DEWALT has announced that they will introducing a new line of green laser levels that are compatible with their 12V MAX* and 20V MAX* cordless power tool battery systems. In addition to being DEWALT’S first-ever green lasers to be compatible with both battery platforms, the new lasers also feature compelling user-friendly features.
These are also DEWALT’s first green spot and line lasers that are capable of being powered by the 20V MAX* platform.
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Features common to the entire lineup include:
- 12V MAX*/20V MAX* battery compatibility (up to 8.0Ah)
- Green laser technology for high visibility
- Over-molded housing
- Magnetic base
- Battery state of charge indicator
- Tripod threads
- Fine adjustment knob
- Locking pendulum
- Pivoting laser head
- TSTAK-compatible tool boxes for kits and bare tools
The new lineup features (4) new laser products:
- 3×360° Line Laser (DCLE34030G / DCLE34030GB)
- Cross Line Laser (DCLE34020G / DCLE34020GB)
- Cross Line 5 Spot Laser (DCLE34520G / DCLE34520GB)
- 2 Spot Laser (DCLE34220G / DCLE34220GB)
The G suffix denotes the kit configuration, while the GB denotes the tool-only configuration where the battery and charger are sold separately. Each laser comes with a DEWALT 20V MAX* 2.0Ah battery, 20V MAX*/12V MAX* charger, wall mount bracket, target card, and TSTAK storage system-compatible tool box.
Key Features
We have been working with the new 3×360° laser as part of a paid sponsorship with DEWALT, and will discuss it in more depth separately. In the meantime, here are some of the key features shared by all four of the new lasers.
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Fine Adjust Knob – allows for fine-tuning vertical beams along the horizontal axis for efficiency and productivity.
20V MAX* and 12V MAX* Compatibility.
Up to 10 Hours Per Charge – for the 3×360° laser on average when powered with a 2.0Ah battery with all 3 laser lines in use.
Compatible with most DEWALT 20V MAX* Batteries up to 8Ah.
The integrated magnets are strong, there are more of them than in preceding models, and they’re distributed across a greater height.
IP54 Rated – “provides some level of protection from dust (limited ingress) and liquids (light splashing) during normal and reasonably foreseeable use.” This applies to the lasers but not the battery or charger.
Pricing and Availability
Buy Now via Tool Nut:
- 3×360° Line Laser Kit ($549)
- Cross Line Laser Kit ($409)
- Cross Line 5 Spot Laser Kit ($549)
- 2 Spot Laser Kit ($439)
DEWALT’s first 12V MAX*/20V MAX* laser to launch will be their 3×360° line laser, and it is expected to start shipping shortly (late April-May 2021).
The cross line, 5-spot, and 2-spot lasers will be launching summer 2021.
John E
#1 question: Accuracy? Even DeWalt’s own website is hazy or gives conflicting data on this critical feature. I believe the old 3×360 green is rated at 1/8″ @ 30′ but good look finding confirmation on that.
Stuart
The 3×360° I know to be rated at ±1/8″ accuracy at 30′.
For the others, I expect for more details to be available as they launch.
PETE
I have the old 360 green laser and it works good. No complaints about what it is & does.
3 things i want this NEW laser to do.
1- I want it to be able to tilt off level. IE if i need to follow grade of 2% i’d be nice to use the laser to do that. Sure i could use a string line but why should i when i have LASER BEAMS?!
2- Be serviceable, i might be wrong but i’m pretty sure the old one wasn’t serviceable for calibration. Out of calibration- throw it away. My STUPID dewalt service center was close for a year for covid so i couldnt ask
3- fine adjustment- do we get a remote to do this? If i’m trying to line up the laser to a point thats 100′ away it’d be easier if i was at the 100′ mark than at the laser side otherwise you’ll need two people or the receiver which is what i currently use.
Stuart
1) Some lasers can lock their pendulum, but I believe that’s more for vibration control than anything else. I don’t know any lasers in this class than can be accurately set to a grade.
2) This was discussed during a virtual meeting with Dewalt. Earlier versions of the older model could not be easily calibrated, and I believe this was remedied in later versions. With this model (models? – the focus of the meeting was on the 3×360), it IS serviceable should it need calibration.
3) No. The fine adjustment is a manual knob.
