Method and device to monitor the current of a battery-operated handheld power tool

A method to monitor the current of a handheld power tool operated by a battery, via at least one counter, comprising the following steps:

• a) measuring the electric current drawn from the battery during operation of the electric tool;
• b) incrementing a reading of the counter by a certain increment whenever the measured current is higher than a specified upper limit value during a given counting interval;
• c) decrementing the reading of the counter by a certain decrement whenever the measured current is lower than the specified upper limit value during the given counting interval;
• and
• d) switching off the electric tool when the reading of the counter is higher than a specified limit value for the counter.

A device for monitoring the current of an electric tool operated by a battery, comprising the following:

• a measurer to measure the electric current drawn from the battery during the operation of the electric tool;
• at least one counter configured to increment its reading by a certain increment whenever the measured current is higher than a specified upper limit value during a given counting interval, and to decrement the reading by a certain decrement whenever the measured current is lower than the specified upper limit value during the given counting interval;
• and
• a contact-breaker to switch off the electric tool when the reading of the counter is higher than a specified limit value for the counter.