Battery operated device

Battery operated device comprising a DC motor (22), a battery (9) comprising a plurality of cells (10, 11, 12) connected in series, circuit means connecting said battery (9) to said DC motor (22), said circuit means including a switch device (23) for initially supplying a lower battery voltage from an intermediate tap (17) of the battery (9) and then a full battery voltage obtained from a first end tap (15) of the battery (9) are supplied to the DC motor (22) for changing the rate of speed of the motor, wherein the improvement comprises that the switch device (23) is a two-pole switch device (23) including a first switch (24) for transmitting in a closed position the lower battery voltage, and a second switch (25) supplying in a closed position the full battery voltage to the DC motor (22), the first switch (24) is arranged so that it remains in the closed position at least over a long switch path, and the closing of the second switch (25) lags behind the closing of the first switch (24), and means (18;

• 32, 33) for preventing a short circuit between the intermediate tap (17) and the first end tap (15) of the battery (9) when the second switch (25) is moved into the closed position.