In the latest of edition of “Look What They Have Overseas and We Hope We Get”, we come across the Makita DC18RE Multi-Voltage Charger. As the name indicates, you’re looking at the ability to charge both 18V and 12V Max battery packs.
This one is available in Australia at the moment, a proving ground that sometimes yields benefits down the road for us in North America. Sometimes it doesn’t, though. Makita’s backpack battery that we reported on won’t be making its way across the pond. Whether the Makita DC18RE does is all about understanding whether it makes sense for the US market.
The feature set is pretty standard if you’re used to Makita rapid chargers. Forced air cooling keeps temperatures under control during charging and cools batteries down more quickly so they can charge faster. There’s an integrated CPU that monitors and optimizes the charging process. You also have your standard LED indicator to let you know where you are in the cycle.
Like other Makita rapid chargers, this one gets the job quickly, tackling the full charge cycle on a 5.0 AH, 18V battery in just 45 minutes. If you’re running Makita 6.0 AH packs, it’s a 55-minute charge cycle.
But the real news is the multi-voltage capability. If you’re running both Makita 18V and 12V Max tools, you can charge both packs on one charger. There’s just one caveat – you need to be running 18V LXT and 12V CXT slide packs. The older 12V stick packs won’t charge on this system.
Of course, with Makita’s 18V LXT Sub-Compact lineup, there’s the question of how many Pros will need Makita’s 12V CXT line moving forward. But there are still tools like the 12V Recipro Saw that haven’t made the Sub-Compact scene yet and there are trades that can handle 12V as a primary or platform.
Makita DC18RE Multi-Voltage Charger Key Features
- Charges Makita 18V LXT and 12V Max CXT slide pack batteries
- Fast charging
- Built-in CPU optimises charging method
- Forced air cooling fan allows for faster charging
- LED power display indicates charge status
Makita DC18RE Multi-Voltage Charger Charge Times
- 12V Max 1.5/2.0/4.0 AH: 22/30/60 minutes
- 18V 1.5/3.0/4.0/5.0/6.0 AH: 15/22/36/45/55 minutes
