Dewalt’s 20V Max USB power adapter (DCB090) came out nearly 7 years ago, and so it’s been around for a while. Although it continues to be a useful accessory for anyone looking to use Dewalt 20V Max or 12V Max batteries to recharge USB devices, USB standards and trends have changed over the past few years.
Well, it looks like Dewalt is finally coming out with a massively upgraded version, DCB094.
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Images of a UK/EU 18V XR version of the new Dewalt DCB094 USB device charger have been floating around social media for about a month now, and I came across an advertisement that implies it will also be coming to the USA.
The advert lists the new Dewalt USB charger for $89, which is quite a bit more than the $49 the existing charging adapter sells for. (Amazon has the DCB090 for $41 at the time of this posting.)
$89?! At this price, you of course get one USB A and one USB-C charging port – which a lot of users have been asking for – but that’s not all, and here’s where things get interesting. Let’s read the side label on the adapter.
- [USB] Type A Output: 5DC, 2.4A
- [USB] Type C Port: Input/Output 5-20V DC, 5A DC
- Battery Port Output: 18V DC, 6A DC
- Battery Port Input: 18V DC, 6A DC
The standard USB A output is 5V at 2.4A, which is decent and typical these days, but what’s that about the USB-C and battery ports?
The front of the adapter says USB 5A, and it took me a moment to realize that this works both ways.
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That’s right, the Dewalt DCB094 is a USB power source type of accessory for use with 20V Max batteries, AND it appears that this is ALSO a 20V Max battery charger.
USB-C PD (Power Delivery) standards allow for 100W of charging/power delivery, based on 20V at 5A, and it appears that’s what you get here.
A recent USB PD 3.1 revision allows for even higher power delivery rates using appropriately rated cables, and so we might see even faster cordless power tool charging rates in the future.
Thus, if I’m reading all this correctly, Dewalt has come out with a USB-C PD battery and device charger.
Sweet.
Almost exactly two years ago, I wrote a post titled Why Dewalt Probably Won’t Make a USB-Chargeable Cordless Power Tool Battery, where I was answering a reader’s question about the potential for batteries with built-in USB ports.
In the post, I said:
That actually sounds like a good idea, in theory, for power tool batteries to be rechargeable via USB.
A reader brought up USB-C PD in the comments section, saying that while chargers were still rare, the entirety of the consumer electronics industry was heading in this direction.
I said:
But how likely will it be for [tool] brands to adopt this, and for both devices and chargers to be ubiquitous?
This new release answers that question.
Dewalt is not the first cordless power tool brand to offer USB battery charging, but is this the first 18V/20V Max charger and device charging adapter to feature USB-C?
If USB-C has become popular enough for Dewalt to offer such a charger, we are surely bound to see similar accessories from some of their competitors.
There’s no word as to whether this will work with all of Dewalt’s 20V Max-compatible batteries, such as FlexVolt, but I can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t.
The 5A charging rate isn’t much slower than the 6A charger Dewalt came out with last year, but it’s nowhere near the 12A charging rate of the 20V Max and FlexVolt charger Dewalt launched at the same time.
Still, 5A is quite good. Plus, you also get USB-C and USB-A device charging with the adapter.
Hopefully the adapter comes with a wall plug and rated USB charging cable so that users don’t have to source these components separately. Priced at $89, I’d assume it’s a complete kit.
Even though details are limited right now, who else is excited about this?!!
For my own use, while I prefer standard charging stations over clip-on battery chargers, I’d jump at replacing most of them with devices like this, for the space-saving and convenience factors.
Rog
Why are we yelling about this?!?
Stuart
Because I started writing it up as a USB power source when I realize it’s also a charger.
People have been seeing this as an upgrade to the DCB090, which it is, but it’s also much different than I had realized at first.
I’ve been asked so many times why brands don’t offer USB-C chargers, and now we finally have one. I feel the shouting is appropriate.
Chris
Not only that….this partially solves the problem where DeWalt doesn’t have a compact single battery AC power source. With a usb-c PD output many of the item that may be used on battery can now be acomodated.
