the tool just fine.

Reliability. Couldn't be better. I've used my two Panasonic drills on a 2-year total home renovation, finishing a basement, and countless other construction projects, without a problem of any kind.

Summary:

An outstanding tool with terrific batteries.

113 of 122 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome June 11, 2003

By Jonathan Peck

Shear power. At 390in./lbs. of torque I have been having trouble trying not to shear the heads off of galvanized screws (pre-drilled w/countersink). I've tried both speeds, and all of the clutch settings. This has forced me to drive screws 7/8 of the way home and finish off the deal by hand.

I just finished using this Panasonic to drill 3/4" x 2 3/8" deep holes into a hardwood workbench for bench dogs. The Panasonic maintains constant speed under strain, and while getting hot, it did not overheat. The only reason I would need to stop was to let the fostner bit cool down.

The 3.5 amp NiMH batteries are A+++++. The kit comes with two, so you always have one in the ready. One charge lasts a full day under heavy use. The drill is well balanced and has good ergonomics. The electronic brake stops on a dime. This can't be good for the brushes, but no problems so far. I like the weight of this drill, it is substantial but not too heavy.

The best feature of all - SMALL DRILL BITS WILL NOT SPIN IN THE CHUCK. WOW

I will probably dedicate the 15.6 volt to drilling and buy the Panasonic 12 volt cordless for driving screws. The 15.6 easily overpowers cheaply made screws. Highly recommended!!

48 of 49 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best overall drill February 21, 2004

By A. W. Rouse

I'd been waiting for years for the perfect overall drill to come into my workshop. I have a brother that sells power tools for a living and he told me about this Panasonic drill that he liked better than all the rest of the pack. The couple of selling points he had was the high torque at ANY SPEED... pull the trigger a bit to turn a screw in slowly even when the going gets tough... and the almost never-ending power supply of 3.5 Amp hours... that's enough power to run a halogen light for 75 minutes! I recently put in an entire subfloor on one charge, the battery just doesn't quit. Note of caution: the chuck has an anti-loosen mechanism that while loosening or tightening makes a pretty loud whine... or ratchteting click when hand turning.. but it pays off.. my bits never loosen while on my milwaukee it happens any time i bump the chuck while loosening screws.

I lucked out in the timing of my purchase.. they just came out with the 3.5AH battery.. it uses squared off battery cells to get more juice in almost the same space as the 3.0AH batteries that have cylindrical battery cells.

I've used the bosch 24V which has 25% more torque.. a monster.. but this drill will put 4" screws into hardwood w/o thinking about it so it has gobbs of torque yet is still a very nice small size.. it fits no problem between two studs to drill holes for wiring and i've used it to bore 2 1/2" holes in cabinets.

I bought the lantern and a spare battery and it's extremely convenient to have a constant portable light source that will last 5-6 hours straight with no dimming whatsoever (light just shuts off when battery is low).

Summary: impossible to beat this drill for overall use... get the new 12V impact if you want light and high power mostly for screw driving... get the 15.6 if you want the best general purpose drill made.

-awr