Dewalt has officially announced their new 20V Max cordless air compressor, model DCC2520. The new Dewalt cordless air compressor features FlexVolt Advantage technology, which gives it a power and performance boost when paired with a FlexVolt battery.
The new Dewalt 20V Max air compressor is said to be ideal for general contractors, remodelers, finish carpenters, cabinetry installers, and trim installers. It can be paired with pinners, staplers, brad nailers, and finish nailers to satisfy a wide range of fastening tasks.
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When paired with a 20V Max Li-ion battery, the Dewalt DCC2520 delivers a max pressure of 125 PSI. The max pressure specs increase to 140 PSI when it’s powered with a FlexVolt battery.
The compressor has a 2.5 gallon air tank and Dewalt’s “OneTurn” regulator for quick and precise adjustments.
The compressor is oil-free, with an 80 dBA noise rating. It also has a covered on/off switch and a heavy duty rollcage for jobsite durability
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Dewalt DCC2520 Features & Specs
- 2.5 gallon air tank
- 125 PSI max with 20V Max battery
- 140 PSI max with FlexVolt battery
- 1.0 SCFM at 90 PSI
- Weighs 21.5 lbs (bare tool)
- OneTurn regulator
- Oil-free pump
Price: $199 for the bare tool (DCC2520B), $299 for the kit (DCC2520T1)
Availability: Bare tool is out now; the kit will start shipping in September 2021
The Dewalt DCC2520T1 kit will come with a DCB1106 6Ah charger and DCB606 6.0Ah FlexVolt battery.
Buy Now: Bare Tool via Home Depot
Buy Now: Kit via Home Depot
The compressor is made in the USA with global materials.
Discussion
Here’s where things might get a little complicated. Dewalt already offers a FlexVolt cordless air compressor, and it’s been out for four years now. The FlexVolt air compressor has only ever been available as a kit.
Now, the new 20V Max with FlexVolt Advantage air compressor has already launched as a bare tool and will be launching soon as a kit which will include a charger and the same 6Ah FlexVolt battery as the FlexVolt air compressor is bundled with.
The 20V Max with FlexVolt Advantage kit will be priced the same $299 as the FlexVolt kit, and it comes bundled with the same 6Ah battery.
At the surface, it looks like Dewalt updated their FlexVolt air compressor to be compatible with 20V Max batteries.
But, there are some performance differences, at least on paper.
Dewalt 20V Max (DCC2520) vs. FlexVolt (DCC2560) Cordless Air Compressor Comparison
When powered with a 20V Max battery, the new air compressor delivers 125 PSI max pressure. It delivers 140 PSI max pressure when powered with a FlexVolt battery. The FlexVolt air compressor delivers 135 PSI max pressure, and it’s only compatible with FlexVolt batteries.
FlexVolt batteries can power the brand’s 60V Max cordless power tools, as well as their 20V Max tools and accessories.
Whereas the FlexVolt air compressor delivered 1.2 SCFM at 90 PSI, the new 20V Max with FlexVolt Advantage air compressor delivers 1.0 SCFM at 90 PSI. In other words, the FlexVolt model delivers 20% more air volume, and the 20V Max model 16.7% less.
The two air compressors look to be nearly identical, at least in general construction and form factor, although there could be minor tweaks, optimizations, or other subtleties that aren’t visible in the product images.
Given the air volume specs, I would expect for the new Dewalt cordless air compressor to fill a slightly slower rate than the FlexVolt model. Since the tank pressurizes to 125 PSI with a 20V Max battery, compared to 135 PSI for the FlexVolt model, fill up times might be shorter. When powered with a FlexVolt battery, the tank fills to 140 PSI, and if the airflow rate doesn’t change then this will mean for longer fill times, although a higher tank pressure means less frequent fill-up cycles.
Basically, what this all means is that the new 20V Max with FlexVolt Advantage cordless air compressor has slightly lower specs compared to the FlexVolt model, at least when paired with a 20V Max battery. When paired with a FlexVolt battery, it has a slightly better max pressure spec and slightly lower airflow rating at 90 PSI.
The new 20V Max model is compatible with both 20V Max and FlexVolt batteries, and it’s available with bare tool and kit options. The kit is launching at the same $299 price as the FlexVolt kit. The chargers are a little different, but both kits have a FlexVolt battery.
I reached out to Dewalt with two questions that I hope will help us better understand the new compressor:
1) Will the new 20V Max with FlexVolt Advantage air compressor be replacing the existing FlexVolt model?
2) Will higher capacity and larger form factor 20V Max batteries (such as 6Ah, 8Ah, and 10Ah batteries) also provide a performance boost?
This seems like a good move. Personally, I would sacrifice a tiny bit of performance for FlexVolt tools to also be compatible with 20V Max batteries. But with FlexVolt batteries backwards-compatible with 20V Max tools, is this version of the air compressor really needed?
