I recently picked up a DCS386 saw that's part of the Flexvolt Advantage series, and I got a great deal on it – just $10 with a charger and batteries! I'm wondering if my 8Ah Powerpack from my DCD1007 will work well with the DCS386. Should I stick with this setup or go for the DCS384 instead? The main difference I noticed is the vibration control. Can anyone clarify if the Flexvolt Advantage features will transfer to the tools when using the Powerstack and Powerpack?
2 Answers
I haven't tested the DCS386 with the PowerStack 5.0 yet, but I have with other Flexvolt Advantage tools like the DCS573. It definitely seems to run better with the 5.0PS compared to a standard 5.0XR. By the way, scoring that saw, charger, and batteries for only $10 is an incredible deal! You should definitely hang onto that setup rather than returning it!
Using the Powerpack should work fine with the DCS386, but keep in mind it'll never run like a true 60V tool, regardless of which 20V battery you use. The biggest difference you might experience is in battery run time. If your Powerstack is a decent 5Ah (not the smaller 1.7Ah), you should be golden!
That's a bit misleading, really. The so-called 'Flexvolt Advantage' is mostly a marketing term. The 8Ah Powerpack generally performs very closely to the 9Ah Flexvolt battery.
I've seen the DCD999 performing similarly on the Powerstack 5Ah compared to a Flexvolt 9Ah, so I figured the same would apply here. In the case of the DCD998 with power detect, they claim Flexvolt is better, but I'm curious if the same holds true for reciprocal saws.
Actually, I just got 2 XR 5Ah batteries and a 4A charger, and they let me pick a tool too. The $10 I mentioned was just the charge for the other tool, but it raises my main concern: would the 384 actually perform better than the 386 with a Powerstack?