Hitachi Battery and Charger Review

         

 

This review is for the Hitachi Lithium Ion batteries and charger we bought from tylertool.com.  These came in the Hitachi combo kit model number KC18DCL.  You can also buy these sperately.  The model number for the batteries is EBM1830 and the charger model number is UC 18YRL.

Overall, we like the Lithium batteries.  The Hitachi batteries are backwards compatiable.  Hitachi puts a recharge life for these batteries at around 1,300 to 1,500 charges.  This kit comes with the 3 amp batteries.

The Hitachi charger is also a great charger.  Hitachi includes a universal charger that will allow a user to charge 7.2V - 18V Lithium batteries, and the same for NiCd and NiHM.  Hitachi also has a built in cooling fan which helps lower the over all temerature of the batteries and allows them to cool down and charge faster. 

 

 We like the Hitachi batteries and universal charger.  As you can see, there is not much to batteries and chargers, but after seeing some of the other batteries and chargers put out by manufacturers, we always like to take a look at the ones in the kits we review.

Milwaukee V28 Lithium Ion Charger Review

         

 

 This is the power tool review for the Milwaukee battery charger we purchased at tylertool.com.  The charger came in the V28 Combo kit model number 0928-29.   The charger model number for just the charger is 48-59-2818.  The over all dimensions of this charger are 5.75″W x 7.75″ L x 3.25″ T.  We didn’t time the charger, but Milwaukee states this universal charger will charge Lithium batteries in less than an hour and NiCad in less than 40 minutes.

We know it’s just a charger, but when Milwaukee built this charger they really did put thought and effort into this design and thought of everything we would want.  First and probably the most important is this charger will also work on your older tools.  While most manufacturers inlcude a charger designed only for the combo kit your bought, the Milwaukee charger will not only charge the V28 LIthium Batteries, but also their 18 Lithium line and their 18V Nicad line.  This will help free up some room on your work bench, which always helps.  Speaking of freeing up some room, Milwaukee also designed this charger so the batteries will lie in the charger on an angle instead of stright up and down.  This means you can hang this charger on the wall to make more room on your work bench.  Milwaukee even thought of this and on the back they have slots that will allow this charger to hang on two screws.  Yes, Milwaukee even lets you know that the screws need to be 3-3/4″ apart, or for you metric lovers 95mm. 

Another great feature of this universal charger is the pass through plug.  We all know how valuable outlet space is in your work shop or on the job site.  Milwaukee designed the pass through plug with this in mind.  You can plug in the two prong plug into your outlet and on the back of the plug, you can plug in another two pring plug, which means you don’t loose sockets when charging your batteries.  Now you can charge your phone or other low amp items.  In the review pictures, you can get a better look of how the pass through plug works.

When Milwaukee designed this universal plug, they really did think of everything.  They thought of giving the user more space and not taking up an outlet.  Overall we give this our highest rating of 5 blades.