Milwaukee has come out with a new M18 and M12 multi-voltage charger that can be powered from a vehicle’s 12V charging port.
The new charger, model 48-59-1810, can work with all M18 and M12 battery packs, and will charge them sequentially (one at a time).
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The charger has all the typical Milwaukee battery cell monitoring tech, and added sensors that monitor the voltage of your car battery. If the voltage from the vehicle charging port drops too low, the charger will shut down to prevent excessive discharge conditions.
Price: $99
ETA: May 2017
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Charging Time Comparison for M18 5.0Ah XC Battery Pack
- This Vehicle Charger: 125 minutes
- Standard Charger: 110 minutes
- Rapid Charger: 59 minutes
The vehicle charger is a little slower than the standard charger, because of standard fuse configurations in most vehicles.
Is this something you would use, from Milwaukee or another cordless power tool brand? Or do you use something else for charging your battery packs on the go?
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James
Does this replace an earlier model? If so, what are the differences? I feel like I’ve seen Milwaukee car chargers before.
Stuart
I think it might be all new?
I’ve seen a Milwauker vehicle power port before, for their heated jackets. But I don’t think I’ve seen something like this.
Jeremy Brown
It’s a replacement. I’ve been waiting on this, thanks for the heads up Stuart! They used to sell individual ones, but I wanted 12v and 18v in one to keep in the shop truck.
Jeremy Brown
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/accessories/batteries-and-chargers/2510-20
Jonathan
If I did buy it would probably be that that one as it can be used either in vehicle or plugged into a wall with a plug that converts for lighter or polarized plug receptacle and I don’t have any M18 tools.
Now if this new M12/M18 was a combo like the 2510-20 that did both AC/DC it might sell better, it looks like they used the same body as the 48-59-1812
James
That’s the one I was thinking of. Thanks for posting the link.
nigeldh
You can combine this 12V charger with a booster pack that has a 12V cig lighter plug. Or a solar panel that has a 12V plug.
I know builders back in early 2000’s that were using a booster pack with 110V output and the 110V charger for their cordless batteries. Easier than trying to run a power cord or gas generator.
Now that Milwaukee has the 9Ah 18V, 6Ah 12V, batteries, there might be less need for field recharging.
For say a crew doing guard rail replacement, several of these 12V chargers would be great. SDS Plus or SDS Max hammer drill for drilling holes, the cordless bandsaw for cutting metal, a couple of cordless drivers or wrenches. Then, as one drives between jobs, recharge the batteries.
Albert
I was all set to post that you could use one of those small, inexpensive plug-in inverters with a regular 120V charger, but then I had a look at mine and it uses 330 watts. There goes that idea. I could see how this would be useful.
Jared Richael
I’ve been using a $19.99 400 watt inverter to charge my bosch tools for some time now. I could never understand why people haven’t been doing this more. Lots of jobs don’t have power but most jobs have vehicle access. Ive have bought 8 batteries over the years before finally realizing this. If they charge anything more than $20 bucks I’m out.
Nick
My thoughts exactly, buy one inverter and it works with all chargers plus whatever else you want to power
Nate
Just buy a 1000 watt dc to ac inverter and charge all your batteries with the ac chargers, much cheaper especially if you have 9 systems like i do.
Toolfreak
Seems like a great idea. It’s a wonder why more companies don’t have vehicle chargers given how much cordless tools are used at jobsites where the only available power may be a generator or solar. I bet they’d sell like hotcakes if they made them for more brands. Has plenty of consumer uses too, on a farm or ranch or if you just have a lot of land and use your cordless tools a lot but don’t want to drive back and forth to charge them or keep lots of batteries on hand.
Pretty soon Milwaukee will probably come out with a truck bed toolbox, complete with power tool holders and a spot just for this charger.
The yeti
My ram has a 110 v plug in . Would I not be able to run a normal charger from my truck . I have never tried . Add to that . Let’s get usb charge capability for tool batteries . It will likely be slow. However the convenience would be appreciated
Adam
It looks like they made this only a one-trick pony. The previous individual units could be used on a standard plug as well.
