Dewalt has come out with a new 20V Max cordless power tool battery, a compact 4.0Ah pack.
A couple of years ago, this would have been a big deal. Now? It’s still important to share about, but it’s not quite as significant a development as it would have been.
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The latest Dewalt cordless power tool battery (DCB240 here, DCB189 in Europe) is a 5-cell 4.0Ah battery. It’s smaller and lighter than Dewalt’s current 10-cell 4.0Ah battery pack, but should be capable of delivering comparable runtime. Being built with larger form factor Li-ion cells, this battery is a little larger and heavier than lower capacity 1.5Ah and 2.0Ah battery packs.
Next-gen 4.0Ah Li-ion cells are already being used in other high output battery packs, and so it was only a matter of time before we saw Dewalt use them in a compact battery. We weren’t guaranteed to see compact 4.0Ah 20V Max/18V XR batteries, but there was a high likelihood.
Dewalt says that their 3.0Ah battery delivers the same runtime and power as their 10-cell 3.0Ah battery. For this 4.0Ah battery, Dewalt only describes it as having the same capacity as their 10-cell 4.0Ah battery (DCB204). They also confirm it’s the same size and weight as their DCB230 compact 3.0Ah battery.
The battery has a 3-LED charge indicator.
Should you buy one? The answer to this is getting more complicated all the time. Generally, determine which tools you want to use the battery for, and then check on price-per-amp-hour. A battery like this can kind of take the place of lower capacity compact batteries or comparable (and slightly higher capacity) 10-cell battery packs.
More battery choices are good.
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There is also be a new 8.0Ah battery, and we’ll talk about that again soon. In my opinion, the 8.0Ah 10-cell battery is a bigger development.
Update
There will also be a European version of the battery, with 18V branding. It’s the same battery, different labeling. Dewalt 20V Max and Dewalt 18V XR is the same thing.
Cristobal Figueroa
Should the title read “a small deal” or am I missing something?
Stuart
Thanks, fixed!
Steve
If it drives the price down on the 10 cell 4.0ah batteries that would be welcome.
Christian Reed
the thumbnail image says “18V” on it while the one on this page says “20V”
Stuart
Thanks, fixed it.
Navarette
Its the same static voltage is 20 on 18 volt drills but trying to make u think your getting more it uses 20voltage
Thom
Those who prefer a smaller form factor will be happy. My only DeWalt cordless is a DCD777 that gets used for small jobs that dont tax the 2 AH batteries comes with. If I used it more I would probably buy one of the new 4 AH.
Altan
New 8.0Ah battery would be amazing. The current 6.0Ah and 8.0Ah are quite big. I hope it will be the same size as 5.0Ah battery.
Hoser
There is no “current” 8ah battery. The new 20V 8ah battery will be the same size as the current 6ah battery.
Altan
But Stuart says there will be a newer version of it, that is why I understood, he said we will talk about that soon, He has already talked about 8.0Ah battery.
Stuart
Sorry, I meant that I want to talk more about it again soon.
No, there won’t be an 8.0Ah battery the size of the 5.0Ah. If it were possible, the performance would be terrible unless the battery chemistry were completely different from what’s used in 18650 cells today.
Altan
Thanks for letting me know. Makita’s 6.0Ah battery is the same size as 5.0Ah battery, I remember I saw in a Japanese advertisement.
Brian A
Pretty soon there will be compact batteries 1-6ah, mid size 7-12ah, and larger 13-18ah. Each manufacturer will release a new one about every 3 months, while still having the older compact Xah and mid size Xah. The older ones wont change in price and the new ones will be more expensive.
All these batteries are confusing the heck out of people, no one knows whats available and what the difference is, I hear it all the time.
Eric
It’ll be a while for that. the 4.0Ah cells are the largest high output cells in production currently. There are some 5.0Ah 21700s but they are only rated for around 10amps. These 4.0Ah cells should be rated in the 30-35amp range.
