I recently did a haul of Milwaukee gardening tools and got a Forge 8.0 battery with a rapid charger for free. I know that theoretically, a rapid charger can generate more heat and potentially shorten battery life over time, but I'm curious about how much practical degradation actually happens. As a DIYer using the M12 system, I charge 2.0 and 5.0 Ah batteries a couple of times a week, while my M18 5.0 and Forge batteries for my blower, pole saw, router, and grinder get charged once a week. Since I have multiple batteries, I don't mind waiting for a full charge cycle. I'm considering giving one of the chargers to my neighbor, whose charger just died. Should I keep the rapid charger or the regular charger for myself?
3 Answers
Both chargers have their advantages, but considering how often you use your tools, the rapid charger seems like the better choice for you. With your current usage pattern of charging 1-2 times a week and having several batteries, the heat impact from rapid charging is likely to be minimal. Plus, Milwaukee’s rapid charger has cooling features that help manage heat and reduce wear on the battery. If your neighbor only uses their tools lightly, they’ll be just fine with the standard charger. For heavy users like you, the rapid charger is definitely more beneficial.
I think if you compare a battery charged only with the rapid charger to one charged only with the regular charger, the slow-charged battery would probably last longer, but maybe not by a huge margin. I use rapid charging for my batteries at work and still get great mileage out of them. So as long as you're not leaving your batteries in a hot car or using them in tools designed for bigger batteries, I wouldn't worry too much about the rapid charger affecting battery life. Just be aware that the supercharger pushes things even further with higher speeds!
I recently switched to the Super Charger, and even though I had some doubts at first, I really appreciate how fast it charges my batteries. I just wish it would have included a section for charging 12-volt batteries like in the new releases. Holding onto a second rapid charger isn’t a bad idea, especially if you’re using multiple batteries and need quick turnaround times!