Anyone need to charge or power a laptop on the job site or camp site….check. Plenty of flashlights going to usb-c
My question is will it charge (albiet it slower) on a ucb-c non pd charger. If so it would be easy to keep a few batteries charged in areas whereaybe there isn’t a desire to have a full size charger.
Rog
I was teasing but thanks the answer cuz that’s great news!!! 😛
Steve
I’m assuming you need a charging device capable of outputting 18V @ 6A, and a proper cable, for optimal charging. Also, I’m woundering if you could use a standard cell phone charger to trickle charge it?
Don Julio
This will be on my Christmas list! My DCB090 charger gets a lot of use. Right now, as a matter of fact.
Btw, the DCB090 is $39 or $40 at the the blue and orange boxes right now. I’ve seen it get down to $29-$35 at times.
Plain grainy
Seems like the older model had a 12v power outlet.
Don Julio
The DCB090 will run off the DeWalt 12v batteries, which is a plus. The outlets are USB.
Bob
Correct the DCB091 is used on the DeWalt heated gear. It had dual USB-A 1.5A @5 volts for device charging and a 12V DC @1A barrel connector to plug in heated clothing.
Hope they make a USB-C version with the 12v plug for heated gear too. Nice to be able to power 12v accesories although more than 1amp would be better.
Jared
There were two different versions. One had dual USB outlets, the other had dual USB outlets plus the 12v barrel port. I think the latter was only sold paired with heated gear – although I could be wrong (I don’t mean you couldn’t get the 12v port version separate, but that retailers seemed to stock only the 2x USB version as a regular accessory).
Roger
For the price tag, I assume it comes with a charging adapter. Also assuming it will output if under a certain threshold, and accept charge if above.
I like this, but I was hoping for a pure sine wave DC-AC inverter that could go higher than 175W on a single battery pack. Even if it used FV 60V.
Robert Blackwell
absolutely, one battery power source.
Jason
Was just thinking the other day the M18 version is getting a little old. Top off is awesome but just a different product with the size. This would be a sweet option, especially if it has the port for heated jacket.
-OR-
Heated jackets move to USB-C?!
Ball_bearing
This is really nice. A really portable
and versatile charger and power source. Unfortunately my tools are of a different color. Hope the other brands come up with something similar.
csroc
Well, I might have to put that on my wishlist.
Andy
I’m always wondering how deep in the bag you guys are for DeWalt. Thanks for never disappoint ing!
Stuart
Any time I’m genuinely excited about something, I’m “in the bag?” *shrug*
Jared
Ha. I was thinking something similar. Maybe if Andy reads the comments he will notice you’re not the only one excited.
Evadman
USB to charge a dewalt battery? I will get one immediately to keep in my truck. Finally!
JoeM
Built in Belt Clip and all??? Uh… I’m tingling in inappropriate ways… I need at least 2 of these, perhaps more… Screw the price, I Needs It… I Needs It, I Does!!!! …. I really need a gollum tag to grizzle up the font so it sounds as insane as the Gollum character from LOTR and The Hobbit… Sometimes these tools… Truly do become The Precious…
MicahMc
Haha, that’s awesome! I’m super excited as well! This is on my Christmas list for sure!
JoeM
I have a real practical use for it as well! I take care of my 75 year old Mother, and I am tasked with making as many accessibility devices as possible, to get around her disabilities.
She has a motorized 4-wheel scooter. I have outfitted it with a Cell Phone Mount, which is in the process of being upgraded, I have a body cam and a headset for using the phone by voice, all ready to go… but I need a charging source for when she’s out and about… I need a battery… Since I already own DeWALT batteries… This is perfect to mount on the scooter, to sit the battery on the platform I installed for that, then clip this in when she goes out. Running the cable to the new phone holder, which has a Qi charger built in, and has arms wide enough to mount the body cam in place. That camera? May save her life, as it would capture when she is crossing the street, and cars may not stop because they’re distracted or impaired. It’s all caught on recording, ready to hand over to the police if they hit her full on. The camera will be running for the whole journey, the phone will be readily charged, and when she’s at home, we can plug in the headphone to keep it charged as well.
