Dewalt came out with a dual-port charger two years ago, but – as I argued at the time – that was more of a universal charger since you could not connect two of the same types of batteries at the same time. This new DCB102 dual-port charger, on the other hand, can accept any combination of Dewalt’s 12V or 20V Max Li-ion batteries.
Most multi-battery chargers charge batteries in sequence. However, this charger can charge two 12V or 20V Max batteries in parallel. In other words, it is built with two complete circuits that can charge two batteries at the same time!
Advertisement
Additionally, the charger features two built-in USB 5V charging ports, which can be used to recharge smartphones, tablets, and other types of mobile devices. These ports can deliver up to 1.5 A of current, which in my experience is better than average for USB chargers.
One tiny part of me is thinking “what are USB charging outlets doing in a professional-grade cordless power tool battery pack charger?,” while the rest of me thinks “YES!!” Dewalt tried something new here, and I think it’s a great idea.
USB charging is independent of 12V/20V Max charging, meaning you can charge up to 2 battery packs AND 2 USB-compatible devices at the same time.
Street Price (as of Jan 2016): $90
Buy Now(via Amazon)
If you spend a little more, you can get the special bundle that comes with a 5Ah battery pack to start you off with!
Advertisement
Buy Now(Charger and Battery Bundle)
I hope other brands pay attention to this. Milwaukee’s six pack M18 charger, as much as I like it, is one charger that I would love to see improved with a USB charging port or two.
Greg
For $204.60 they are completely out of their minds. Now if it came with two 20v 5ah batteries I might bite. Otherwise they are insane.
Stuart
It’s probably a fictitious placeholder until units start shipping and an MSRP is set.
Stuart
Just heard back from Dewalt – MSRP will be $119, and the charger can charge both batteries at once, and can also power both USB ports while batteries are charging.
Since this is essentially two chargers with a common power cord and extra circuitry for the USB ports, the pricing seems reasonable.
Javier
This is a great idea, like that it does both 12v and 20v. The USB function is great, also the IR 20v chargers have built in usb port, it sounds goofy at first but hey if you can charge your mobile device, why not? I think its a great idea. I wonder if you can use the usb and charge a dewalt battery at the same time?
Probably wont charge 2 dewalt batteries at the same time but it would be awesome if it did
Hang Fire
So Javier why don’t you believe Stuart when he says it WILL charge two dewalt batteries at the same time?
Javier
@ Hang Fire, I read the article yesterday when Stuart wasn’t sure if it would charge 2 batteries at once.
Great to hear it does both.
Stuart
It WILL charge 2 batteries at the same time.
Javier’s comment came before the part about simultaneous battery and USB charging was updated in the post.
Jerry
You’d be surprised how many remote locations have poor cell signal, killing cell/smart phone batteries. USB would allow for charging those, as well as the iPads people are using more and more over AM/FM jobsite radios.
Great idea!
Michael Quinlan
I think this is a great idea. When I switched from DeWalt (NiCd) to Milwaukee a little over a year ago, I was disappointed to find that the multi-port chargers worked sequentially, since I was used to simultaneous charging with DeWalt.
I can confirm what Jerry said about poor cell signal areas being battery killers. Around home I can easily be on the phone for two hours and still have about 80% battery life left, but on a couple recent jobs I’ve been down around 40% after two hours. Being able to charge from a tool battery charger would come in handy at times.
Joe M
I am happy to see this! I decent permanent replacement for my charger that I can keep on my bench at all times! I would be even happier if this had an 8V Max port on it too. Why? Because I have the DCL023 8 Volt Max Flashlight, and DCF680 Gyroscopic Screwdriver. When you just gotta charge a tool, one charger that charges an entire family is welcomed!
skfarmer
at the risk of sounding like a broken record.
go back to the flipping drawing board and develop an adapter so that 18 volt tools can accept the new 20 volt batteries. is the usb port handy? sure, but i won’t be buying one as long as my 18 volt tools are holding out.
Hang Fire
A hidden driver here is OSHA and their “love” of extension cords and power splitters on the jobsite. Anything that can reduce the number of extension cords is a big win for big contractors.
Dennis
All the manufacturers push at least main 2 voltage lines generally something around 12 and another around 18. Of course they want you to buy tools from both lines. So it surprises me that it is that hard, and has taken this long to get a descent multi-charger product. Quite frankly I think dual voltage charges should come with the tools. If you didn’t already have the other voltage it would certainly be an argument for buying the other size.
This one has all the features that I want except for one. It charges simultaneously, can do 2 voltages, and has USB ports. The only thing that I need it to do that it can’t is charge Milwaukee batteries. So get on the ball Milwaukee and copy these specs.
Stuart
Dewalt’s standard DCB101 20V Max charger ($69 via Amazon) that’s included with both 20V kits can charge 20V Max or 12V Max batteries.
Milwaukee’s M18 kits often ship out with M18 and M12 multi-voltage chargers.
You’re not going to see multi-brand chargers anytime soon. I wish for that as well, but there are too many potential compatibility and support reasons why you won’t.
Dennis
I didn’t mean multibrand chargers, I just wanted Milwaukee to make a multi-volt simultaneous charger with USB ports like this one, because a majority of my tools are Milwaukee.
Although… Multibrand would be awesome!
Dan
Makita has a 4 port LXT charger that charges 2 at a time for the UK market.