Pros around here – contractors, electricians, plumbers, techs – they LOVE Milwaukee cordless power tools. In this series, we’ll talk about some of those tools that stand out as clear favorites.
Milwaukee M18 Six-Pack Sequential Battery Charger
The Milwaukee M18 Six-Pack can charge up to 6 batteries, one at a time.
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Our favorite electrician duo uses one of these at the end of the day, to ensure that any drained or batteries are fully charged and good to go the next morning.
It’s compact, it has charge status LED indicators for each battery port, a top handle that makes for convenient portability, and the plug is pass-thru for added convenience.
There are also screw keyhole slots on the bottom, for users that want to mount it to the wall of their workshop or van, or other vertical surface.
While not a must-have for everyone, the Milwaukee M18 Six-Pack charger certainly does make it easier to manage daily or regular charging of several M18 batteries. It also takes up a lot less space than a bunch of individual chargers.
Price: $99
Buy Now(via Acme Tools)
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
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Milwaukee M18 Rapid Charging Station
I reviewed the Six-Pack charger a few years ago, and since then Milwaukee has also come out with an M18/M12 rapid charger, which has 3x M18 slots and 3x M12 slots, and the ability to charge up to 3 batteries at once.
Which one to buy? If you need more than 3 M18 ports and can wait for the batteries to charge one by one, the Six-Pack might serve you better. If you have a mix of M12 and M18 batteries, and want them recharged at the same time, and fast, the Rapid Charge Station might be the better choice.
Buy Now(Rapid Charger via Acme Tools)
Do you use either of these Milwaukee M18 charging stations? Any regrets?
Jared
That does look pretty nice. Dewalt has something similar of course in the DCB 104 that simultaneously fast-charges four batteries – and the ports work with either 20v or 12v batteries. A better charger in my opinion… BUT – it costs twice as much.
Stuart
The DCB104 is similar in functionality to the Rapid Charging Station, but it’s also very large in comparison, as it’s compatible with Dewalt ToughSystem tool boxes. And, as you mentioned, it’s $199.
For reference, here’s the post on the DCB104: https://toolguyd.com/dewalt-20v-max-4-port-rapid-battery-charger/
Tim
Yep, the form factor on this is great.
Jared
That’s a good point about the size. I’ve never seen the Milwaukee in person but the shape certainly looks much more portable.
The Dewalt is too expensive for me to really consider. At the price it goes for I would be more interested in the DCB1800 Power Station and get all the functionality that brings (albeit it doesn’t charge as fast).
MICKEY KEENE
Milwaukee has a combo 18volt/12volt charging system also. Its 169.00. This isn’t a rapid charger just a sequential.
Tony
But the Milwaukee is a sequential charger so that means one battery gets charged at a time and then the sequence goes to the next battery until all the batteries are charged at least the DeWalt can charge all the batteries at one time.
audiovideofreak
They need to release the rapid charge version of this. Those 12’s take FOREVER to charge on that six pack!
Wayne R.
We had two-way radios that weren’t usually used until special circumstances, and then a few of them were always left at home on chargers. WTF?
Extra batteries & a gang charger fixed that. This is ringing that same bell to me…
Stuart
The M12/M18 charge station is the better option in my opinion. Sure it only has three 18v ports compared to six, but they are rapid charge and they charge simultaneously instead of sequentially. I know I’m not the only one who uses a variety of M12 and M18 tools on the job so the ability to rapid charge both with one charge is a huge convenience as well.
Stuart
As mentioned in the post, it really depends on the user and their needs.
Even with the rapid charging station also available the Six-Pack has its benefits.
PETE
I have two of these for my ryobi stuff. If your on the fence on if you want one or not JUST GET IT.
I love mine. I don’t have a need for a m18 yet.
Aaron
I got one of those for my Ryobi stuff and it borked there of my batteries. They tested it at the maintenance counter and said it worked, but they let me return it anyway. Glad to hear my experience is not normal
Devin Spartan
I have the M18/M12 6 slot charger. I absolutely love it. Most of my co-workers take advantage of it when we are on site together. I use it quite often and it is a perfect solution for me being as I use a mix of the two systems.
