Makita has recently launched a new line of 40V Max XGT cordless power tools. Well, what about their 18V lineup? Makita USA has said that that “more 18V products are on the way,” and this includes a new cordless cooler/warmer.
This post was originally published in April 2021, and updated on October 25th, 2021. I recently posted about the new Makita 18V X2 cordless water kettle, and a reader asked tongue-in-cheek about an ice maker. While not an ice maker, maybe this will pair well with the kettle.
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The new Makita cooler/warmer has a 20 liter capacity, which can fit up to 30 cans or 15 water bottles (600mL). There’s a bottle opener mounted to the front.
Looking at the Japanese model, DCW180, there are (2) 18V battery slots, for extra runtime. When powered by 2x 6.0Ah batteries and with the cooler set to 5°C (~41°F), you should get up to 17 hours of runtime.
It also has a built-in USB charging port.
The digital control panel has 5 different cooling temperature presets (-18°C to 10°C), and 2 heating presets (55°C, 60°C).
A large carrying handle and wheels make for easy transport. The cooler/warmer also ships with shoulder strap (at least internationally).
International models also have automotive and AC power adapters.
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Basically, it’s a cordless battery-powered beverage cooler and food warmer – or at least that’s how it’s described.
5°C (41°F) is close to refrigeration temperature standards, and 60°C (140°F) is close to Australian food reheating standards. I would presume that if the warming temperature is desired to meet health department standards, the settings could potentially change depending on sales region.
The cooler/warmer is rated to IPX4 waterproof standards to resist splashing water.
Makita Cooler/Warmer Runtime Specs
- -18°C (-0.4°F): 5 hours
- 5°C (°41F): 17 hours
- 60°C (140°F): 5 hours
(This is with 2x Makita 18V 6.0Ah batteries.)
Makita has said they’ll be releasing the cordless cooler in the USA but there’s still no timetable yet.
More Makita 18V Tools Coming Soon
- Grease gun
- Angle drill
- Multi-tool with Bosch/Fein Starlock Max interface (subcompact)
- Polisher (subcompact drill form factor)
- Sprayer
- Cooler/Warmer (discussed here)
- Pole hedge trimmer
- Tower lights (both resemble current Milwaukee M18 models)
Which of these new Makita 18V cordless tools or accessories are you looking forward to?
Tim
It actually has a refrigeration unit in it and isn’t just an ice box with a fan?
Also the new multitool is insane. Probably the top tool on the market.
Stuart
They don’t specify.
Big Richard
Almost certainly not a refrigeration unit. Most likely a thermoelectric cooler, just like other electric coolers:
https://www.coleman.com/coolers/thermoelectric-coolers/40-quart-powerchill-thermoelectric-cooler/SAP_3000001497.html
NicksGarage
It’s a compressor unit.
Doresoom
It uses 134a, so it looks like it will actually feature real refrigeration unlike the Ryobi swamp cooler.
Big Richard
I’m surprised, refrigeration units do not like to be tossed around and operated. While the thermoelectric units are not great at cooling, you can toss them around, put them on their side, whatever and they will still run.
Perry
Not necessarily, there are many 12v refrigerators marketed to camping/overlanding segments with the ability to tilt to extreme angles, and some have automatic shutoff when tilted too far or tumble.
John
Those are designed to be installed in a vehicle or trailer though, not carried by hand.
Stephen Surls
The ones use in cosplay can fit in the palm of your hand
Lance
This would be infinitely more useful if it featured a hybrid input; AC line power OR battery power.
Stuart
I mentioned in the post that the international version is described as having automotive and AC voltage inputs as well as 18V LXT compatibility.
Frank Campbell
Agreed Precool at home then switch to batteries on the go
Larry
It could also be a Stirling engine just like the old Coleman cooler
Flyer
The cooling ability would be better that the advertised specs if it was a Stirling engine. Too bad the Coleman was discontinued, it was super efficient.
We have a Dometic CFX40 that can run off 12v or 110v. Cools down to -7′ F.
