Over in Europe, Bosch has come out with a new multi-voltage battery charger (GAX 18V-3) that can handle 12V Max and 18V batteries. It can also handle 14.4V battery packs, although that size battery isn’t very popular in the US.
It also features a USB charging port, capable of outputting up to 2.1A, for charging smartphones, tablets, and other USB-chargeable devices.
Advertisement
This is a sequential charger, meaning it recharges one battery at a time.
There’s also a 80% charge indication, signalling when the fast charge mode is finished, so you can pull a battery pack off earlier and still get close to full runtime.
It can fully recharge a 2.5Ah compact battery pack in 65 minutes, and a 5.0Ah pack in 107 minutes.
Bosch is calling this a fast charger, but it seems to be a regular standard speed charger, just with 2 charging ports.
Advertisement
It’s wall mountable, which is always convenient, but it looks like the wall mount allows for quick removal of the charger. This way, you can mount the wall bracket to a fixed location but still grab the charger for when you need it on the go.
While keyhole slots aren’t the worst way to mount a charger to the wall, I like the idea of this wall mount bracket a lot better.
This new charger is pretty straightforward, and I really hope Bosch decides to make it their standard charger. Milwaukee and Dewalt already include multi-voltage chargers as standard in most of their M18 and 20V Max power tool kits, and I’ve found this to be a great convenience.
I’m a fan of Bosch’s 12V Max battery platform, and own a few 18V tools that I love using.
Interestingly, the 12V pack is labelled 12V, indicating that either Bosch is bringing their 12V/12V Max branding overseas to replace “10.8V,” or that a USA release is planned. I’m inclined to believe the latter, but the images are found on Bosch’s UK site.
10.8V and 12V Max is the same thing, with the only difference being marketing language.
Buy Now(via Amazon)
First Thoughts
I want one, and would absolutely buy one for the workbench.
Right now it’s only been announced in Europe, with a price tag of around 50 to 60 GBP including VAT, so I’m hopeful for a price of not more than $60 USD.
The yeti
Oh great now I’ll be buying 12v stuff too if I buy this .
Aaron
Trust me, that’s not a bad thing! Bosch’s 12v brushless tools are the best of the 12v class IMHO. In addition to being the smallest overall, they’re built like tanks.
Jon
It is a fast charger – I just discussed this point a couple days ago, it’s the batteries that have gotten larger, not the chargers that have gotten slower!
Consider that if they made the charger powerful enough to charge a 6 amp battery in 30 minutes then it would deliver to much power for smaller packs. There is no way for the charger to tell if you’ve placed a larger or smaller pack on, so they have to default to a low enough current that the smaller batteries will be OK too.
In the battery industry a “fast” charger is one that you don’t leave on all day or overnight.
In my opinion if you are stuck waiting for a battery to charge then you either mismanaged your workflow, failed to place a battery on the charger after using it several times, or don’t own the appropriate number of batteries to start with!
Doresoom
Are you sure there’s no way for the charger to tell if it’s a smaller or larger pack? It seems like it would be pretty straightforward to just have a couple of bits set in the battery pack control card to tell the charger what model number it is.
Jon
Yes that’s possible, but most chargers do use the same charge current output no matter the size of battery you place on it.
The new DeWalt Flexvolt chargers actually charge at 8 amps for premium batteries and 4 amps for the rest so they are certainly detecting what is attached.
Stuart
It’s specs say 60+ minute charge time for a 3.0Ah pack. To me that’s standard.
Bremon
That’s right. The Milwaukee Rapid Charger is 5 amp charge rate, Dewalt’s FlexVolt kit fast chargers are 8 amp. Standard chargers are 3 amp: just like this Bosch one. And the electronics in the charger and batteries mean they can tell what battery is on the charger.
Jon
I just mentioned the other day how a 3 amp charge rate was considered a “fast charger” until just very recently when 5 and 6 amp batteries came out, and now 90 and 110 minute times are considered slow chargers even though it’s because the battery holds so much more energy than before.