With as many chargers as I have laying around, perhaps I Frankenstein my own car charger. Using the plug from my 12v auto/home unit, and wire into the standard charger. I’ll be sure to have Smokey on speed dial
With the capacity of batteries, and seems most have several, that this will not be a have-to-have item. Probably will end up getting included in n some trades kits as a bonus or something. I’d rather reinvest in an inverter to use on other things
KL
This. The 2510 and 2710 could be plugged into 12VDC or 110VAC. Makes A LOT more sense for a jobsite as the charger can be used in your truck or in the building or on a generator. I hate it when manufacturers come out with new and “improved” products but eliminate useful features the old units had.
Fortunately I already own the 2510 and 2710!
John
I’ll pass.
As others have said, the DC to AC inverter I always carry gives me two 120V outlets and two USB charging outlets lets me charge the laptop and wifi hotspot or use a conventional power tool (albeit lower amperage tools with the small inverter I have) when site power isn’t available.
For this to make any sense at that price, it should have an integrated inverter with two 120V outlets and and USB charging outlets. The packaging of the unit wouldn’t have to get too much bigger to accommodate these extra functions while being more useful and allowing users to reduce items they have to carry.
Blythe M
I have read in a few places that the waveform of lower end inverters is not great for battery health/longevity, but hopefully someone with an electronics background could weigh in on that
Adam
I would agree with that.
It’s not exactly the same, but computer backup power supply units either produce a pure sine wave, or they don’t. If you have super sensative electronics, one would prefer the pure-sine wave to prevent AC walwart adapters possibly going on the fritz, as they are trying to convert the power was well, but with a slightly different input that it was designed for, which would be similar to putting in the inverter in between the charger & car plug-in
Jonathan
Cavet to Inverters and newer smart tech batteries
That said with regards to DC-AC inverter’s a lot debate on MSW (cheap inverters) and Pure Sine wave inverter’s.
Basically clean AC power like what comes out the wall at home or in to the house from on/off grid DC-AC inverters and what is used in your Work trucks with the 110V AC plug ins, as well as in RV’s, larger boats, big rigs, Airplanes.
Using a DC to DC charger is cleaner and should be more efficient , I can see the benefit with auto shut off so you down ended stranded at some out remote job site.
I’m unsure what impact that the Modified sine wave has on the smart tech that was absent in the older generation LiON/NiMH/NiCD batteries.
But after a freak wind storm this month, I learned this when I was looking in to charging M12 XC batteries with an inverter- as it wasn’t an issue for me with with DeWalt.
But apparently some Cordless tool manufactures are ok with using cordless battery chargers and inverters-and I forget which manufactures do list it as acceptable in the charger manuals.
Only other issues for me that I found going that route for OPE (40V) was in the summer the batteries wouldn’t cool down in the cab fast enough to charge, My DeWalt blower eats batteries, even brushless, after a busy day I would have to switch to gas (also in the Rain).
I was less concerned about shorting DeWalt cause at my local B&D service center I can walk in and get one replaced without much hassle, that have great warranty service (Sad to say that I’ve had to visited enough times for various DeWalt tools over the years to know that they have great warranty service) but not from abusing my tools.
My only other concern with charging larger LiON packs in vehicle is the batteries Ah/Wh are growing. The LiON batteries in the Samsung Note 8 were tiny, but there is a reason that when you buy a cordless tool online it must be shipped ground. For that reason alone I stopped charging my OPE batteries in Cab, while driving.
John S
I personally would not use an inverter to charge a battery on a 120 volt charger. The conversion is a net loss the power comes in DC, your inverter changes it from DC to AC, and then the charger itself changes it from AC back to DC to charge the actual battery. Thats incredibly inefficient and a big load off your main car battery or power source. All this translates to heat and waste. Not only that, but you’re introducing “dirty” power if you don’t have a true sine wave inverter. It may or may not cause issues with the lithium 120 volt charger, depends on how sensitive and what modulation its doing to incoming power. However, when we’re talking about lithium batteries, you do not want to be screwing around with this. Heat etc and power fluxuations can make those lithium batteries explode so you’re taking the risk of that happening. Just get a charger and use it as it was designed to, thats why Milwaukee came out with this particular charger. It likely goes direct DC to DC and has all the power and regulatory provisions to provide a safe charging experience. Sure you can modify one on your own and it will probably work, but you’re in a big risk to failure.