With this news, I now have the feeling that maybe a new larger and higher performing FlexVolt air compressor is coming next. I think that such a development would help put this new 20V Max FlexVolt Advantage model into better context.
Jared
I feel exactly the same way – I would definitely appreciate 20v max compatibility – in all Flexvolt tools honestly.
However, I appreciate someone using the tools professionally might feel differently. In that case perhaps performance is king and there is value in building up an extensive 60v battery collection.
I, on the other hand, would sooner have a couple Flexvolt packs and like to be able to rely on my 4ah and 5ah to bridge the gap if I run out of 60v power. Battery packs aren’t cheap.
One thing I don’t understand is why the tools can’t all be Flexvolt Advantage. Is there something about the tech that means a straight Flexvolt tool is inherently more powerful with a 60v battery than a Flexvolt Advantage tool?
MM
There’s no technical reason why, generally speaking, though some of the tools will obviously have miserable performance with a 20 V batt if they contain a 60V capable motor.
I suspect that this might be a deliberate decision by Dewalt. Let’s say they make the 12″ miter saw backwards-compatible with 20V batts, and Joe Homeowner uses the pair of 2 AH batts that he got with his compact drill kit. Needless to say its cut performance is going to be….disappointing. Now Joe Homeowner goes on TweetyBookGram and leaves a pile of negative reviews complaining about how bad this new saw is and how he demanded his money back while being totally unaware the problem was really his own poor batt choice.
If I were working for the marketing department of Dewalt that exact thing would be a huge concern of mine, and I’d want to make sure it would be physically impossible for someone to put an under-performing battery in an expensive tool lest the tools get a bad reputation due to user error.
MM
…for some reason the spam filter went nuts and wouldn’t let me post all this together…
The other complicating factor is specifications. All the tool companies publish specs like rpm, torque, and so on. Those specs are affected by battery voltage. A tool that had certain specs at 60V will not deliver the same rpm, torque, etc, at 20V. So what number do they quote on the packaging? Whatever option they choose is sure to confuse customers.
Now don’t get me wrong, I think the idea you have is sound for most tools, but I’m not sure the marketing side agrees so I’m not sure Dewalt will go for that idea.
Stuart
I’m sorry, that happens sometimes, although rarely. Skynet doesn’t like certain combinations of words. If/when that happens, and you can’t break up a comment, copy/paste, leave a “placeholder” post, and email me the comment. I can’t even create a new comment via the form with offending combinations of words, I can only edit it in via the back-end of the site.)
Stuart
With a 20V Max cordless power tool, you have to take into account the batteries that a user might want to pair it with. This could be a lower capacity 10-cell battery, or maybe even a 5-cell battery. These days it could also mean a 5-cell high capacity battery.
With a 60V Max FlexVolt tool, you don’t need to consider any of that, the minimum performance is based on a 15-cell 6Ah battery. Because of that, you can design a more powerful tool.
When FlexVolt came out, the 20V Max system maxed out with a 5Ah battery. FlexVolt launched with a 6Ah battery and a 9Ah battery was announced and released a short time later.
So, at the time, 20V Max tools were designed around 5Ah max battery pack size, and 60V Max FlexVolt tools were designed around 6Ah and 9Ah battery sizes.
Things are very different now, with 20V Max batteries now available up to 10Ah.
20V Max “with FlexVolt Advantage” allows for tiered performance, something they couldn’t or wouldn’t do when FlexVolt first came out.
All tools cannot be FlexVolt Advantage – this is something that needs to be programmed and built into the tools from the start. For FlexVolt Advantage, you could also think of it as a tool that has a “lite” mode when powered by lower capacity batteries.
GML
The weight of these portable compressors is really tempting (21.5lbs). I would be just as tempted to get cordless nailers though if going this route.
Nathan
so the flexvolt tool it sounds like works a bit harder over all. which is to be expected.
the more airflow at pressure. and I bet the regulator is slightly different to cut the flow down to make it a bit easier for the motor to keep up while using less strength motor.
I wonder if there will be a V2 model flexvolt tool out in a bit that is now also at 140psi. Like how there are some different circular saws etc. based on year of build.
random thought.
Stuart
I would think that if there’s a new FlexVolt model, it’ll be more powerful and with a larger air tank.
Nathan
not drastically updated – update the circuit card, get a bit more out the battery, spin the motor a little faster, then up the pressure keep the flow rate and runtime.
like the circular saw – spins just a bit faster.
ca
How about a 120V corded/cordless compressor?
James
Assumptions for my question:
1) DCC2520 has no benefit from DCB206, 208 or 210 power detect batteries (at time of comment)
2) Dewalt does not have a Power Detect air compressor in the works
If the above are true, what is the purpose of the power detect line unless its going to be a smaller line of tools compared to FVA?
