DEWALT® is a trusted brand name known worldwide for its power tools used in construction, manufacturing and woodworking. DEWALT cordless power tools are powered by convenient, long-lasting rechargeable batteries that give you the performance you need to complete your jobs.
If you are a DEWALT power tool owner, then you may have questions about how to charge and care for DEWALT batteries. This guide to how to use DEWALT batteries and chargers will help you follow some best practices to extend your battery life and get the most out of your DEWALT power tools.
Table of Contents
- How Long Does a DEWALT Battery Last?
- How Do You Charge a DEWALT Battery?
- How Long Do DEWALT Batteries Take to Charge?
- How to Know When a DEWALT Battery Is Charged
- Can You Leave a DEWALT Battery on the Charger?
- How to Tell if a DEWALT Battery Has Gone Bad
- Can You Fix a DEWALT Battery?
- How to Clean DEWALT Batteries
- Browse DEWALT Batteries and Chargers at Construction Fasteners and Tools
How Long Does a DEWALT Battery Last?
How long do DEWALT batteries last? DEWALT offers a two-year or three-year manufacturer’s warranty on many of their 12v, 20v and 60v batteries.
DEWALT offers a massive range of cordless power tools within their MAX line. DEWALT MAX power tools are powered by rechargeable batteries. Lithium-ion and rechargeable batteries for DEWALT power tools come in 12v, 20v and 60v, which are compatible with corresponding models of MAX power tools in 120v, 60v and 20v.
Lithium-ion and nickel-cadmium batteries are rechargeable battery technology, providing power in cycles. A rechargeable battery powers a tool or device until it dies and needs to be recharged again. How long a single battery cycle lasts depends on many factors, including the amount of power being drawn from the battery and how the tool is used.
Standard rechargeable batteries are said to last between three and five years. However, since usage rates vary between users, batteries can last much longer or shorter. Rechargeable battery manufacturers say that a user can expect between 300 and 500 charge cycles from their battery.
There are some best practices that owners can follow to extend the life of their DEWALT batteries. The biggest threat to the life cycle of rechargeable batteries is heat exposure. Keep power tools out of direct heat of 105 degrees Fahrenheit or more when in use or storage. Conversely, it is important not to use rechargeable battery-powered tools in low temperatures of below 40 degrees Fahrenheit either.
According to the Center for Sustainable Systems at the University of Michigan, rechargeable battery users should also minimize the amount of time their tools spend at either 100% or 0% charge. Another tip they offer is to limit using fast-charging options and to not discharge devices too soon into the charge cycle. Researchers also say that owners should protect their batteries from physical damage and moisture and always follow the manufacturer’s directions on rechargeable battery care.
By following best care practices, you can extend the life of your DEWALT batteries and ensure the product remains under the manufacturer’s warranty.
How Do You Charge a DEWALT Battery?
DEWALT cordless power tools come with rechargeable batteries and chargers so you can keep powering your tools and get long-lasting use from them. A DEWALT battery charger allows you to recharge your tool’s battery whenever you feel it beginning to lose power.
Follow the below steps on how to charge a DEWALT battery:
- Plug the DEWALT charger into an electrical outlet that provides 110/220 volts of electricity.
- Remove the battery from the power tool and insert it into the charging dock. Be sure to insert it in the correct direction.
- Turn the DEWALT battery charger on and notice the LED indicator that confirms the battery is being charged. While the battery is charging, this LED indicator will blink continuously until the battery reaches a full charge.
- After the battery has been charged, the DEWALT charger will put the battery through equalization and maintenance modes.
Another important feature to know about how to use a DEWALT battery charger is the automatic Tune-Up™ Mode, which balances and equalizes the cells in the battery pack, further allowing the battery to function at optimal capacity. According to DEWALT, battery packs should be tuned up weekly or after 10 charge cycles. If you notice that your battery is no longer delivering the same amount of power, you can also use the Tune-Up™ Mode to help boost its power.
In addition to using the charger that your DEWALT power tool comes with, contractors, technicians and professionals may benefit from the DEWALT portable power station. The portable power station can charge up to four separate 20v DEWALT batteries at once. This is a convenient way for professionals using multiple battery-powered tools daily to always have access to fully-charged batteries ready to perform.
How Long Do DEWALT Batteries Take to Charge?
The standard DEWALT charge cycle is a one-hour charge time. When you place your battery into the charging dock, the LED charging indicator will blink to indicate the one-hour charge cycle has started. However, if you want your battery to undergo the maintenance and equalization mode, you’ll need to leave the battery in the charger for up to eight hours. Depending on how long it takes to equalize the battery cells, this maintenance mode may take less than eight hours.
How long a rechargeable battery takes to charge depends on how low the charge is before you recharge it. If the battery is completely dead, it will take longer to charge as the battery needs to recharge through a full cycle. However, according to DEWALT, you shouldn’t let your battery completely die before recharging it. Completely running down the battery until it’s dead may damage the battery. Some people put tape on the trigger to run it down before charging it. DEWALT advises against this. Instead, you should stop using the power tool as soon as you notice its power dropping. When you feel a drop in power, remove the battery and charge it before using it again.
How to Know When a DEWALT Battery Is Charged
It is important to know whether your battery is fully charged before you use it. A full battery charge delivers better performance and allows you to complete your tasks quickly and efficiently. But how can you tell if a DEWALT battery is fully charged? DEWALT batteries are designed to interrupt power when they lose charge. Therefore, to test a DEWALT battery for its charge level, insert the battery into the power tool and hold down the trigger, testing for its power level. If you find that it is underpowered, then you know it needs to be charged.
