We recently posted about new Dewalt 20V Max cordless power tools, and as many readers noticed, they’re kitted with a brand new battery charger.
So far, it looks like the new boxy-looking charger is only being rolled out with specific Dewalt cordless tool kits, but we expect to see more of it soon.
The new Dewalt DCB1102 battery charger is described as being compatible with Dewalt 12V Max, 20V Max, and FlexVolt batteries.
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It features 2-stage charging indicator lights.
When you put a cordless power tool battery to charge, the majority of the charge capacity is replenished faster than the final top-off charge. Because of that, this type of feature typically makes it clearer to know when it’s effective to swap batteries.
For example, let’s say that a hypothetical 2-stage charger might recharge a battery to 80% in 30 minutes, and then take 15 minutes to top it off to 100%. If you need that battery off the charger and powering a tool, it can be a good idea to wait until stage 2 charging as indicated by the LED lights.
Retrieving a battery while it’s in the final charging stage can be an efficient compromise, compared to pulling it earlier or waiting for it to reach a full 100% charge.
The DCB1102 is advertised as having a 2A charging rate.
The charger has 2 keyhole-style mounting slots on top, for attaching it to a wall or other vertical surface.
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As reader BigRichard pointed out in the comments, there’s also a new DCB1104 charger, which has a 4A charging rate and is advertised as being 15% smaller than [Dewalt’s] DCB115 4A charger. It’s compatible with Dewalt 12V Max, 20V Max, and FlexVolt batteries, and also has a 2-stage LED indicators.
LED-indicated two-stage charging is not a new development, and was featured in the 6A and 12A chargers that Dewalt launched in 2020.
Pricing details aren’t available yet. As with Dewalt’s other power tool battery chargers, these will likely be sold separately and as part of kit bundles.
Discussion
That the new 4Ah charger is more compact than the existing DCB115 charger, which is bundled in many of Dewalt’s more premium 20V Max cordless power tool kits, is notable.
However, the DCB1102 is much more of an attention-grabber due to its less conventional and somewhat boxy design.
It’s not as compact as other slide-on chargers, where the charger is attached to a battery rather than the battery being attached to a charging dock, but this also gives it a much more robust appearance.
Additionally, the DCB1102 can be wall-mounted via keyhole slots, which can’t be said about typical compact slide-on chargers.
If you need something more compact, the Dewalt DCB094 USB-C power adapter (reviewed here), is a good choice.
In my opinion, the DCB1102’s unique appearance helps to differentiate it from existing and faster chargers.
Dewalt’s existing DCB112 charger is slower than their DCB115, and doesn’t have any obvious benefits. With the two new models, the DCB1102 looks to have a more compact footprint – on a workbench and likely on the wall as well – than the DCB115 and new DCB1104 chargers.
Because of that, I know I’m more likely to keep it around if I get one with new tools as part of a kit or bundle.
What do you think about the new 2A charger’s form factor?
Jason
These types of chargers are great for a variety of reasons. I remember Ryobi doing some “cap” style chargers a decade ago to make cheaper holiday combo kits. For a 2 hour recharge for my circular saw it’s incredibly slow. However, if you’re in the system I think they’re a great addition for a compact option when you’re not at your house or shop.
I have quick chargers in my garage and basement but something like that would pair well with say the inflator I keep in my car in case I need to recharge when I’m out of town/hotel/friends house etc. The mobile charger is even better for the jackets etc.
Milwaukee has it for the M12 but really wish they had something like it for M18, the top off for example but with power input.
Tim D.
What I hate about a lot of these smaller chargers (outside of the inability to charge at a rapid rate), is they shove the electronics outside the box and onto a wall wart/brick. I can’t stand trying to fit a brick into a power strip.
Looks like dewalt is borrowing cost cutting measures from Ryobi.
Big Richard
But this DeWalt version does not use a wall wart/brick. It is a standard AC plug, just like their other chargers.
Stuart
I specifically included an image showing where the power cord enters the housing – it looks to be a standard strain-relieved AC cord.
I also prefer for the AC to DC conversion to built into the charger instead of an external or wall adapter.
This doesn’t look like “cost cutting measures” to me.
Tim D.
Glad to hear it. My early morning brain didn’t make the connection on the AC wiring.
This is actually a nice offering then, assuming they still sell larger kits with the faster charger.
Brendan
I bought 6 or 8 dewalt batteries & tools as well 2 of these batteries take a charge. I called dewalt & he told me to through them in the trash & buy more. I don’t think so. I am so done with dewalt
Steve
U can get new ones through the website they just need to be within the warranty range which I’d imagine they are. I’ve gotten 3 replaced without having to send one of the junk ones back. I had 2 5ah and one 10ah. I didn’t need to talk to anyone just messaged them through Stanley or dewalt.com. the guy you talked to should be fired. I also got a trigger clamp the same way it was only missing one part.