But This …. Oh this is the lynch pin to the updated Dash/HUD for the scooter… Android phone so… Google Assistant voice commands, if need be, voice turn-by-turn directions… Shopping apps, scan the prices if she’s browsing… Or even just pull up the camera as a magnifier so she can see what she’s holding better!
I already turned one of the newly-bought extra-long screwdrivers (see the other thread) into a highly reflective button pusher stick for when she needs to hit door bells, accessibility buttons, or whatever else she can’t reach. Also? In case of assailant? Hardened Steel Whapping Stick… She doesn’t need to be strong if she can crack their skulls open with just the hardness of the screwdriver inside… These… These power connectors are next-gen upgrades…
…Very exciting for me…. I know, sad reasons to do the upgrades, but… At least it’s tool use I can be proud of, rather than being a glorified PSW…
Then there’s MY use for it… Any other month than Winter? Clip that to my belt, or slip it into my EDC? Extra charging for phone & Bluetooth devices on the go… Could I use that on a day I’m using my tools to build something? Well… if I’m building it at a friend’s house, yes, most definitely. Oh, the inventing I can do when set free to work like a crazy person!
…That’s why I need the Gollum tag as well… I think I might just be crazy enough to me one of those types of obsessives… I love innovative tech.
Kingsley
This is best release this year from Dewalt. I already have a home made PD adapter for dewalt, but I’ll be buying this ASAP as it’s a safer option and it can charge a battery.
It means you could so use it as a LI-ON UPS for a laptop server… which is awesome.
Plain grainy
Off topic; Home Depot has Packout 3000 Lumen light plus 5.0 battery for $179.00, while supplies last. Today only I think.
Plain grainy
A lot of other tool company’s have the Packout light/ charger alone for $199.00.
DrewMcD
Looks like Green has something similar, so maybe eventually Red will get it too. Ryobi doesn’t have a User Manual yet, so I can’t see the details, but it also looks like it will work with the two solar panels they also have planned.
https://www.ryobitools.com/products/details/46396035356
TonyT
Yes, the Ryobi is similar (USB C PD!), but also has a 120v outlet (which I need for my 17″ laptop – takes too much juice to be USB C PD powered).
aaron s
If I have 2 USB c devices that each can charge through the same port they send power to how do they decide who powers who?
John
That’s what I was wondering. What happens if you plug two of these into each other?
Brody
USB PD negotiates with the other device to see voltage, and amperage it can throughput. So if the two batteries have different levels of charge, the one with the higher charge level (voltage) should charge the lower voltage till the voltage is equal or greater than the output’s pack available voltage.
You can’t build more pressure on the inline feed without boost converters which I doubt this has, so it shouldn’t charge the other battery to full, only to the same voltage as its self.
Stuart
I’ve been looking into this, and it seems that sometimes the outcome is unpredictable, with some devices said to determine their role based on the order they are connected to the charging cable.
Kingsley
Looks like from this image that it comes with a 100W cable and a 65w (weirdly not a 100w) USB-C charger:
https://www.necashow.org/NECA2021/Custom/ProductLarge1772.jpg
The picture shows the 20V branding for the USA too and the model has a “K” I think indicating it’s a kit.
I’ve already a got a very compact Anker GAN II USB-C 65w charger, so I don’t really need the Dewalt one. Hopefully it will be available as just the unit only for a lower price than $89.
Joatman
I’m waiting for Dewalt to come out with a battery that I can plug right into to charge other small devices….without using an adapter. I have the USB adapter but I’m guessing these will be built right into the battery pretty soon.
JoeM
Not likely. DeWALT seems to prefer to separate their batteries from the devices. Might see it from one of the SBD brands, but not DeWALT. DeWALT has too many variants of battery adapters for heated gear, and Bluetooth Tracking already. They prefer to let the User apply the feature, instead of putting the expense into the battery. That’s why there aren’t many of the Bluetooth-Ready batteries themselves. They were either not popular, or not part of the DeWALT crowd’s preferences. I may have bought the Apps on my phone, but it’s going to be a very big investment to get the Bluetooth and various Cataloguing stuff to work with those apps. Plus the Pandemic has to be clear from the world so I’m not so limited in teaming up with peers to go get materials and such.