Stuart
1) I asked and am waiting to hear back. I wasn’t comfortable assuming one way or the other.
2) I don’t think so. The most compelling reason to do that would be to ensure a comparable Lowe’s specific model, but I don’t think Dewalt would want to compete against their Craftsman model – https://toolguyd.com/craftsman-v20-cordless-air-compressor-cmcc2520m1/
James
following up, did Dewalt get back in regards to the DCB206,208 and 210 batteries?
Makes it much more appealing for me if they give a higher PSI as I do not have any flexvolts
Stuart
There are a couple of other improvements with this model, such as a higher efficiency motor.
Nathan
so realize here the main difference in these tools is the circuit board connection to the battery.
so PD models – recognize the deeper current load of the 20V 8Hr and other batteries – pulls more current though – thus a bit more motor speed or torque – apply that to the tool. so the drill has a bit more torque etc
FVA model – similar thing different sense. Now you have 3 rows in parallel, even more current though put at 20V – keep the run time, work harder etc.
FV tool – runs at more voltage, less amps, less heat, has more potential to the motor to get extra power for less amp draw. . . . .
Now why the difference when another circuit card could recognize either high current 20V or FV battery and have the benefits of both in one tool. That’s the part I have a bit of trouble with. There should just be a increase power tool that adds ability with either the battery system
mark
Just wait till they muddy up the waters even more when they introduce the power detect version at Lowes with an 8ah 20v battery… Man whose steering this ship?
John Fal
Mark. Right! lol
John Fal
I just want to see more Flexvolt tools made. Dewalt is so slow in making new things that they push people into other brands like Milwaukee, makita ect. and now they need to keep an eye on flex. Come on Dewalt!!!
Jim Felt
None of these companies are better then their CEO. Maybe that’s been the “change” or lack thereof we publicly see as dopey, slow to market, unresponsive, “odd” customer service?
After all Tim Cook has taken Apple far beyond where Steve Jobs left off.
Maybe what Bosch USA, Dewalt and a few obvious “others” need to explore? ;-)~
John
I’m going to be paying attention to further details on this.
Air nailers have been on my wish list for some time, but I haven’t liked the traditional compressor set-ups (noise, and cords), nor the battery powered guns (weight, and high cost per gun).
This appears to hit a sweet spot for me, allowing me to buy several nailers, a quieter compressor, and some of the convenience of a battery-powered system.
Price seems reasonable.
Matt
80db is not quiet in my opinion 🤷♂️
Stuart
Hmm, on second thought I agree.
The FlexVolt compressor definitely sounds less harsh and shrilly compared to traditional pancake compressors, but looking at the specs it’s only quieter than Porter Cable’s 6 gallon pancake style air compressor by 2dB, which isn’t much at all.
MM
2dB might not seem like much on paper but remember that dB are a logarithmic scale. 3 dB is a *doubling* of volume. 2 dB translates into a 1.58 difference in power; that Porter Cable compressor is a full 58% louder than the Dewalt.
Bob
With all the quiet motor technology that exists, you would think they’d throw one into this thing and make it around 60 db instead of 80. Huge difference.
MM
The motor isn’t where the noise comes from, it’s the compressor mechanism itself. Every time that little piston comes to the end of travel and pushes its compressed air charge into the tank there’s a “pop”, like opening a champagne bottle. This is the main source of the noise. And there’s not much which can be done about it, at least for a portable compressor. Having a higher displacement but slower speed compressor is much quieter. The problem is that this is much bigger and heavier, making it counterproductive for a compressor which is supposed to be portable.
I have an Eaton Compressor in my shop (probably not the Eaton you are thinking of, this is a small maker of air compressors). It’s a dual-stage piston unit mounted on top of a big tank like most garage or workshop models. The difference is that the pump is several times the size of most similar size compressors but it is run at very low RPM, in my case about 500. It is quiet enough that you can talk on the phone standing right next to it. It’s quieter than my old Ryobi cordless inflator. It’s like comparing the power output of a big diesel running at idle with a compact car engine screaming at 8000 rpm. There’s no reason tech like that couldn’t be used on a jobsite compressor–and it would be a good thing for longevity as well because the parts aren’t stressed as much….problem is now it weighs 200 lbs….
Chris
just wanted to say thanks for the comparison, shopping for one now, and found it hard to know the difference between DCC2520 and DCC2560, other then volts . I might hold out before buying and see if DeWalt comes with one that is better dBA noise rating and is a combo cord/cordless.
Stuart
I’m glad you found the post helpful!
As for Dewalt offering a quieter or hybrid-powered option, it’s always possible, but I don’t think these are high priority features for the brand.