It looks like Dewalt gave their 20V Max 3Ah battery a sleek makeover, with a slightly updated housing and new size identification label.
On top of that, it seems we discovered a Holiday 2023 deal on a 4-pack of these batteries.
The Dewalt DCB200 battery definitely has a more modern aesthetic, in my opinion. I also prefer cordless power tool batteries to be clearly labeled with their rated charge capacity, which Dewalt has done here.
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This is one of Dewalt’s few remaining 20V Max batteries that has a black housing color without being oil resistant. Oil-resistant batteries, such as the new PowerStack 5ah, have an added pictograph to convey the oil-resistant housing.
As these 3Ah batteries are not oil-resistant, there’s no special graphic on their side label.
Here’s what the battery originally looked like.
What do you think about the design change?
As for the hot deal, Acme Tools has the 20V Max 3Ah battery 4-pack for $159. I presume this to be a holiday 2023 deal.
$159 for 4x 3Ah batteries seems like a good price.
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Use coupon code TOOLGUYD for an additional $10 off. The code is good for $10 off $79+ and allows for one use per customer. It resets every 30 days.
So that’s $149 for 4x 3Ah batteries (with TOOLGUYD coupon), plus $6.49 flat rate shipping or free shipping on orders $199 and up.
I think this is a good deal for users who want to equip a bunch of light to medium duty 20V Max cordless power tools with fully charged batteries at the same time.
If this deal isn’t for you, Amazon has a Dewalt 20V Max battery 4-pack, with 2x 2Ah and 2x 4Ah batteries, for $179.
So that’s 4 batteries with a total charge capacity of 12Ah for under $160 with shipping from Acme Tools (and after $10 discount), or 4 different batteries with a total charge capacity of 12Ah for $179 at Amazon.
I’d say the Acme deal is better.
Last year, Dewalt’s best Black Friday deals featured 2x compact 3Ah batteries for $99, the 2Ah and 4Ah mixed capacity 4-pack for $159, and a 6Ah battery 2-pack for $179.
$159 for the 4-pack seems like the standard deal for 2023, and our $10 coupon softens the blow to your wallet just a little more.
Big Richard
If you can wait and want to save $10, HD will have the same 4pk at $149 for their upcoming month long BF sale, starting 23Oct – https://www.reddit.com/media?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpreview.redd.it%2Foddef8myjurb1.jpg%3Fwidth%3D4032%26format%3Dpjpg%26auto%3Dwebp%26s%3D149a5646df02725f91560e6cf558fa514ad71df2
Big Richard
Nvm, missed the bit about the $10 coupon, so in reality they are both $149. Whoops.
Jared
“Prime Big Deal Days” runs from October 10 to 11. Maybe some deals there too.
Actually… is that also happening in the USA or is that Canada-only? I checked the “.com” page and didn’t see a banner like there is on amazon.ca. Maybe it will happen on a different date? That’s our “thanksgiving weekend” in Canada, so perhaps it’s meant to line up with that and the USA event will happen later.
Scott K
It will be happening in the US. The Amazon app has been showing a quick full screen ad at launch. Hopefully there will be some good deals!
Lyle
Stuart, you show the Amazon deal as having 4x 4Ah but I think you mean 2x 4Ah.
Stuart
Sorry, yes – 2x 2Ah + 2x 4Ah. Thank you!
Robert
This is a really minor set of changes either way. But I would prefer to retain the vertical ridges on the sides near the front “nose” of the battery to help grip when I pull the battery out. That’s on the old style. The more prominent 3AH labeling doesn’t make up for that. I’m going to memorize what my batteries look like pretty soon.
eddie sky
Looks like material savings. Some question grip removal, but I thumb down on the button while grasp on bottom. Others likely put index on button, with thumb and fingers pulling on sides (hence the textured area now removed on newer design).
But less yellow! Why?
John
Aren’t they just a lot bigger than the previous 3ah battery? Why is that desirable?
Stuart
They look the same size to me, just different contours.
MM
To me this new battery looks much bigger than a DCB230. I wonder if that’s the model John is thinking of?
TdotW
Yeah, I agree. The ‘Compact’ 3Ah dcb230 that came out a few years back are smaller, shorter & more compact (single row)like the 2Ah & also the compact 4Ah’s. These seem like the much older style(double stacked) 203’s, maybe they have an excess of these old cases or something? I still have a few 203’s in my 15 batt rotation, although they’re not too strong anymore. Usually just use on light. Who knows why they do what they do!? 🤷♂️
Big Richard
They have increased the size of all their 18650 packs – https://imgur.com/a/kz7LSFN
Started late 2022 I believe, but they all got a bit bigger. This new DCB200 seems to have the same design, so I suspect it to is bigger.
