Hey folks, I recently got a DCB1102 charger that came with one of my Powerstack batteries, but I also have the older DCB112 charger. I've noticed that the DCB1102 has a two-stage charging system, while the DCB112 doesn't seem to have that functionality. Will this difference affect how my batteries charge, or is it just an extra LED indicator showing when my batteries are 80% charged? Should I keep using the DCB112 to charge my Powerstack batteries, or switch to the DCB1102?
3 Answers
All Dewalt chargers are designed to be two-stage, but they don't quite follow the standard constant current/constant voltage (CC/CV) method. They charge at full rate until around 80%, then drop to half the rate, so think of it as CC/.5CC. The newer chargers just have a light that indicates when they hit the second stage. Regardless, the charging elements are similar between the older and newer models. Just search some old threads for more insight!
It's probably okay to keep using the DCB112 since both chargers max out at 2 amps. However, Powerstack batteries are getting a bad rap for early failures and there hasn't been much clarity on why that happens. I’d recommend using the DCB1102 since its two-stage charging could be more beneficial for the Powerstacks. Dewalt hasn’t addressed the reliability concerns, so it’s a bit of a gamble right now.
Generally, all Dewalt chargers are supposed to operate on a two-stage method. The newer ones indicate when they switch to the second stage, around the 80% mark. Your DCB112 should work just fine for charging!
I've noticed more complaints about the 5ah Powerstack failures, but not so much with the smaller ones. I waited about a year and a half after they released to see how they performed before buying, and the price dropped significantly too! I always thought the 5ah were too pricey for what they offered.