Dave
I just got the Craftsman version which looks pretty identical to the DeWalt of course.
Steve L
Have never purchased a charger, got my DCB112s and DCB115s while buying tools. At this point I have never had to use all my chargers at the same time and, because I added batteries during Black Friday sales, have never had to charge a battery because it was needed later the same day.
So for me a faster 4Ah charger has become less important. But the smaller footprint is interesting. Would I buy a charger? No. But, if I am buying another tool I will look at kits if they have a PowerStack and a smaller charger would make it even better.
scott taylor
Im not a Dewalt guy but did not know where to post this info
Woot.com has the Dewalt power stack DCBP034 two pack for 104. Seemed like a killer deal on the pouch type batteries
JoeJ
They are sold out.
Trek
Hmmm another 4 amp charger. Apparently the 101 and 115 isn’t enough. They did add the double stage but that is of no use to me because I have enough batteries that I never take one off the charger early.
The cap charger has the same rate as the 112 so the form of that one is really nice because you could put a few next to each other and really save some space. I bet 3 would fit in the space that 2, 112s would. That being said, the new 4amp charger is likely close to the size of the 112 meaning that you Could fit two 4 amps in the same space as 3, 2 amp chargers. The two fours obviously having an advantage.
Doubt I’ll get either of these
Stuart
I have only ever purchased a single bay 18V charger, back when I wanted a Harbor Freight Hercules brushless drill kit but they had given up on kits for a time.
I imagine that both of these charges will most commonly be purchased as part of kits.
Eric C VanBuren
I have a Mac tools charger made by DeWalt that charge’s 12v,20v and my flex volt 60v batteries. Its at least 4 years old.
Stuart
The first 20V Max chargers were also 12V Max compatible, and FlexVolt batteries charge on any 20V Max charger except where there might be physical size limitations. What I’m saying is that 12V Max, 20V Max, and FlexVolt compatibility isn’t new or special, but needed to be mentioned as not all of Dewalt’s chargers offer the same.
TonyT
Side note: for those interested in HF’s Hercules tools, HF is running a Ryobi Days like promotion: buy a Hercules 5 Ahr battery & charger for $120, and you can add your choice of one of 8 Hercules tools (mostly brushless) for free.
I couldn’t find a end date (only “Limited Time Only”), but HF’s promotional periods are typically pretty short.
https://www.harborfreight.com/hercules
Nathan
Interesting I suppose the other charger will be out of production. I know some had issues with bigger batteries.
Not sure I like the wall mount on this. Mostly as it would hide the label
Love the 2 stage charge especially for a storage charge on a big battery. Better for the chemistry. Which it had a switch though. But not everyone stores batteries
IronWood
Probably related: Amazon has the DCB115 charger for $29 now. Might be worth finally replacing my old slow 107s that came with kits along the way. Smaller would be nice, but I don’t see paying for a 2a charger. The 115’s size has never bothered me and the speed is good for my use.
Steve
I prefer charging station style chargers that stay in one place and can be mounted, but that’s just me because I’m not using them on the go all the time. I would love a smaller footprint 4 × 8Amp charger if they keep trending in this direction.
Jim
The small DCB1102 can still be mounted it looks like. Has 2x keyhole slots for screws. Overall I think a good offering from them as a small replacement kit charger that will inevitably come with most kits and people will have a bunch of them. Line um up on your garage wall 🙂
Bob
This is a welcome addition! I have 4 DeWalt chargers from 1.5A to 5A, and almost exclusively use the 1.5A. It’s well known that slower charging extends the life of Li-Ion cells, as does charging below 90%. With the price of batteries today, it makes perfect sense. Chargers are also overpriced, and reducing the amount of that nice ABS plastic should help keep prices down, not to mention being easier to store.
Jimmy
I’d be interested to know if the wall is offering a new fast charger. I was getting ready to purchase a Dewalt fast charger until I saw this article. I don’t see any mention of a new fast charger in your story. Is there a fast charger that Dewalt offers that you can recommend?
JimmyDid
Stuart
Dewalt has a couple of fast chargers, such as DCB118, which is FlexVolt and 20V Max-only (no 12V Max compatibility). DCB1112 is a 20V Max and 12V Max fast charger.
I don’t know of any fast chargers newer than those two.
DCB118: 8A max charging rate for premium batteries
DCB1112: 12A max charging rate
The DCB1112 is the fastest Dewalt charger I know of, and it has 2-stage LED indicators. I don’t see it being replaced any time soon.