The premium and FLEXVOLT batteries are higher ah (ampere hour). It will not work on the newer 20v or 60v FLEXVOLT series.ĭewalt also states on there website when purchasing the adapter: “Do not use with Premium Batteries (DCB200, DCB204, DCB204BT, DCB205) in 18V Compact drills DC970, DC759 (use DCB201, DCB203, DCB203BT)” When purchasing this adapter from Dewalt they make it clear that it only works on the 20v max batteries. Unfortunately this adapter does not fit for all of the new batteries that Dewalt has released. Battery does not fitĪnother fairly common complaint is that the battery does not fit.
As you press the button you should be able to slide the battery right off the adapter. To disconnect the battery from the adapter you must press this same button. If this is not done properly the connection will not be strong enough for the tool to work. If it is done right, you should hear an audible click, this will indicate that the battery is on the adapter properly. You MUST press this button when sliding the battery down the adapter. This is the same button you press to remove the battery from a tool. I'm still running them hard.As seen in the picture, there is a yellow and black button on the battery (color will vary depending on battery). The other two are showing signs of age with their full-charge run time declining slightly. One recently decided it was time to retire and refused to take another charge. The introduction of this battery adapter is awesome now we can start transitioning towards newer technology, bit by bit, piece by piece. You can go to hardware store, home center, or today and get an 18 volt NiCd battery, or even a brand-new 18 volt tool. That's simply incredible, considering the modern system of 20V MAX tools has been out for 4-5 years. Was it an "engineered obsolescence" sales scheme? Although many people bought new cordless tool sets, lots left to shop elsewhere, swearing off the brand as they went out the door.ĭeWalt on the other hand, has supported tools that last for a seriously long time. People would end up purchasing new tools, rather than ordering older batteries from the factory. It was odd, even though each generation was a same voltage, NiCd battery, there would be a slight change to a a bump or ridge on its case, preventing interchange between versions. It was common that I'd bear the brunt of a shopper's frustration when they learned that each year's version of the store-brand tools had an battery configuration incompatible with the prior model. Years ago, I worked a second job, at a department store selling their popular exclusive brand of tools. They've outlasted and out performed any other brand of cordless tools I've owned by several years, leaving me a bit of a fan-boy. I've had my own set for about 8 years, and all the tools are still going strong. They're certainly the most common brand on the construction sites I've visited. It's been one of the most popular lines of professional-quality cordless tools, for a very long time. I believe DeWalt's 18 volt line of cordless tools has been in the market for about 20 years. I've run it through its paces for a month on a variety of my tools. When DeWalt gave me an early-bird chance to try out their new battery adapter and bring modern battery technology to my older tools, I couldn't wait to put it in action. Regular readers of this blog know that I've been personally wielding DeWalt 18 volt cordless tools on my projects for years.