Hey everyone! I'm considering a deal from my local seller offering a 50% discount on the DeWalt DCB118 fast charger along with a 9Ah FlexVolt battery. Sounds like a steal, right? However, I'm a bit worried about some things I've heard regarding the charger. I've read it doesn't have any balancing capabilities and could potentially damage batteries. Since I'm just a weekend warrior, I typically use slower chargers to ensure my batteries last longer (I currently charge my 9Ah on the DCB112). My question is, can I use the fast charger to charge the 9Ah battery up to around 2 out of 3 bars and then switch it to the slower DCB112 to help prolong its lifespan? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this charger and any advice you might have!
5 Answers
As far as I know, none of DeWalt's chargers have balancing capabilities. I’ve seen discussions about it before; the charger mainly uses the ID pin to figure out the max charge current. Charging it to 2 out of 3 bars and then switching to a slow charger might not help since the chargers already have a staged charging process that runs at half current in the second stage.
If you don't need super fast recharges, the slow charger is better for battery health in the long haul. It really benefits the cells.
Before you jump in on that bundle, check around. Sometimes local sellers advertise a big discount, but you could find it cheaper on Acme Tool or Amazon.
I’m outside the US where 50% off is a solid deal for me! The charger typically costs about 40 US dollars, and the battery is around 95. I’m ordering them separately, so I can refuse either on arrival if needed.
Honestly, just throw it on the charger and forget about it. By the time you notice any issues, you’ll have probably gained more tools and batteries anyway!
I only use the slow DCB107 chargers for my FlexVolt batteries up to 12Ah. Also, the USB adapter can be a great slow charging option if you use it via USB-C.
But do you have issues with heat? Mine tends to get around 57-61 degrees Celsius after a couple of hours.
Oh, I totally forgot about the updates they made on this! Thanks for the heads-up.