If your battery has been sitting in the charger for roughly one hour, then you’ll know it's been charged. DEWALT battery chargers have a one-hour charge cycle, delivering a full-charge battery in up to 60 minutes. To guarantee your battery has undergone maintenance mode charging, place the battery in the charger overnight to allow for a full charge on each individual cell. It should charge for a minimum of eight hours at room temperature.
DEWALT advises a few simple ways to improve your battery’s run-time. Below is the correct procedure they recommend to ensure a full charge:
- Use the tool and allow it to discharge naturally until you feel a loss in power and performance.
- Remove the battery and let it sit at room temperature for two hours. In the meantime, replace the discharged battery with a backup battery that is fully charged.
- After two hours, place the battery in the charger for its one-hour charge cycle or keep it charging overnight so it can undergo maintenance mode.
If, after completing the above steps, you still feel a loss in power or the run-time is limited, you may need to replace your battery. Either the battery has suffered damage, or it has reached the end of its life cycle.
Can You Leave a DEWALT Battery on the Charger?
There is a myth that leaving rechargeable batteries charging even after they’re fully charged will damage the battery or reduce its life cycle. DEWALT batteries and chargers are designed to keep charging even after a full charge has been reached. Because DEWALT chargers have a maintenance mode, the batteries are allowed to remain in the charging dock so they keep a full charge until they are ready to be used.
If you take the DEWALT battery off of the charger and store it separately, then the battery will naturally and progressively discharge over time. According to DEWALT, a battery left off the charger will discharge 15-20% within the first 24 hours, 7-10% the next day, and about 1% each day afterward until it is fully dead. DEWALT says that their batteries lose the majority of their battery capacity within the first three days when outside of the charger. Therefore, it is better for you to leave your battery in the DEWALT charger to ensure that it maintains its charge and is ready to use when you need it. Leaving it in the charger also ensures the battery goes through the equalization and maintenance modes as needed.
How to Tell if a DEWALT Battery Has Gone Bad
Like all products that undergo heavy use, eventually, a product may stop working or go bad. It’s normal for rechargeable batteries to die after a few hundred charge cycles. If you find that your battery is no longer holding a charge for its rated length of time, then it should be replaced.
However, sometimes it’s the case that even a newer rechargeable battery ceases to hold a charge. One sign of this may be that after completing a full charge cycle, the battery loses charge immediately once you start using your power tool. For example, you know that your battery used to hold a charge for five hours, but now it dies within a few minutes.
Another sign of a battery gone bad is that even after charging the battery overnight, it still doesn’t hold a charge. Finally, if you notice your battery overheating, it could indicate a problem with the battery’s charge holding potential or another defect.
Manufacturers know that defects can occur and that sometimes batteries will experience problems sooner than they should. That’s why DEWALT offers a warranty on its batteries. DEWALT will provide free repairs if your battery goes bad while under warranty. The warranty period is two years or three years for most batteries.
Can You Fix a DEWALT Battery?
If you find that your DEWALT battery is not functioning as it should and your purchase is still under warranty, then it’s best to make a claim and have your battery repaired rather than attempting to fix it yourself. If, however, your purchase is not under warranty and you prefer the DIY approach, then it’s possible to troubleshoot problems with the battery, potentially allowing you to find an easy fix.
Here are some tips on how to fix a DEWALT battery that has completely died and won’t recharge:
- Remove the battery panel to access the inside of the battery pack.
- Examine the inside of the battery for corrosion.
- If there is no corrosion present, your battery may be able to get a boost from another fully charged battery.
- Using two pieces of speaker wire, insert each end of the first piece into the B+ ports from each battery. Similarly, insert each end of the second piece of speaker wire into the B- ports from each battery. Leave the wires inserted for a few seconds before removing the wire.
- Return the dead battery to the charger and see if the battery has resumed its charge.
Leave the boosted battery on the charger for a full charge cycle. Repeat the above process if the battery dies again in the future.
How to Clean DEWALT Batteries
Batteries are known to leak with age. This is particularly common in non-rechargeable alkaline batteries and less common in rechargeable and lithium-ion batteries. While it is possible to clean corrosion from alkaline batteries using vinegar and a damp cloth, it’s not safe to clean corrosion from rechargeable or lithium-ion batteries.
To determine if your DEWALT battery is experiencing corrosion, remove the battery pack’s case and examine the battery and terminals. Corrosion on a battery terminal often appears as a dry, powdery substance that can range in color from white to green to blue. If you notice corrosion, then it’s important to dispose of the battery safely.
Batteries cannot go in the trash. Instead, they must be recycled. Place the corroded battery pack into a sealed plastic bag or container to take to recycling. If any corrosion or moisture has gotten onto the battery casing, you can clean this using baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda on the leak to absorb moisture. Then, discard the baking soda into the trash. Wipe the case clean with a dry paper towel and leave the case to air dry.
DEWALT is a partner of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation (RBRC), which is the global leader in best practices for collecting, transporting and recycling rechargeable batteries like DEWALT batteries. You can dispose of rechargeable batteries at many local recycling centers or at DEWALT Service Centers.
Browse DEWALT Batteries and Chargers at Construction Fasteners and Tools
To get the performance you want out of your DEWALT tools, you need the right DEWALT batteries and chargers to power you through the job. At Construction Fasteners and Tools, we have a variety of DEWALT rechargeable battery packs and chargers suitable for your range of DEWALT power tools.
Browse DEWALT batteries and chargers today. For help finding the right type of battery and charger for your tools, contact our customer service team online or call us at 1-866-238-8880.