Milwaukee Batteries & Chargers

Milwaukee Batteries & Chargers

Milwaukee runs two cordless platforms and they are not interchangeable, so the first thing to check is which one your tool uses. M12 is the 12V sub-compact system, built around light, one-handed tools that fit into tight spaces, and the battery slides into the handle. M18 is the 18V system covering full-size drills, saws, grinders and heavy-duty work. A tool on one platform will not take a battery from the other. Within each platform, amp hours decide run time rather than power: an M12 6.0Ah pack lasts three times as long as a 2.0Ah on the same tool but is noticeably longer and heavier, which matters on a sub-compact tool where the whole point is getting into a confined space. Many people keep a small pack for access work and a large one for sustained use. REDLITHIUM is Milwaukee's cell and pack construction, and the practical benefit is better performance in cold conditions and under heavy load, which is where cheaper packs sag. Chargers are worth choosing carefully: a dual-platform charger such as the M12-18 accepts both battery families from one unit, and rapid charging cuts the wait when running two packs in rotation.

Milwaukee supplies the range. M12 REDLITHIUM-ION batteries cover the B2 at 2.0Ah, B4 at 4.0Ah and B6 at 6.0Ah. M18 covers the B5 REDLITHIUM-ION slide battery at 5.0Ah. The M12-18 FC rapid charger handles both platforms from a single unit. Also stocked is the M12 BI sub-compact inflator as a bare unit, which runs on any M12 pack. For other brands see Power Tool Batteries & Chargers, and for the tools themselves Power Tools and Power Tool Accessories.