If battery operation is important, you could use an inverter with the power tool batteries.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RYOBI-150-Watt-Power-Inverter-for-ONE-18-Volt-Battery-Tool-Only-RYi150BG/308460871
Stacey Jones
Do you mean the XMT04a
Peter Fox
I would bet a substantial sum of money that it uses a Peltier device for cooling/heating. Not very efficient or high in thermal capacity (BTU/hr) but simple and rugged. Not a good choice for cooling down hot foods but plenty good to keep already cool thing cool.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermoelectric_cooling
There are plenty of 12V coolers/warmers but this is the first I have seen that uses power tool batteries.
Jared
Didn’t I see a Ryobi cooler too?
Stuart
https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-cooling-cooler/
Peter Fox
OK I would have lost that bet. I did not expect it to have an actual refrigeration system.
it should have morte cooling capacity than the thermoelectric coolers out there and probably better runtime per watt/hour of battery.
Big Richard
I lost the same bet.
MM
I’d have lost the bet too, but the more I think about it it’s amazing how small refrigeration compressors have gotten these days so in a “hindsight is 20/20” sort of way it makes sense!
Tim D.
I thought that for a second, but then read the run times and temps. Pelts are just nowhere near efficient enough to get near those numbers with two 6ah batteries, even with marketing fluffed numbers.
Mike
For cooling, it uses a compressor with R1234yf refrigerant:
https://www.makita.com.au/images/downloads/documents/manuals/DCW180Z_manual.pdf
It’s a really cool product, but don’t expect it to be cheap… overseas prices have it in the $500+ range.
Jared
This is neat. It’s one of those tools that actually makes me what to buy into a battery platform – just like the coffee maker. I know these aren’t traditional “tools”, but I don’t care. I like the extra utility from my power tool batteries.
I’m not saying I will buy Makita because of this cooler – but it’s neat enough to weigh into the equation if I were shopping for a new platform.
Nate B
Except the tool batteries don’t really hold that much power when you’re talking about a refrigeration load. Even a well-insulated chamber with a high quality compressor, will still kill a battery in a few hours.
This would be useful if paired with the enormous outdoor power equipment packs, either the ryobi 48v or the ego 56v for example, but nobody’s doing that yet. (Drives me nuts, cuz I’d love an Ego fridge.)
Sooooo, the other route is to get a DC-DC converter and DIY. You can get converters with 36-72v input and 12v output, and just run any normal Iceco or Whynter fridge off your OPE packs. I haven’t looked into low-voltage cutoff, but I’m sure someone at endless-sphere has it figured out.
RustyShackleford
They are claiming 17 hours at 30 degrees.
Mike R
You can always just buy an adapter to run your battery if choice.
Noah
I’m most interested in the new multi tool. My current brushed one is on the way out although I may replace it with the same one since I have no clue when or if makita will release the new model in the US.
Hon Cho
Thermoelectric coolers using peltier modules are incredibly power hungry. Using a compressor with some sort of refrigerant is much more efficient, not to mention more effective. Peltier junctions have limited ability (I think about 40deg F) below the ambient temperature. They do benefit from no moving parts. I have a couple of Norcold portable 12v/120v fridges that are 30 plus years old using Fujisawa “swing” compressors that are incredible durable and reliable and will maintain freezing temps in 90 deg ambient temps.
Makita keeps making some interesting gadgets for their battery platform. However, I just bought into the Dewalt 20v/60v flexvolt platform and can’t justify another platform–yet!
Stuart
Although Peltier coolers don’t have moving parts, the hot end normally requires a heatsink and cooling fans (or similar) to help dissipate the heat.
MM
Yes. Though a refrigeration unit also has to have a means of dumping heat to the atmosphere outside the cooler; i.e. the “coils” on the back of a refrigerator. That’s just a fancy word for a radiator.
It’s also possible to get more than a 40 degree delta by stacking them in stages, but this can get very large very fast because each subsequent stage has to dissipate not only the heat pumped by the stage before it, but that stage’s waste heat (inefficiency) as well.
Larry
I prefer coolers with a Stirling engine cooler. Very efficient and can reach very low temps. Coleman used to sell one. I’ve heard they are still sold in the medical field and can be found used at reasonable prices.
rob
If anyone has come across my previous salty comments, I stick to Fein (actually in the cordless case it’s the Festool coloured one) for the multi tool because every other company didn’t bother to put an effort into theirs. Makita seems to have bothered with their new one and I applaud that. However (hopefully I’m mistaken), the “Starlock” bit appears to just be about compatibility. It appears to take a retaining pin like the previous generation Feins. That’s all well and good, but maybe a tad misleading. The Fein and Bosch (and since last year, Makita branded Bosch) are the only show in town so why bother with the sideways compatibility?