John S
I should also add that the difference in chemistry for these new batteries has made this much more dangerous proposition. Nicad and Nimh are fairly resilient and stable, but the trend to lithium, while more power and capacity, has resulted in a lot more risk for failure and sensitivity to adverse activity. When things go “wrong” with lithium its a much worse outcome. So stay extremely safe / use common sense. Use the recommended products from manufacturers in the manner they expect and sold it to you as. They presumably have also gone through the proper licensing and testing to ensure your safety as much as possible.
dave
John you’re being rather silly. Modern power inverters aren’t THAT inefficient, we’re talking roughly a 20% addt’l loss, trivial in the grand scheme of things.
I could see it if you’re living off grid and using a solar charged battery array but it really makes no sense when it’s a vehicle with an engine powered alternator typically capable of near 100A if not more.
“Dirty power”, is a binary thing. Either the device is designed to handle it or it isn’t, there isn’t a gray area there.
Throwing in the lithium battery scare factor isn’t relevant. These are regulated chargers and will output “clean enough” power, considering they’re already switching supplies not linear.
The main thing you need to do is (get ready for it) read the charger manual. Some brands and designs state don’t use with an inverter and at least one Milwaukee manual specifically states:
“Powering the Charger with an Inverter or Generator The charger will operate with most generators and inverters rated at 300 Watts or higher.”
McLane
What would be nice is a multiport variation on this.
Adam
How far are you driving that would allow you to charge all those? With the slower speeds already, I see this as a very niche item. I could either invest into another battery /2 or this charger. There is a lot more utility in having the extra batteries, rather than having a limited use charger imo.
Jeremiah
I bought a car charger for my ryobi one+ platform from hd about 1-1/2 years ago. It was 1/2 price “clearance” I think. I paid about $20 if I remember correctly. Ive barely used it but im very happy I got it.
This milwaukee charger at its price point is a bit of a niche item for certain tradespeople but I’m happy to see they gave people the option. It would be more useful with better charge times.
glenn
Finally! We will be getting one for sure. Even here in Aus it will still be cheaper than a decent pure sine wave inverter plus not having to wire it is a bonus.
Now all we need is the rumoured HVAC vacuum pump and we will be completely cord free on site.
Pat M
One thing to keep in mind on using an inverter to power the charger for your cordless tools. While the inverter can provide the power, your 12v socket in the vehicle may not be able to depending on the draw. It may need to be hooked directly to the battery.
My standard Milwaukee charger says 2.1a at 120V so that is 240 watts rounded to make the math easier. On a 12v system, that is 20a, so more than most sockets can provide.
So this would have the advantage of being able to be used while driving.
The inverter would need to be to be hooked to the battery, or newer heavier wire ran to use it while driving.
Brian
my truck barely charges my cell phone, so this would not be a good option for me.
dave
Brian your truck’s inability to charge your cell phone doesn’t really apply one way or the other, would be a limitation of that charger so you can just buy a better phone car charger to fix that.
Mr. Gerbik
Common sense says that if you charge your batteries the night before you probably won’t have to worry about the need for an inverter or this particular charger. Figured that one out a long time ago. Work goes a lot smoother when you got fresh batteries before you get on site. I don’t know about anyone else, but it aggravates the hell out of me when someone has to charge their batteries first thing in the morning when they get on site. If you have a 2½ hr commute to work every day it may be worth it. Other than that, I wouldn’t get one.
KARL m m.wagner
good for trcharge as want for inpack chwnge tires if blow out 3 an im boomdocks on weekend
73 age
KARL m m.wagner
think for tire change
throw ou5 the battey chsrgers an baby battery
put in series a added 6 volt motorcycle battery make 18volts with jumpers to main battery. add 10 gauge50 foot cord an solder u wires to batterery termials of inpack with out the lition batt an use it.
or even run it straigth 12 v as u got way more amps to back up the lower 12 v. vs little amps at 18v
Jake
Yea, untill you have to use the impact to take out a semi axle and both batteries are damn near drained by the time you get done lol