Travis
What do you mean what’s the difference? Amp hours and smaller sizes. Just like computers getting smaller and more powerful. The people that don’t know the differences and sizes should be looking for the holiday deals or Father’s Day deals because obviously they are not professionals. People that make there living with cordless tools have no problem following the battery sizes and know the differences. Clueless people stick to the “starter combo packs” so you don’t get confused
Rick
Thank you Travis. Very well said my friend.
skfarmer
i have a pair of the compact 3 amp hour batteries. i have used them in every thing from radios to string trimmers. for all but the most demanding jobs i prefer the compact batteries whether they are the 1.5 , 2 or 3 amp hour. the 3 and new 4 amp hour batteries should be a hit even if they don’t get the attention of the latest greatest huge batteries.
Thom
Actually I’m hoping this form factor hops over to the Craftsman side!
Altan
It seems we can soon see 4.0Ah 12V compact batteries also.
Jacob
I just opened a 3.0ah dewalt pack that I have had for two years now and they have Samsung grey wrap 21700 cells. They made a compact 3.0 way before Milwaukee using 21700 cells. It appears they just didn’t make a huge hype. By the way first post and appreciate the time in effort you put into this Stuart.
dave
someone tell makita to make a 3ah slim LXT battery pack. They have a 6ah double layer battery so there is no reason not to have a 3ah slim battery.
Stuart
Not exactly. They can’t go to 3Ah without an increase in size/change in form factor, which Makita has not done yet with 12V Max or 18V.
Altan
I see new things coming from DeWALT. This really looks quality:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-16-in-Stainless-Steel-Mud-Pan-with-Curved-Bottom-DXTT-2-336/307958131
I had one stainless steel one before but the sides were point welded (absolute rubbish) this is proper weld. Good job DeWALT!
I see all brands have eaten chilli recently, they none stop release new things, is it because of 2020?!
Stuart
They have something very similar on Amazon at lower pricing.
And if you don’t need that Dewalt branding, Level 5 looks to make the same thing under their own branding.
Other brands also offer heli-arc-welded mud pans.
Altan
I don’t mind, they look the same.
Mahalo
I wonder if the wider form factor would interfere with the “cage” on their 20V blower. It’s already a bit awkward getting the batter in their to begin with, but I’m a fan of the blower nonetheless.
Bigd383lt1
I’ve used 6ah flexvolt batteries in mine.
Corey Moore
I’ll be grabbing a couple to upgrade the slim 3ah’s I already find perfect for the deep cut band saw. Maybe migrate the 3’s down the the impacts and compact drill, who knows. I initially disliked the slim 3’s on smaller guns because of how much further they protruded forward from the 2’s and 5’s, but if I’ve got the abundance I may just get over it and relegate my 2’s to the personal lights and smallest tools. Either way, higher caps in 6 and 3ah form factor are welcome in my box ?
Boggsy
Why make a new battery without a USB-C out/in… In a pinch, you could trickle charge it with your phone/laptop/tablet charger. Or, plug your dying phone into your impact driver to make a business call. Lol. Technology.
JoeM
They have the DCB090/091 USB attachment for that. And the 091 is equipped with a dedicated 12V output for their heated gear. So, there’s no need to build batteries with USB built in, they HAVE a USB charger device already, and a sibling device that turns your entire jacket into a charger of USB devices as well.
Stuart
A USB trickle charger would mean:
1) A larger battery pack.
2) Long charging times.
3) Greater complexity, with more components to protect against everyday bumps, vibrations, contaminants and what-not.
4) Higher costs.
For a DIYer cordless system and battery, it might be doable. But for a pro system where users might have quite a few batteries, the costs would add up.
Let’s say Dewalt did come out with such a battery pack, and offered it alongside the regular one. How many users will really pay considerably more for it?
Let’s say you have a large phone with a mega-sized battery pack. That would be what, 15 Watt-hours of charge capacity? This battery, if going by the 20V Max and 4.0Ah, would be rated at 80 Watt-hours. It would take an impractical long time for a phone to trickle-charge this battery to even a small fraction of its rated capacity. Now imagine that you have a smaller phone, or the battery is partially depleted.
Update: I’m sorry, I misread and thought you wanted to charge a battery with a phone! With some of today’s phones offering that feature and even wireless “share a charge,” I gave the mistake on my part more credit than I should have. Still, today’s chargers have so many different fast charging standards that such a battery would have to come with its own, further adding to the cost.