Lyle
I have the Festool OMT. It looks like they have tons of useful features that nobody else has. It was crazy expensive but sometimes the precision is worth it.
DL
Thank God they are using starlock! Much stiffer connection and cleaner cuts. Are you listening Milwaukee?
Pocket Handyman
That subcompact starlock multitool would be a great to lay my hands on.
Gordon
I’ve been hearing about the new OMT for about a year now. That will probably be an instant buy for me. I’m so tired of my corded harbor freight one. I bought it thinking I would only use it for one job and now I use it all the time.
I’m curious about the sprayer. Is that a paint sprayer or backpack sprayer?
What I would really like is for some of last year’s tools to have wider availability and lower price. I’d really like their 6″ random orbit polisher but its $450 for the bare tool. That seems like a crazy price to me. It’s $200 more than the DeWalt or Milwaukee. The new stick vac also seems crazy overpriced to me. The new one is more expensive as a bare tool than the old version as a kit.
Plain grainy
I seen a couple ads for this cooler online. $800 plus. You can buy a lot of ice for $800.
Plain grainy
Might be a couple hundred dollars high, as early ads usually drop considerably. Once they become widely available.
gLEB
heatgun…..
Nico
That is great and all but will they ever make a hackzall style saw? I currently have to use the milwaukee one with an adaptor.
Stuart
Not that I know of.
Bro
Maybe you’d like model XRJ01Z
Doresoom
LOL Stuart, perfect timing! I read this post as I was editing my yearly Makita patent video!
Makita actually has a recent patent for a Peltier effect cooler that integrates with their stackable toolboxes as well. I was surprised to see this one uses refrigerant and a compressor.
Doc John
Innovative, quality, cool
I’ll take two,…
Damn, life’s sweet
Greg j Norton
When is makita going to come out with a 3×21 cordless belt sander? That would be a total game changer in the wood working and steel field!
Lyle
When is Dewalt gonna come out with a cordless belt sander. I have a Ridgid one and a Ridgid light. Ugh, would love to sell them to someone with a bunch of orange tools
X Lu
These guys have lost their way. Just buy a best of breed 12 volt refrigerator, a hot pot and a Jackery. And with some solar panels, you are invincible. There is literally no brand equity in a Mikita fridge or hot pot. If you plan to make products like this, you need a serious DC solar charger for your battery platform.
Plain grainy
The Dewalt power station runs simple 110-120v appliances. But it’s not clean power, will ruin some complex electrical appliances.
X Lu
This is a huge missed oppty by the majors. As batteries have gotten larger, creating on the fly solar generators which can charge from panels and at least provide serious dc power for laptops, fridges, lights etc would be great backups to supplement other lights out solutions. Add a pure sine inverter and they have covered all the bases. Milwaukee has that MX thing but multiple m18s or dewalt equivalents would be must haves given their proliferation.
Mac
I’m out in Louisiana doing recovery work for Ida. This sure would be nice right now. I wonder how well it would survive being checked as luggage. I wonder if it includes a insulated wrap or cover perhaps. I could see me using this frequently and it would beat flying in someplace, buying a cheap POS cooler and hauling ice daily… assuming anyis available.
Flotsam
This looks very similar to a cooler that Ryobi made maybe a year or two back. It features a thermionic device to do the cooling. I don’t know if that one is still available or how successful it was.
I would have always thought that if you were buying one of these and primarily using it with batteries its a good idea to choose one that uses of the tool manufacturers battery line. They have gotten real good with this technology so I don’t know why someone would select a no-name brand. But i really like the idea of a hybrid design. Traveling to go camping or something charge in the car/SUV. Stopped at a hotel plug it in. Better than constantly having to buy ice.
Stuart
https://toolguyd.com/ryobi-cooling-cooler/
John
I owned an Igloo or Coleman version of this concept about 20 years; plugged into vehicle 12V. It crapped out in about a year. Have sworn off items like this.
Perry
Those old ones were peltier coolers, that are really just an inefficient heat transfer device. This one is designed with an actual compressor on 134a coolant. This style is very popular now with the offroad and camping crowd