DEWALT 20V MAX Battery Starter Kit with 2 Batteries, 5.0Ah (DCB205-2CK) with DEWALT 20V MAX* XR Palm Sander, Sheet, Variable Speed, 1/4-Inch, Tool…

I shouldn’t give even one star. I never had a chance to use this product until after the return window was closed due to covid and no work. Each battery didn’t last 2 minutes. Put them on the charger, it said they were fully charged. A friend took my batteries and charger to try, (he works in a different industry) he found out the charger was faulty. Dewalt would not stand up for thier product so it is the last time I will buy thier products. I hadn’t used them before, thought I would try it. Bought the grease gun, 2 batteries, charger and thier bag. It’s useless unless I purchase another charge. As it turns out the Milwaukee 12v grease gun I had been using for over 5 years only had a glitch and started working again. I’ve been using it since. I highly recommend Milwaukee tools.

Il manque une batterie dans l’emballage

Frankly, I was somewhat disappointed when I originally bought my DeWalt Combo Drill Motor and Reciprocating Saw in the tough as nails Clam-Shell Case, as DeWalt hid the fact that the batteries were NiCad based. The tools proved to be quite good and durable but eventually the NiCad batteries failed due to NiCad memory problem and the way tools are naturally used.

I discovered that DeWalt had started offering a Lithium Ion battery replacement adapter and batteries for those tools that I refused to buy replacement NiCad batteries for. Too expensive for how long they in fact lasted before failing. With the adapter and the LiOn batteries my DeWalt tools are breathing new life again and have become my go-to tools again.

However, the adapter once it is snapped on to the tool is virtually impossible to remove, but more importantly is the fact that that so long as the battery is attached the battery is draining although the tool isn’t being used and the reason for that state of affairs is due to the fact the DeWalt is using a three terminal electronic ‘pass regulator’ IC to adapt the higher voltage battery down to the NiCad voltage level used by the tool and there is no OFF switch. So one must either remove the battery when not being used or expect to recharge the battery priort to usage having been stored attached to the tool. Beyond that inconvenience, I have found that the LiOn battery adapter and batteries to be a great DeWalt buy.

And the little bag is so well made, what is there not to like about it?

I am pleased again with DeWalt (although they really need to stop hiding specs, its cheesy business)

Recommendation: It is a good buy.

I’ll admit, after reading some of the reviews I had some hesitations. But, knowing I could always return the product or at minimum, exchange it, I went ahead and pulled the trigger. Additionally, DEWALT offers a 1 year, normal wear and tear repair policy and should you not, for whatever reason, utilize the product within the first year, you have an additional 2 years of warranty coverage for product defects (at least for the batteries, I’m not sure on the charger, I’d guess that only has the one year coverage).

The product did give me a slight scare at first. I opened the package, plugged it in and quickly realized there is no indicator light letting me know the charging unit has power. Then I got to thinking, do any of my DEWALT chargers do that? So I checked my other 20v charger, and realized it too does not show any signs, without a battery attached, that the charging unit has power. Bullet dodged.

I then placed a battery on the charger (new)…nothing. Crap. But then I remembered reading another review on here about how the chargers work if you correctly place the battery on the unit. Usually I’m pretty confident when it comes to charging devices and thought “surely I didn’t screw up putting a battery on a charger, I’ve done countless DIY jobs that would qualify as over-worked but adequate and had to charge many a battery.” But just to be sure, I applied some pressure to the battery and the light started pulsating, indicating a charge was happening. I did the math in my head (60-90 minute charge, uh, maybe, well, no. Not gonna happen), and decided that wouldn’t work for me.

I also dropped the battery on my other charger (DCB107) that I got with my 1.5Ah batteries as part of 20v Cordless Drill(DCD777)/Impact Driver(DCF787) set (Driver is great, drill is great for typical use, lacking when it comes to metal pipes or stone/concrete, though I don’t think that was the design intent. So, it does exactly what I expect it to.). That charger began going to work immediately, though I wouldn’t recommend using it to charge the 5Ah batteries, it got hot in a hurry. But I did notice that the batteries seemed to slide deeper into the charging holster.

So, I went back to my previously misunderstood charger and put the battery back in. Again, nothing, Apply pressure and I get blinking. I then, fearing destruction of my previously mentioned warranty and return policy, pushed the battery downward, in line with the track, and after amount of pressure I would equate to the braking of a popsicle stick, battery slid down further with an auditory, secondary, “click”. And this resolved the issue.

I then put the second battery on, and it slid in without the “click”, and began charging. I’m not sure if the metal prongs have to be aligned or what, but I do know that after I applied that pressure the first time, I have not had to do it since and the batteries charge just fine. If anything changes, I’ll update this review.

But overall, I’m happy with the purchase and won’t hesitate to purchase again in the future.

Check the most recent reviews – all are one star, all report the same defect. I returned for a new unit to confirm, both arrived defective. The battery out of the box will not charge past one green led (full is three) – battery lasts at most 5 minutes in a tool and then will not recharge at all – unclear if the defect is the charger, or the battery, or both, but all lots appear to be defective. Shame on you DeWalt – where is your quality control?