Dewalt has launched a new 20V Max multi-port cordless power tool battery charger, and also a power controller for managing multiple chargers.
Following is all of the information and details that we able to gather from Dewalt’s website after seeing posts on social media. We have yet to see any press or media resources from Dewalt, and it’s unclear if they’re ready to answer any questions about the new products.
At this time there are no details regarding additional features, pricing, or availability.
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Dewalt 15A Power Controller (DCBPC1615)
Features of the new Dewalt 15A power controller include:
- Charges up to 24 batteries in less than 5 hours
- Sequential Power Delivery
- Includes priority outlet
In contrast to the “sequential power delivery” of the new Dewalt power manager, Milwaukee’s Power Manager (available in 15A and 20A models) has an intelligent controller designed to maximize the number of outlets powered at any time while also avoiding tripped breakers.
The Milwaukee Power Manager also allows users to dial down the power level in case there are other devices on a 15A electrical circuit.
Because the Dewalt power manager has fewer outlets and appears to have less sophisticated features and engineering, I would expect it to sell at a considerably lower price point.
Dewalt 20V 4-Port Battery Charger (DCB1404)
There’s also this new Dewalt DCB1404 4-port charger.
It features:
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- Simultaneous charging
- 2 Stage LED state of charge indicator
- Mounting Option-through holes (screws sold separately)
The new charger is compatible with Dewalt 12V Max, 20V Max, and FlexVolt Li-ion batteries.
From the description, this is a 4A charger.
I’m guessing the charging slots are spaced so far apart so as to accommodate Dewalt’s largest FlexVolt battery.
The Dewalt DCB104 4-port rapid charger, which launched over 7 years ago (see New Dewalt 20V Max 4-Port Rapid Battery Charger) is an 8A simultaneous charger.
It’s interesting to see Dewalt and Milwaukee’s very different approaches to charging and power management.
Which setup do you find more appealing?
See Also: New Milwaukee Battery Chargers & Power Manager – Tech Briefing
Thanks to BigRichard for the heads-up!
Doug N
The only substantive difference I see in the last photo is that the Milwaukee display has the wires neatly tied together, which few real world users would take the time to do. Both seem like good set ups.
Jim Felt
Obviously “everyone’s mileage may vary” but we always set up our shop spaces with the idea that continuous improvements were expected and some form of continuity between locations was kind of expected.
As staff circulated (aka drove or flew) between locations and appreciated the concept.
JoeM
Purely because I have the system, I’d lean DeWALT. I have DeWALT Tools and Batteries, and having a 4-port 4A charger for the less powerful batteries, where the original 8A 4-port is charging the bigger batteries, makes sense to me. Though, with a small operation, or individual’s use, I notice the spacing of the DeWALT Power Controller suits some AC Power Blocks. This may be handy in a workshop that uses USB power stations or holders to charge phones and tablets when needed. I will openly admit having only 6 ports total on this definitely designates it for very small spaces.
That said, I believe, in my heart of hearts, that Milwaukee has a far more diverse, adaptable, power setup. This is a system designed for Specialist Trades in mind. The ones who have M12 and M18 tools, multiple chargers, lights, the whole shebang as they used to say. Once again, DeWALT comes through in the Workshop and the general Construction Job side, and Milwaukee comes through with all the Contractor and Large Shared Space side. Milwaukee has the far more diverse system, but I would be somewhat hesitant to include the consideration for USB power blocks in the >100 Watt range fitting comfortably into the setup of the Power Controller/Power Strip. That’s not a knock against them, one who knows Electrical circuits can easily rig a quick and dirty extension off that using a common Computer Power Cord, and an outdoor electrical socket box, resolving the issue with the power blocks getting in the way of all the power cords in the system.
I know they are owned by different parent companies, but I find that the niche that DeWALT and Milwaukee fit into, overlap less like competition, and more like puzzle pieces. What DeWALT makes really rugged is for big, common things. What Milwaukee makes is for specialized, Precision Powerful Things. For really big projects, these two must both be present to complete the job. They compliment eachother on a larger scale, rather than compete. It’s on the Individual’s level where they are genuine competition, and I do love both companies for this approach. The Common Consumer keeps them both honest about pricing, availability, and releases, but they can both easily sell to the Pro-Industrial levels as if they’re downright compatible with eachother being there together. I am very thankful to ToolGuyd over the years, for ridding me of my “Team Yellow” arrogance. Though I own the tools that I do, and don’t see a need to have other systems in place, it doesn’t mean I don’t have a Love of Milwaukee or (occasionally) Bosch for their place, firmly planted, in spots of Pride for making their products.
Stuart
The great thing about either brand’s power controllers is that they work with ANY chargers. You can use the Milwaukee power manager with Dewalt chargers, or the Dewalt power strip with Milwaukee chargers.
Robert
Seems strange that for the newer DCB1404 Dewalt would drop from 8A to 4A compared to the “prior” version. What am I missing?
Stuart
Probably going to be cheaper.
It’s slower charging, but I guess you can fit more separate chargers on the same electrical circuit without tripping the breaker.