Jon
“Bosch is calling this a fast charger …” No offense to yourself or your blog but I think the engineers at Bosch are more qualified to decide if it’s a “fast charger” or not.
Doresoom
The engineers at Bosch did not come up with the naming conventions of their products. Their marketing department did.
Jon
Ah yes you’re most likely correct! I guess it comes down to your personal definition after all since there is no hard and fast rule of what makes a “fast” charger.
I personally understand “fast charger” to mean “not a trickle charger”, so to me this charger still qualifies.
Stuart
Like Doresoom said, I’m also sure that Bosch engineers are not the ones calling this a fast charger.
It’s marketing language, and of the type that doesn’t seem to fit the product when put in comparative context.
As Tony said, Bosch’s BC1880 is a fast charger.
2.0Ah pack to 80% in 15 minutes, to 100% in 30 minutes.
6.0Ah pack to 80% in 35 minutes, to 100% in 55 minutes.
So that 80% is done in a fast charging mode, the remaining 20% in “long-life” mode.
This multi-voltage charger:
2.0Ah pack to 80% in 35 minutes, to 100% in 45 minutes.
6.0Ah pack to 80% in 100 minutes, to 100% in 120 minutes.
I don’t take offense, and welcome the discussion. There are times when I’m wrong, and discussion is the best way to learn or gain added insight.
Jon
Just as a matter of clarification, all lithium ion battery chargers charge to 80% in a “bulk” charge mode and then switch to a “taper” charge for the final 20%.
Yes I agree the BC1880 is certainly faster! However I still maintain that if you have a fast car and someone else has a faster car it doesn’t mean your car is slow!
In a few years when even bigger batteries are the norm could you describe the BC1880 as a standard speed? I suppose you could..
For additional giggles consider that Bosch has an older charger the BC660 which was sold as a “fast charger” at the time, and you can still find it described as such in old listings around the net. With just a 2 amp charge rate that charger takes 65 minutes to charge a 2 amp battery!
Doresoom
We seem to have hit the limit for nested replies, so I’ll just reply to Stuart’s last comment.
Would you describe DSL internet as fast internet? No? But it’s faster than dial up! I bet it was marketed as fast at the time it was developed too. But now it’s eclipsed by cable and fiber, and we’d all have a good laugh at the ISP trying to market it as “fast.”
The point is that Bosch is releasing a charger NOW that they’re branding as a “fast charger.” However, it’s a “fast charger” by the standard set a few years ago. It’s not in the current category of what qualifies as a “fast charger.” I think the point that Stuart and everyone else is disagreeing with you on is that Bosch is not being consistent with the current nomenclature and standards. Mince words all you want, that’s what’s going on here.
Stuart
“Fast” and “Long-Life” are Bosch’s terms for the 0-80% and 80-100% charging modes.
In this case I defered to Bosch’s terminology, as they are “more qualified to decide” what to call their fast charger’s different operating modes. =P
Your points are valid, but it comes down to a matter of opinion and context.
Can we call this a settled discussion? Otherwise we’ll end up in circles since I think we’re both right.
Next on my wishlist, a rapid multi-voltage simultaneous Bosch charger! =)
Stuart
@Doresoom
But Jon’s not wrong. Although we have a difference in opinions, I wouldn’t say I disagree with what he’s saying.
“Fast” is relative and depends on the context, as well as what’s become the norm.
Lefty
The BC1880 is Bosch’s (only) real fast charger. It will charge at 8A.
The rest of them are only rated for 2A/3A tops.
Tony
Jon, respectfully you have no idea what you’re talking about. Bosch already has a fast charger (BC1880) that already does exactly what you say that a fast charger can not do: it quick charges both Bosch fatpack and slimpack batteries. I know because I already own 2 of the BC1880 units. They’re great. You can read the spec’s for the BC1880 here:
https://www.boschtools.com/us/en/boschtools-ocs/chargers-bc1880-146184-p/
Stuart is absolutely right. This unit simply charges 2 different ports sequentially. Now if Bosch wants to call the process of sequential charging “fast”, well maybe that’s just what I would call “creative marketing” instead.