In theory, you can set up a motorized panning mechanism that can be controlled remotely via smartphone app or radio remote.
In testing this model I still had to make back and forth trips to the laser, but it was still a much easier task than without fine adjustment.
At a 100′ distance, you still need a second person or separate accessory for the fastest setup. Still, the fine control allows for easier adjustments than wide swings of the entire laser body itself.
fred
I’m not sure what grade lasers cost these days – but we had a Topcon that was not as costly as our Topcon Total Station – but was in the thousands as I recall.
Steve L
I have a 12v green 3×360 from Dewalt. I have used it tilted off level for one plane, you lock to the mount and tilt the mount. Manual and awkward but it can be done.
I hear what people are saying about accuracy, brightness, and fine adjustment. Look at Dewalt’s price! There are better lasers out there priced at $2,500 to 3,000.
Dewalt has done a great job delivering a basic laser that is affordable. You have the option to buy a better laser at a higher price point.
Julian Tracy
Those are monstrosities. I’ll stick with the Dewalt lasers that just take simple AA batteries. I have the two line Dewalt laser and use it probably 80% of the time, using my Bosch rotary the other 20% in general building and remodeling work. One thing handy about the Dewalt is the ability to magnetically apply it to drywall corner bead – good look doing that with these huge ass versions.
I had bought the green version of my Dewalt cross line laser (DWo88K?) and found there was literally no difference in the sharpness or fine-ness of the laser line and in interior uses, no visibility difference either – so I sold it and kept my older red version.
Now that I’ve picked up the Dewalt 12v 3/8” impact – I’d buy into a laser that took the battery, but not this nonsense.
Stuart
It is not recommended, but the 3×360° CAN be magnetically secured to corner bead. I tested this with a 2.0Ah battery installed to the 3×360° laser. It did not slip, and while not as secure as mounting directly to a steel surface, it worked.
MFC
This should have been done from the beginning. They already had chargers that could charge either one so a laser would make sense. Same kind of mounting and pack dynamics, just a little more electronics. I passed on those lasers just because I didn’t want another 12v pack laying around. I’ll consider these new ones now.
Ian
Man I just bought a Leica laser like 6 month ago and you gave me this. my only gripe with last version was it doesn’t take 20v battery, I just don’t want to have 12v just for the laser, and them AA battery always dies on me when I needed. So tempting but what am I going to do with 2 lasers.
alex
Are these going to replace the existing 12v lasers? I find them rather big and don’t need the 20v compatibility.
The fine adjustment is a great addition though. It’s something that always lacked on Dewalt lasers vs the Bosch.
Stuart
No, these new lasers will be sold alongside existing 12V Max models.
Nathan
I’m interested but that accuracy doesn’t sound that great. Perhaps I expect too much.
meanwhile though a bare tool version of this might be on my want list. I’ve wanted a laser of some form but I would only use it rarely anyway. but it would save some time when I needed one.
Stuart
1/8″ at ~30 feet seems to be standard for higher quality line lasers.
If you need greater accuracy, would a rotary laser be better suited for your needs? The Dewalt DW080LGSK for instance has an accuracy of ±1/16″ at 100 feet.
HammerTime
Bosch, Leica, and PLS are all more accurate for similar plane lasers. 1/8″ accuracy is a base level spec in this category.
Bob
Always puzzled me why the lasers always ran on 12v? Obviousley the laser part DeWalt souces requires 12v. Was it that hard to integrate a step down transformer? On the smaller lasers, yes compactness is desirable. But on the rotary lasers that are $5-600?
Ive stuck with topcon cus thats what we used for total stations and both can be callibrated at the same vendor. Also, at least in the past, for simmilar money as the power tool brands (DeWalt and Bosch come to mind)I can get higher acuracy, better IP protection and I know its serviceable with a profesional instrument company like Topcon. Trade off is propritary/expensive/hard to find batteries.
Although from whatbI can tell my Grandfathers David White transit has kept zero for at least 40 years. Paperwork always gets stuffed into the box. Decided to look at it all one day on a coffe break. Goes back to the 1970’s though the instriment is much older than that. Antiquated precision instruments that are built like brick sh… um port-a-johns are cool. Every once in a while I take it out. If for no other reason to fool with the new guys lol.