Stuart
Thanks!
Hmm. I don’t know if I’ve seen that in person yet. Or if I have, I didn’t notice.
Big Richard
It’s not immediately noticeable for the occasional user, unless you have them side by side. I got one of the new 2Ah last December with my DCF845, and immediately thought it felt bigger. So being the psycho I am I got out my calipers and verified.
It later made it’s way to other packs, not sure about the 1.5Ah DCB201 packs though. But yeh, next time you are at a store, compare a new pack to an older one you brought from home or something. Slight difference.
Clientgraphics
They also started with the 2ah batteries not only being slightly larger in the last 24 months they also changed some of the battery light indicator where they now stay illuminated for a few seconds after pushing it once. Previous they would only stay illuminated when held
Lyle
Are the newer (bigger) ones using 21700 cells instead of 18650?
Big Richard
No, then they would be the size of the 6Ah/8Ah/10Ah packs. Still 18650s, just a different case.
JoeM
*Does Math, Hurts Self* Well… In CAD, if they shipped here, that would be an awesome $60 per battery for the 4-pack of 3Ah, without the ToolGuyd discount. It’s really difficult to beat that price. And the mixed pack, I fear the math will hurt me. (I have never been good with actual math, just numbers and patterns. Not worth talking about here.) But both are great deals to just refresh some batteries!
As to the label format change… I am very glad for that! I, too, prefer the larger labels, and clearer markings! I’m still rocking 2 original 3Ah batteries, and sometimes the smaller details are a headache. So this is really rather cool!
Matt
Still has that “amateur high-school graphic designer” flavor. Dewalt has so much to work with from a brand perspective, it is frustrating they always end up looking like the off-brand Equate version of power tools.
IronWood
I second others’ opinion that batteries should all have their capacity prominent on the labeling; other than that I really don’t care a bit what a battery looks like.
I’m pretty surprised they’re updating these bigger 3Ah batteries. I thought the large 3 and 4Ah batteries were feeling kind of obsolete with all the 2, 3, 4Ah compacts around. I kind of expected these to get discontinued rather than updated. For me I want 5ah or larger in the bigger case, and 2 or 3Ah in compacts. I wonder what the appeal of the lower capacity, but larger form factor batteries is?
Big Richard
They are becoming less common when it comes to kits, especially the 3Ah which was all but extinct, but these are likely a holiday promo special kinda thing. They are cheap to make, easy to source cells, and they will appeal to holiday shoppers. Don’t expect them to go back to kitting premium tools with these 3Ah batteries.
MM
I personally feel that this size 3 and 4ah batteries are obsolete. They are too big for those jobs where you want to keep the tool light or compact for working overhead or in tight spaces. For those jobs I want a 2ah, 3ah DCB230, or the 1.7ah Powerstack. But at the same time their capacity and power aren’t all that great when it comes to more standard applications. They are this odd middle ground where I find them too heavy and bulky for some jobs while simultaneously not having enough power or capacity for others.
I still have a few old 4ahs in my rotation, I’ll keep using them as long as they still work but as they fail I intend to replace them with 5ah powerstacks and 6ah standard packs.
Stuart
Let’s say you’re working a plumbing job and are replacing a valve, or repairing a damaged section of pipe.
You have a drill or driver for installing pipe and tubing mounts, a pipe or tubing cutter, a press tool or PEX expander, and maybe an LED work light as well.
You can swap batteries back and forth, but depending on the task it can be a hassle.
A pack of batteries like this can help an apprentice or new user equip a bunch of tools with batteries, and maybe have a charged backup in case a tool gets used very heavily.
Or maybe you’re a DIYer or pro and have a bunch of older 1.5Ah to 4Ah batteries that are exhausted. A 4-pack of economically priced 3Ah batteries could be a good solution.
The price is good for what you get, and there will be more deals.
This isn’t going to be a great deal for all users, but I think it’ll work well for many.
Bob
I was hoping for a compact 3AH similar to the compact 4AH, and maybe a power bar light that would stay on a few seconds when pressed. But the AH label beats a masking tape and sharpie “3AH” label.