If it seems like I veered off topic there, it’s because those things are facing a lot of DeWALT users across the board. Having a clip-on device for this is kinda how we do things in the Max era. I’ll admit though… I’d love to time how fast one of these suckers can drop my pants to my ankles if I lock in a FlexVOLT Battery to it… I’d never actually use it that way (maybe on the scooter, not on my EDC) but it would certainly be a point of entertainment.
My Suggestion: Look for further developments of the Craftsman batteries for the built-in power station features. They’re nearly identical to the DeWALT line, but Craftsman does have a gearing toward more universal features. Used to be I would be saying that about Porter Cable, Mac, Bostitch, or Stanley/FatMAX batteries… but it is quite obvious they’re all being taken over by Craftsman in the attention from SBD. I can hope SBD remembers their other battery systems, and to port over DeWALT’s system more fully for them… but for now, your best bet is to look out for Craftsman to do this first.
On the upside… I know either Ridgid or Milwaukee have made this leap… though it might also be Bosch or Makita… Quite possibly MetaboHPT has it… I know I have seen one of the major brands release a USB output battery… There’s just too much going on in my head right now to recall it. I’m sorry about that, it’s a lot of data to keep track of, when you’re a single-brand type user. If I’m totally wrong about this… Standing by my suggestion of waiting for Craftsman to do it. DeWALT prefers these clip-on devices for features… Frankly, so do I…
Kingsley
I agree with the other reply. This would add cost, complexity, weight & size. I hope this doesn’t happen… but the DCB094 I want to order ASAP and use with my slim 4ah. Both will be stationed in my laptop bag.
Nathan
So I bet heated clothing will move to USB C connections soon. it’s water tight, sort of, and it’s becoming common – and there are alot of USB C type battery bank devices in the world.
SO I could see having a non- tool branded heated clothing device – now able to use this or some other batter bank.
and USB – PD is a big thing for a package like this. nice addition.
salmon
MAKITA PLEASE
Big Richard
The official DeWalt statement:
“Featuring a 100W bi-directional C-port, users can input power to charge DEWALT 20V MAX* and FLEXVOLT® batteries, and output power to charge a range of business critical and personal devices such as phones, tablets and laptops up to 100W. The portable USB Charging Kit also features a USB-A port, allowing users to charge devices up to 12W using traditional USB cords. The device is equipped with a State of Charge Indicator to display the battery charging status and comes kitted with a DCB094 USB Charger, 100W rated USB cord, a 65W AC power supply and belt hook.”
Kingsley
I’ve just seen a price on a European website without the charger and cable of €40… which is brilliant!
Clinton
Which website? I see it on dewalt site but not available anywhere.
Zach Of All Trades
looks like everythings looking up DeWalt
Kingsley
It’s the end of January and this isn’t on sale anywhere in the world. Vapourware? Anyone know what has happened to it?
Jeff H
Like to start by saying I’ll definitely be getting one of these.
Not a 100% on the utility though. I feel like the biggest benefit to usb-c charging would be to charge OTG. Even Anker’s Powercore Elite 3 25600 power bank is rated for only 87W and costs $200 and would need a compatible 100W usb-c cord costing roughly $20. That wouldn’t even be enough to charge the battery once. You could upgrade to a power station, but at that point, its more cost effective using a generator with standard charger or buying extra batteries.
I also can’t wait to see all the negative reviews and complaints about charging speeds being trash with people trying to charge using usb-a to usb-c cables or pd chargers with <100W output.
Clinton
Looks like it comes with the cord and 100w power supply
Doug N
Really hope this is still coming to market soon. The Dewalt site now shows 404 error. https://www.dewalt.com/products/accessories/miscellaneous-accessories/mobile-accessories/usb-charging-kit/dcb094k
Clinton
It shows on their site again. I still think they are just messing with us.
Kingsley
Pictures of the UK kit show a 100w charger https://www.itstools.co.uk/products/dewalt-dcb094k-usb-power-delivery-charging-kit.html
Which is great for also using to charge bigger laptops like a 15″