Jon
Sorry if you misunderstood, I didn’t say you can’t charge large and small batteries with the same charger, I was just pointing out that the charger delivers a fixed rate of current.
That means if they want the charger to be able to charge small packs and large packs then by design it can only deliver as much current as the SMALLEST pack can safely withstand.
The DeWalt flexvolt chargers do change their charge rate from 8 amps to 4 amps depending on the pack size, but these bosch chargers do not work like that.
Tony
Would it change your opinion if I told you that I just turned my Bosch BC1880 upside down and it clearly states on the bottom that it has an output of 8 Amps? Keep in mind that recharging a 2 Amp SlimPack Battery is fully supported on that model.
Jon
I didn’t express an opinion to start with, I am just pointing out facts and numbers.
The Bosch charger you are talking about doesn’t change the current output when you put different size batteries on it. It delivers the same fixed current for all sizes of packs.
So in other words, if your BC1880 didn’t have to also support slim packs then they could have designed it to output 12 amps. They had to go with 8 amps because you would fry a smaller battery with 12 amps.
The point pertaining to the original discussion is that manufacturers have to carefully balance “fast charging” and compatibility with older/smaller packs.
The other point I was making is that the definition of “fast charging” has changed recently. As Stuart mentioned above he considers a 60 minute charge time for a 3 AH pack to be “standard”. (That used to be considered fast! The comparison was charging batteries for several hours or overnight).
Stuart
I definitely see where you’re coming from, and agree with some of your points.
I’ve considered 3Ah in 60 minutes standard because that’s been the more or less de facto standard for a few years now.
I think this came around when brands jumped to Li-ion.
Faster chargers are often fast or rapid chargers, and slower chargers are often found bundled with consumer tools or special holiday season kits.
Martin
Bosch batteries have coding resistors for the voltage and maximum charge/discharge current, depending on single series or parallel series cells and which generation LiIon used. The normal 12v max chargers can charge 3.6, 7.2 , 10.8 and the 12V series. The 18V charger 14.4 and 18V slimpacks(1.3-2.5Ah) and normal packs(2.6-6.3Ah).
Will Aldridge
Yes!!! I have been no jealous of my buddies Milwaukee charger that does this. Hope it comes to the US soon!!
Patrick
Another announcement from Bosch for them catching up with a tool released by Milwaukee (or many other brands?) years and years ago. It’s why I switched from Bosch to Milwaukee for cordless – the Bosch’s are a bit nicer tools, but they’re a decade behind Milwaukee in terms of selection. And all too many instances they have an offering outside the US, but not in the US.
I do like the wall mount bracket though.
ACalz
yep I have all 18v Bosch tools, but for my 12v line I have Milwaukee M12 line they have way, way bigger selection the Bosch has in the 12 arena. I gave my father in law my 12v Bosch drill and driver years ago. Bosch is just to slow in putting out cordless tools. seriously it takes then years and years of research to bring out a duel battery charger?
JoeM
I wish DeWALT would do this with the 12/20V Slot next to their 8V Socket. That would make one heck of a universal Lithium Ion Charger.
If the DeWALT rep is reading this… I hope you pay attention! I want a DeWALT one of these!
Stuart
8V is a very small product line. IMHO, it wouldn’t be justified.
JoeM
Of the 4 tools they’ve released for the 8 Volt line, I have 2. And frankly, I think there’s room to grow on the 8 Volt Line. I just wish I didn’t have so many chargers, taking up so much space, for 2 batteries.
I can only imagine the utter mess and hydro bills that result from people with tools from 3 or 4 brands.
Stuart
There are 3 screwdrivers and 1 flashlight.
I’d like to see more tools, but I don’t think they’re interested.
We’ll sooner see 12V expansion, but I think weak demand and sales projections are holding them back.