Al-another-Al
For me as a DIYer, I’d value speed over volume. I only charge tool batteries when I’m in the room. I don’t leave them overnight. I also store them unattached and capped in a metal drawer.
Have seen too many batteries smoking or on fire in a ‘managed’ and fused charging rack. If a human wasn’t in the room to call for help, things would have been so much worse. The wifi-connected monitoring systems only track charge times and capacity, not if the subject is melting.
Eddie
Doesnt look like it clicks into the toughsystem boxes like the original. Ive never been a fan of new “downgraded” products. I kinda get it but would have been nice to see like a 4 port that was even faster even though i like mine plenty. Like the flex 24v 4 port is 280 watt per port while dewalts is 160 watt per port. The original 4 port fits toughsystem 1.0 flawlessly but not the 2.0. Will fit 2.0 by grinding the feet tho which i did to mine but this was an opportunity to make it jus fit 2.0 properly as well
BG100
It’s definitely missing the bits that connect to Tough System. What a shame, I’m heavily invested into TS 1 and 2, including the old 4 port charger. I understand this is geared toward a fixed wall type of mount, but it wouldn’t have taken that much to make it fit TS. Seems lazy.
I wonder what the actual improvement is over the old 4 port charger. Two stage charging doesn’t seem like a reason for me to drop my current charger and spend more $$
Stuart
It’s not an improvement, or at least I assume both models will be sold alongside each other.
Micah
Will the slower charge give longevity to the batteries or not necessarily?
If I’m not in a rush, I usually opt for my 4A dual charger vs 8A speed chargers, but perhaps I’m overthinking it 🙂
Saulac
Modular chargers, please. I hate how brand design charger to look beautiful on a desktop. Worst probably is the M12 charger. I want just a brick with cleats to latch into each other, mounting holes that you can drive a crew right from the front. Why all chargers have mounting holes hidden in the back, like fancy wall arts, instead of holes right through the front?
Stuart
Keyhole slots are unobtrusive – great if you need them, and without increasing the footprint, cost, or complexity of a charger if you don’t.
MM
Modular chargers would be awesome. Design them so that multiple smaller chargers can lock together to make a larger model, that can either charge multiple packs in parallel or can combine output to fast-charge a smaller number of packs.
This would also solve the classic problem where established users of a given platform end up accumulating unwanted chargers.
Tdot77
That would be nice! I hate having 7+ chargers just cause you’re pushed into buying so many in kit form after your initial introduction into the battery platform. Despite the fact of exclusively buying bare tools for this exact reason I still have too many chargers!
Bonnie
Keyholes let you lift them off easily when needed, or leave them permanently mounted. Serves both purposes well as literally all you need to know to mount it is the distance between the holes, which will be molded onto the case and sometimes even has a gauge mark you can use. I’ll sometimes grab a charger off the wall and bring it with me to a work location if I’m expecting to burn through batteries heavily, otherwise it lives in the same spot on the wall.
I certainly wouldn’t describe any charger I’ve seen as “beautiful on a desktop”. They’re all plastic bricks with charging circuitry, sometimes fans (on the nicer ones), an indicator light, and a battery slot on the front. Making them much smaller would require more heat dissipation, which is already one of the bottlenecks on charging. There’s less empty space inside them than you might expect (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUgHvi7i9ig).
Another Bob
Finally a charger that has mounting options that don’t suck. But….less output than my current one? I guess if I didn’t have the multiport, maybe new one is a lot cheaper?
In one of my bench locations, I have an older dual port with the USB’s. I think those are 4 A each. I have a single eight amp fast charger And two single 4 amps. I run them off one power strip simultaneously and I’ve never had a problem. I know they switched power supplies. I guess the RMS isn’t enough to trip the breaker?
The smart power supply is pretty neat though. Could definitely see that if you had a large work crew that was charging batteries every night.
I mount my chargers upside down from underside of a shelf above my bench. Batteries “hang” down and easy to slide in or out one handed. I used a large band clamp. Screwed the clamp to shelf than tightened it around the charger to suck it into the shelf. The provided keyhole slots for screws are garbage. The old 18 V were slick you could put a drywall screw right through the middle of the charger works perfect.
Brian
Does the older charger work with the powerstack batteries?
Stuart
Why wouldn’t it?
Tdot77
Just above the ‘Milwaukee buy here button’ is a small mistake Stuart.
“….sophisticated features and *engineering***(not ‘engineers’)…”??
This seems like a limited volume odd item to me. Like who really needs to ‘control’ their multiple four battery chargers in this manner? I can see one or 2 quad battery chargers being used in high demand jobsites, but 4 – 6+ quad chargers? It just seems like a fancy, overpriced power strip to me, but maybe I’m wrong….who knows?!
Stuart
Thanks! Caught that just now too when fixing a formatting issue. Much appreciated!
I know that Milwaukee considered the needs of landscapers and others who might run through batteries during the day and then recharge a large group of them overnight.
I don’t know much about the Dewalt, but the Milwaukee power controller is designed to allow for bulk charging without having to invest in electrical infrastructure upgrades.
Basically, you charge more batteries from one outlet and circuit breaker without having to babysit the chargers or swap batteries back and forth.