Just because it’s possible, that doesn’t mean it’s a practical idea.
Daniel
Personally, I would rather buy a dedicated external battery on Amazon for $20-$30. Something like this
https://www.amazon.com/Anker-PowerCore-Ultra-Compact-High-Speed-Technology/dp/B0194WDVHI/
JoeM
If money were no object, I would definitely buy several of these, and several FlexVOLT batteries as well.
I think this will be the new integration trend for DeWALT’s 20Volt family. Slimline for belt-hook sized tools (Drills/Impact Drivers/Oscillating Tools/Compact Saws, Etc.) then Full-Sized for weight counterbalance on full-sized tools (Saws, Garden Tools, Anything that is top/blade heavy.) and then FlexVOLT batteries to cover tools that accompany their FlexVOLT tools on the job. Miter Saw/Impact Driver comes to mind. Or Table Saw/Nailer/Stapler. Cement Mixer/SDS Drill/Hammerdrill. The list goes on.
I think DeWALT is trying to roll out a more integrated battery system for different niches to use. I mean, yes, Milwaukee just integrated basically their entire tool line into the M12/M18/Fuel/Red lineup, so it’s not exactly innovative. But I think DeWALT is trying to LITERALLY use fewer batteries across the platform for an individual to handle on the job. I could be wrong. But I can definitely see it as something I like. (And, yes… I like how Milwaukee did their platform too. I’m just not used to it, since I’m a DeWALT guy, so I’m not familiar with all the models and differences from team Red.)
David Summitt
The game is about to change for “all” batteries ,I just read an article about the testing that’s being done with Hemp batteries and capacitors. Still more testing I’m sure, but according to what they are saying, longer run time, smaller size, and faster charging . Also, I guess when yer done, you could probably smoke it, not to sure about that last one, but the future looks great when it comes to battery technology.
Stuart
They say that every year. There’s always “revolutionary” technologies that never pan out.
Nathan
I’m intrigued.the compact 3ah does a good bit. Oddy I have found that my one drill happens to have more torque when it’s on the Older 3AH than on my compact. I think it’s because the cells are in parallel so it gets a touch more overall power out of it.
The other tools are all brushless and don’t respond any different.
I do like having the mid size battery packs. Right now still have 1.5 and 2.0 compacts, both 3ah’s and one 5ah which I don’t know where I got it from. I plan on getting into flexvolt soon.
Robert Adkins
The smaller 4AH battery is a big deal to me, if it’s what I think it is.
I have a DeWalt weed eater. I have to Rotate a pair of 4AH batteries because when I flog it pretty hard, they thermal cycle long before they discharge. So I’m thinking the larger cells will be more suitable than the 18650 cells. I also hate to use the charger that came with the weed eater, because it charges at 4 amps! I prefer charging at 1.5 amps, which is what most LiPo gurus say is optimum for battery life. If the new battery is more robust, I will add a DeWalt leaf blower to my collection.
Can’t change the cells? No thank you. Everyone has a box of 18650 cells laying around, right? It would be nice to have backup for the backup. ?
Altan
I would like to see a new platform of batteries that have a cap on the bottom and when you remove it you will have a battery slot there to slide another battery in. So if you have two 2.0Ah batteries you can make a 4.0Ah battery with them and you don’t need to buy a larger capacity battery, they can be charged together in the charger from one charging port.
Stuart
Frankly, that sounds like unnecessary complexity.
Altan
It would make it complex, I know. But I like it, it might not sound interesting for you, but I am sure a lot here would like it.
wilmer miller
some of us really work a long and hard day with our tools so spending time at a charger is not productive 1st off , I only have so much space for batteries 2nd off , buying batteries by themselves is not a good investment but kits with 4ah or 8ah would be nice from dewalt be are not available yet as are a 15ah flexvolt battery so with space being at the most importance I am at the mercy of dewalt answering my needs ………….. I work a lot of hours then come home only to use the same batteries around the house that I use at work ………. very frustrating ?