Makita has launched its latest compact battery charger, the DC18SJ, designed to give users greater flexibility and mobility when powering cordless tools. Compatible with Makita’s 14.4V and 18V LXT batteries, the DC18SJ uses USB-C Power Deliver (USB-PD) technology, allowing charging to be performed from a wide range of suitable power sources.
The battery charger provides a convenient solution for keeping batteries charged while on the move, in cars, vans, or on site and when using portable power banks. The charger is compatible with the full range of Makita 18V LXT batteries and uses a three-stage charging process when powered by either an AC or 12 volt DC in vehicle power supply. To operate, it requires a USB-PD cable source and power source capable of producing between 60W to 100W, which cannot be shared across other devices at the same time.
Thanks to the charger’s smart charging control, estimated charging times range from 27 minutes for the 1.5Ah batteries and up to 280 minutes for high capacity 12.0Ah batteries, depending on the available power. For example, when using a 12v DC socket in a van or car (ADP14 at PD 60W), the BL1860B 6Ah battery can be fully charged in 145 minutes.
Additionally, the charger has a status indicator, which displays three different colours dependant on the machine’s four conditions as follows: insufficient power (orange LED), standby with cooling (red LED), charging unavailable (red LED blinks) and charging (blue LED blinks before turning off when fully charged).
Kevin Brannigan, Marketing Manager at Makita UK said: “The new DC18SJ offers users a practical, versatile and efficient charging solution, making it a valuable addition to a professional toolkit. The charger is also available as part of the 1916H8-8 Power Source Kit LXT, which comes with the ADP14 Adapter with a PD Cable for added practicality.” www.makitauk.com