Matt
Rapid charger is the way to go. They charge so much faster and they charge at the same time. I should clarify, 3 charge at the same time. But they charge fast enough I never run out of batteries.
Michael Quinlan
I’ve got the M12/M18 rapid charger and love it. It’s the only Milwaukee charger I keep in my work van. It was a no-brainer buy on clearance at a local Home Depot for $85.
Rory
By todays standards this charger is super out dated – it is too slow.
3 hours for a single 9Ah
4 hours for a single 12Ah
A whole day to do 6 x 12Ah batteries…
Even 2 hours for a 6Ah is pretty unacceptable.
Yet because its red people continue to buy it.
Dominic S
I’ll agree that this charger needs an update! If I’m spending my hard earned money on something that’s not a tool or even a battery for your tool system it had better be good, and a 6 slot slow charger that only charges one battery at a time is a joke in 2019.
The What?
There ain’t nothing to love about a six pack battery charger that can’t charge all 6 simultaneously. One at a time for 6 batteries will take all day and will definitely slow down productivity if your using 2 or 3 tools sharing only one battery. Especially if you’re using tools that draw a lot of power. It’s not very professional when can’t finish up a job because you’re standing around waiting for a battery to charge. God forbid you need to use more than one tool and you want a full battery for each tool you need so you can be productive and stand a better chance of getting the job done. That obviously didn’t dawn upon the ingenious engineers at Milwaukee that designed this. What’s the difference between this and 6 individual chargers plugged into a surge protector strip?
Stuart
Cost, size, and portability.
As mentioned at the end of the post, there is also a rapid charging station with 3x M18 and 3x M12 ports, and it can handle charging up to 3 batteries simultaneously.
Matthew MacDonald
I have been using the m12/m18 charger for years, love it!
Sure, Milwaukee isn’t the best at everything, but when the Hilti or Makita go through their batteries, i can rotate batteries and even with heavy use i can always have a good charge going.
I spent the extra on the 12/18 because it is simultaneous, not sequential. The other side of that coin is a sequential charger can run off the inverter in the truck, try charging 6 batteries at once and you’ll overheat a fairly substantial inverter.
Steven
There is nothing that needs to change with the charger. Sequential is slow… sure it is, but if you blast through and discharge 6 fully charged batteries in one day…without simultaneously charging t least one is a pretty busy and battery negligent day. We have guys with 9-6 amp batteries on there 6 bay chargers. But we make it a habit to bring in at the end of the day and charge em up at the shop.
We love the 6 bay chargers as they rangle up the batteries and we know where they are or if we’re short a battery.
Id love to add the 4 bay m12 sequential charger to my arsenal
The 6 bay charger gets the most recognition and attention from all construction trades. Its price point is just right and size make it a no brainer.
Julian Tracy
I guess I’d rather have a dual charger like Makita that charges both simultaneously.
Sometimes you need a couple batteries NOW.
Julian Tracy
If I’m not mistaken, Makita has the fastest basic charging rate: 20 min 2.0, 30min 3.0, 40min 4.0, 50min 5.0. And that’s with their pretty basic regular charger that’s been included in just about every combo kit they’ve sold in the last 4-5years. Only recently in the Xmas $99 kits maybe have they started including a slower rate charger, and that’s not all the $99 kits either – just some of the cheaper ones.
Tim
Yes, they’re pretty quick at charging, but they’re bulky as all get out. Six of those things side by side would take up a tremendous amount of room. I’ve got two side by side and I feel like even that takes up more space than I want it to.
Boggsy
Sequential only makes sense if you’re charging batteries with other batteries and have to manage your wattage.
Maybe they were trying to make it a crazy multiport fast charger, but then it pulled 18 amps… So they broke its legs and tossed it to the curb. Until somebody came up with this way to salvage an existing design.