JoeM
Disappointing, really. May be forced to buy a separate set of chargers and build my own charging station, for now. But, one day DeWALT will hopefully wise up and expand more lines.
Martin
the 12V max and the 10.8V are basically the same tools/ batteries/ chargers, expect to find clearance bargains of the 10.8V series, especially the brushed versions since most 12V drill drivers will be brushless EC motors in some time.
glenn
Frankly its a bit surprising that tool manufacturers that have a reasonable lineup in two voltages don’t have dual voltage chargers. It certainly makes it tempting to buy more tools from the one manufacturer.
AEG have just made one available here in AUS. even though their 12v line is very limited at the moment. Perhaps they have intentions of expanding the 12v line?
https://aegpowertools.com.au/products/charger/12-18v-multi-charger
Nate818
I always thought Milwaukee doing the same thing with their chargers is what got me on board with everything they make.
Hans
Bosch started rolling out 12v tools in the Netherlands and Germany, as opposed to 10.8v.
It’s branded as being “100% compatible with 10.8v!”, which is quite funny.
But to answer your question, 12v is the new 10.8v in Europe now.
Toolfreak
I thought the reason they had to use 10.8V was due to the consumer laws, and “12V” or even “12V Max” wasn’t tolerated as a legally accurate claim for a tool that spends most of its time operating below 12 volts.
I thought this was for Germany as well, but perhaps it’s only for some other European countries (the UK?) and Bosch is now putting 12V on the tools marketed in countries where the laws don’t prohibit it.
Stuart
Hmm.
Most peculiar. I’m still waiting to hear back from Bosch about this.
Jon
No need to wait:
http://www.bosch-pt.com.au/au/en/professional/news-promos/from-10.8v-to-12v/from-10.8v-to-12v.html
Interesting indeed!
Stuart
Yes, but I’ve seen 12V in recent USA press materials as well. 12V vs. 12V Max will be a lot easier on me.
That Max designation won’t necessarily go away here, and I hope it doesn’t go away when talking about other battery pack voltages.
Changing 18V to 20V, or 20V Max to 20V is going to confuse a LOT of people.
Jon
I think it’s great, there could eventually be a lot less confusion in the market if everyone settles on cell count * 4 as the listed voltage for batteries.
Right now 18 compared to 20 is a relatively minor discrepancy, but when you start talking about bigger batteries with many more cells, and even EV batteries with super high voltages it’s going to be more important to standardize on a nomenclature that makes sense for everyone and doesn’t confuse consumers.
Jon
Apparently the EU has now relaxed their position regarding nominal voltage vs full pack no load voltage.
DeWalt 20v Max Fanboi’s be like “whhhhhaaaa??!”
Nick Marques
I was excited about this until I read it was a sequential charger.
Jim Felt
This unit is available now for mail order in the U. K.
That said Amazon UK does not yet list it.
Crap.
Chris Fyfe
Bout time , their competitors have had one for a couple of years . Don’t get me wrong , I like Bosch stuff , but I’m trying to get by woth as few battery platforms as possible . I have their 12 volt Jigsaw , and with this charger , when it becomes available , I would be much more willing to add one of their 18V tools to the mix .
Chris
Sqsieben
GAX 18V-3 – CHARGING TIMES TO 100%
Chargin Current: 3.0A
2.0Ah 10.8v: 45 Mins
2.5Ah 10.8v: 65 Mins
4.0Ah 10.8v: 85 Mins
2.0Ah 18v: 45 Mins
3.0Ah 18v: 68 Mins
4.0Ah 18v: 85 Mins
5.0Ah 18v: 107 Mins
6.0Ah 18v: 130 Mins
link youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CnyWqWa-wI0 (russian)
Too compare:
Bosch AL 1880 active air cooling chargin current; 8.0A
Bosch AL 1860 active air cooling -II- 6.0 A
Bosch AL 1820 no active air cooling -II- 2.0A