Milwaukee has come out with a new M12 4-bay battery charger, model 48-59-1204. Like the M18 6-bay battery charger I reviewed some time ago, this new charger is a sequential charger, meaning it charges up one battery at a time.
Sequential charging is great for popping in batteries at the end of the day, or even at the start of a lunch shift. Or you can use it throughout the day to ensure you have a constant supply of fresh batteries without having to strew multiple chargers all over the place.
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If you prefer for parallel charging, take a look at the recently announced Milwaukee M18 and M12 rapid charging station, which is a 6-bay charger that can recharge up to 3 batteries at the same time.
The new M12 4-day sequential charger also helps with transport and storage of up to 4 M12 battery packs.
It’s small enough to fit inside a tool bag and takes up a lot less space than multiple chargers would.
The charger also features hanging holes for a vertical mounting option.
There’s an indicator LED light for each charging bay so that you can easily tell which battery is charging. If you need a particular battery charged sooner, you can “skip” over any other inserted batteries to select the one you want charged first. Charging time is 30 minutes for M12 compact batteries and 60 minutes for M12 XC extended capacity batteries.
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Price: TBA, but one retailer has this listed for $79
ETA: March 2015
In case you were thinking it – the charger does NOT come with batteries.
First Thoughts
I didn’t think there would be enough demand for a multi-port M12 charger, but I was wrong.
If you want or need a rapid charger or parallel charging, Milwaukee’s new M18 and M12 charging station is a better solution. Despite how the 4-bay M12 battery charger only works sequentially, that can be a very convenient thing.
I greatly dislike having to babysit cordless power tool battery chargers whenever there’s a need to recharge multiple packs, which is more often than I’d like to admit. Milwaukee’s six-bay M18 charger was a hit, and I’m sure the new rapid charger will be even more successful. With there being so many M12 users out there who have drawers and toolboxes full of M12 tools, accessories, and batteries, I think this new M12 charger will prove to be quite popular as well.
Mizzourob
“Sequential charging is great for popping in batteries at the end of the day, or even at the start of a lunch shift. Or you can use it throughout the day to ensure you have a constant supply of fresh batteries without having to strew multiple chargers all over the place.”
Do not be confused this quote sounds like it is straight from Milwaukee’s PR team. What I think they meant to say is the following:
“Sequential charging is great for keeping our costs down and maximizing profit. We could have invested in simultaneous charging technology but we will delay that for another couple of years so you buy this one and then buy a new “updated” one next year. Please bear with us so we can tell you next we that we “innovated” over the previous year. However if your team is using Milwaukee M12 tools and wants to recharge their batteries during lunch, each person will still need their own separate charger. Otherwise they will be playing a version of Russian roulette with only one person getting a freshly charged battery.”
mp
Ding ding ding
Stuart
I beg your pardon – those are my words, and my sentiments. I said exactly what I wanted to say.
The rapid simultaneous (up to 3 batteries) charger costs $169. This one is $79. If all I need is to recharge a bunch of M12 batteries at the end of a project, why should I have to spend $90 more for a simultaneous charger?
Mizzourob
Sorry if those were your words. I just have trouble seeing the value in a sequential charger, especially on a jobsite. On a jobsite a team needing to recharge their batteries wants to be be able swap out their battery for a fresh one as needed and not worry about if the next one is ready yet. I suppose it makes for a nice carrier? I’ll pass on it, but maybe others see value in it. Just my 2¢ worth
Stuart
That’s okay, I can see where you’re coming from. When I draw from press release language I typically say “Milwaukee says…” or pop markety language in italics, a la best-in-class.
Keep in mind that a lot of these types of products are not going to be universally needed or appreciated.
For a user or team that swaps out a lot of batteries for multiple tools, you’re right in that this isn’t going to be the best solution. A gang of M12 or M18/M12 chargers, or a daisychain of rapid simultaneous chargers would be better.
But if you’re an individual user or part of a small team, this might be all you need.
Consider an automotive professional who might need a couple of batteries at the ready for a slew of M12 tools. They might need a multi-bay charger but not simultaneous charging.
Mizzourob
That is fair; I was not trying to start a flame war. Please forgive me.
Stuart
Don’t worry, no hard feelings. =)
Your point is nonetheless well appreciated. The fact remains that some M12 users will benefit from this, others won’t. It’s not a universal accessory, and I imagine it wasn’t designed to be.
glenn
That works for me. I take 2 x 1.5ah and 2 x 3.0ah batteries to every job and that covers me for the day.
Coming home and being able to just plug all my batteries in and walk away is a win.
Rapid charge would be a bonus, but personally I would rather see a 12v dc input charger available in any format, be it parallel or series.
adam
They do have an M12 DC version. ~$80 at HomeDepot, not that you would find that near you. and I just searched, Amazon has both the M12 & M18 DC chargers.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-M12-12-Volt-LIthium-ion-AC-DC-Wall-and-Vehicle-Charger-2510-20/202043588
http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-2710-20-M18-AC-Charger/dp/B002MUAGM8/
glenn
Adam, thanks, I know they are available in the USA in 12/110v AC/DC format but the $100+ to get one shipped over here is just too expensive, especially to lose half of its function as our mains is 230v.
Pablo
M12 chargers sell for next to nothing. Under $10 last time I sold my last 3.
Better to buy a power strip and buy 8 chargers.
glenn
Yes I have 3 x M12 chargers and yes they are next to worthless, But If the price is reasonable here is Australia, I will be buying this for the convenience alone..
Jim Felt
Why the heck is this Chinese owned brand kicking the poo out of Bosch, Stanley/Dewalt etc. etc. and other old “name” brands almost continuously? Innovation should be all of their goals.
Good for them!
PS. I just wish I’d not gifted Fuel tools last Holiday Season and kept some. Grrrr.
mp
Because $Country “Owned” is a construct that doesn’t work any more. Are we going by what the shareholders consider their legal residence? Are we going by where the majority of company owned real estate is? Are we going by where CEO sits? Are we going by where a certain percentage of parts are manufactured? Or where the resources that make those parts are shipped from? How about the power used in the assembly plants that comes across a border. I want to say this stuff probably made sense in 1950, but I think the sentiment would be wrong then too.
Andy
Thank you. Nice to here this from someone else.
Jim Felt
mp.
My main point was innovation. Regardless of source. I’m not sure what exactly your point about corporate ownership being borderless? Unless it’s truly state owned all publically traded corporations are subject to likely transnational ownership.
Is Milwaukie designed in America? Any of their products still made in the U.S.? Some perhaps? I dunno. Do you sir?
mp
Then your main point was occluded by the unneeded (and stereotypical) reference to the Chinese. Your response continuing the discussion on origin suggests that I was right and that that was your main point, despite what you say now.
MJ
I have at least 4 M12 Chargers. Those plus a power strip equals a 4x parallel charging station.
Mizzourob
… and they will all charge at the same time!
mnoswad
i like this, just for the convenience factor alone. my current setup is four changers sitting in a row. I get that this is sequential, but it does save a bunch of space. not best for a crew sharing batteries, but nice to have all your batteries in one place easy to keep track off.
Nathan York
I don’t share tools or batteries so this would fit my need perfectly rather than using single chargers and having to monitor them.
glenn
Yes, that is the same for me and most likely this is where it is aimed at, and will sell to.
jason. W
Well considering I only have 3 12v tools and 3 batteries….I think I’m OK for now.
miss franciene
I have four Milwaukee batteries. And three tools, but only one single charger. So this might make sense for me. And by the way I love the Milwaukee hand vac. It is so useful I can’t stand it. Keeps thing neat all over the house.