truckdriver
Well-known member
I wish Milwaukee made a 12V M12/M18 charger. They have them separately but no combo.I do have a 120V combo charger. I was wondering if using a modified sine wave inverter would shorten battery life?
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Charging cordless tool batteries off inverter
- Thread starter truckdriver
- Start date
up_in_the_air
Well-known member
We were charging our V28 and M28 batteries off modified sine wave inverter on our truck at work and not only reduced the life of the batteries but blew up 2 chargers. This in New Zealand 230V. The sensitive electronics in the chargers dont seem to like the rough output of the inverters. Have gone back to charging in the yard and had no problems.
OP
truckdriver
Well-known member
It has been years since I read the instructions on a cheap inverter but I seem to remember something about battery chargers. But then again I have been running my laptops of these same inverters for 10 yrs with no problems so maybe I am worried about nothing. Still wish Milwaukee would make a 12V combo charger.
Fordman7795
Well-known member
On a recent hunting trip i charged my dewalts on an inverter and they worked great. But ive only done it once
Autorotica
Well-known member
On a recent hunting trip i charged my dewalts on an inverter and they worked great. But ive only done it once
Just did this myself on the way to a U pull it junkyard for the cordless sawzall. Worked Great!
Chris
Mr_fixit
Well-known member
My inverter wouldn't charge my 28v Milwaukee stuff.
spotco2
Well-known member
I've been doing this with modified sine wave inverters for about 15 years. Batteries will normally last about a year before needing replacing. This is with daily use of the tools.
My dad keeps the same batteries plugged in the wall at his shop and uses them about as much as I do. His tend to last a few years before needing replacing.
It will mess with your batteries, but not enough to worry about if you are using them to make a living. Just consider them as consumables and replace as needed, just like shop rags or anything else.
My dad keeps the same batteries plugged in the wall at his shop and uses them about as much as I do. His tend to last a few years before needing replacing.
It will mess with your batteries, but not enough to worry about if you are using them to make a living. Just consider them as consumables and replace as needed, just like shop rags or anything else.
up_in_the_air
Well-known member
Seems to affect Li-Ion batteries and chargers lots more than the Ni-Cd or Ni-Mh
Iron-Iceberg
Well-known member
I run one off an inverter in my truck all the time.
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Dunno whether I would blame the inverter or the charger, but ONE of them or both is cutting corners.
Some inverters put out a square wave with same rms volts, but much lower peak volts and some chargers work mostly off the peak volts.
Some inverters will put out clean "normal" looking AC, if you need portable charging find one of those, or buy a charger that doesn't care about slopping input power.
Some inverters put out a square wave with same rms volts, but much lower peak volts and some chargers work mostly off the peak volts.
Some inverters will put out clean "normal" looking AC, if you need portable charging find one of those, or buy a charger that doesn't care about slopping input power.
OP
truckdriver
Well-known member
I guess it will work in a pinch. I know my M18 4.0 batteries have a 5 yrs warranty but I would hate to abuse that by not charging correctly. I posted on Milwaukee's FB about needing a 12V combo charger,maybe they will listen. For the price of 1 XC 4.0 battery I could buy both 12V chargers but a combo makes much more sense.
beamrider
Well-known member
A run of the mill inverter? Wouldn't chance it. A real true sine wave inverter? Shouldn't be a problem.
I wish Milwaukee made a 12V M12/M18 charger. They have them separately but no combo.I do have a 120V combo charger. I was wondering if using a modified sine wave inverter would shorten battery life?
Won't make a bit of difference - the chargers all convert AC to DC to charge the batteries. And with LiIon you have to get that right or the batteries explode. Why people get less use out of batteries charged in this way is because of the temperature extremes in the car. Hot in the summer and cold in the winter, both of which are tough on batteries.
You'll be fine - Milwaukee puts this in the manual:
Powering the Charger with an Inverter or Generator
The charger will operate with most generators and inverters rated at 300 Watts or higher.
They are on the hook if it lets the magic smoke out or toasts your batteries in warranty.
OP
truckdriver
Well-known member
Won't make a bit of difference - the chargers all convert AC to DC to charge the batteries. And with LiIon you have to get that right or the batteries explode. Why people get less use out of batteries charged in this way is because of the temperature extremes in the car. Hot in the summer and cold in the winter, both of which are tough on batteries.
You'll be fine - Milwaukee puts this in the manual:
They are on the hook if it lets the magic smoke out or toasts your batteries in warranty.
Thanks. I guess I should read my Milwaukee manual!
I hate to charge my Rigid Lion tools of the inverter but I don't have a choice sometimes.
The cold is much worse on the Lion than charging them, I'm still trying to figure out how they have gotten past this for the starter batteries that are coming out.
The cold is much worse on the Lion than charging them, I'm still trying to figure out how they have gotten past this for the starter batteries that are coming out.
ishiboo
Well-known member
Won't make a bit of difference - the chargers all convert AC to DC to charge the batteries. And with LiIon you have to get that right or the batteries explode. Why people get less use out of batteries charged in this way is because of the temperature extremes in the car. Hot in the summer and cold in the winter, both of which are tough on batteries.
You'll be fine - Milwaukee puts this in the manual:
They are on the hook if it lets the magic smoke out or toasts your batteries in warranty.
+1.
Most battery chargers will work on MSW inverters just fine. The few that do not are "simpler" chargers and older units.
Greatbear
Well-known member
Never had any issues running Milwaukee, DeWalt, Bosch, Makita or Hitachi LiIon or NiCd chargers of modern vintage from a simple MSW inverter. Most of these chargers especially DeWalt can signal if they have a problem with the power source but it has never happened to me. The inverters I use mostly are 100 watt Vector units which plug directly into a lighter power socket, or larger units built into my vehicles. I have a M12 charger that is dual voltage as well. No problems with any of these setups.
skidsteer.ca
Member
Does anyone know if the Ingersol Rand 20 volt charger is compatible with MSW inverters?
Also how many do they draw? must be low like 200 or so?
I just ordered the 1/2 and 3/8 combo kit for my service truck and am wonder if I should order a pure sine wave inverter to. This will pretty much be the only charging source.
Also how many do they draw? must be low like 200 or so?
I just ordered the 1/2 and 3/8 combo kit for my service truck and am wonder if I should order a pure sine wave inverter to. This will pretty much be the only charging source.
Techie1961
Well-known member
I run my Milwaukee 12/18 off my inverter all the time in the truck. So far, so good.