Announced over two years ago overseas, Bosch just released their Dual-Bay Charger (the Bosch GAX1218V-30) in the USA. It charges both Bosch 18V and 12V Max tool batteries. The Dual-Bay charger can also top off your mobile phone batteries using the front USB 2.1-amp port.
Bosch Dual 18V and 12V Battery Charger Features
This system works well if you run a Bosch PS42 12V impact driver alongside a Bosch Bulldog rotary hammer. You get a single charger to handle both Bosch 12V Max batteries and Bosch 18V batteries. That includes Bosch Core18 battery packs. One thing to note is that this charger is sequential, meaning only one battery charges at a time. You can pick up the Bosch Dual 18V and 12V Battery Charger from Amazon for just $59.98.
Front-mounted LEDs let you monitor the charging state. Insert a battery, and the green light starts to blink. Once approximately 80% battery capacity has been reached, the blinking green light slows down, indicating that “fast charging” is complete. The rest of the charging process completes more slowly. A solid green LED indicates the battery is fully charged. Bosch also gives you a separate red LED indicator to alert you if you have a defective battery pack (blinking red) or if it needs to cool down first (solid red).
Bosch GAX1218V-30 Battery Charger Specs
- Model: Bosch GAX1218V-30
- Automatic Shut-Off Yes
- Supported batteries: 12V & 18V
- Dimensions (HxWxL): 3.3 x 7.7 x 5 in.
- Weight 1.35lb
- Price: $59.98
Charge Rates
The Bosch Dual 18V and 12V battery charger offers dual-voltage charging, but it’s not a fast charger. For that, you need one of their single fast chargers or the just-announced Bosch 16-amp Supercharger. It fills an 8Ah battery up to 50% in less than 15 minutes using Power Boost.
This dual-bay charger matches the speed of their standard chargers. The estimated charge times follow:
- 12V 2.0Ah 35 min (80%) 45 min (100%)
- 12V 2.5Ah 40 min (80%) 65 min (100%)
- 12V 4.0Ah 65 min (80%) 85 min (100%)
- 18V 2.0Ah 35 min (80%) 45 min (100%)
- 18V 3.0Ah 53 min (80%) 68 min (100%)
- 18V 4.0Ah 65 min (80%) 85 min (100%)
- 18V 5.0Ah 82 min (80%) 107 min (100%)
- 18V 6.0Ah 100 min (80%) 130 min (100%)
