Abstract: A tool usage monitoring apparatus includes a housing in which is positioned a battery powered sensor and a processing unit. The processing unit is in communication with the sensor and controls power from the battery to the sensor, to switch the sensor from an active state and a dormant state. The processing unit includes a memory and a timer. The processing unit is programmed to switch the sensor from a dormant state to an active state at a preset periodic interval and record sensor data into the memory. The periodic time interval is not more than approximately every twenty minutes and not less than approximately every one minute, in order to maintain an accurate record of tool usage, while minimizing the size of the battery and the size of the memory required to record months of usage data.