Dewalt has quietly launched another 20V Max pouch-cell PowerStack battery, this time with 3.5Ah charge capacity.
This is their 3rd PowerStack cordless power tool battery, following in the footsteps of 1.7Ah and 5Ah batteries.
This is the 4th 20V Max XR series battery, following a recent revamp (see Guide to DeWALT XR Batteries).
In addition to the this and the other PowerStack pouch cell batteries, the XR line of batteries also includes an 8Ah battery built with tabless 21700-sized cylindrical Li-ion cells.
Dewalt says that the new PowerStack 3.5Ah battery delivers 50% more power than their DCB205 5Ah battery (not in application), as well as a longer lifespan.
The new 3.5Ah battery is also more compact than the 5Ah battery, or rather both 5Ah batteries – the older-style battery equipped with 18650-sized cylindrical cells, and the newer PowerStack battery with pouch cells.
Pricing
- $169 each (DCBP320)
- $249 for 2 (DCBP320-2)
- $199 for the starter kit with battery and charger (DCBP320C)
At this time it is not yet clear whether any new or existing Dewalt 20V Max cordless power tools will be kitted with the new PowerStack battery.
Our go-to Dewalt retailers have the Dewalt DCB320 battery available for preorder.
Discussion
With the PowerStack 3.5Ah battery being advertised as being more compact than the legacy 5Ah battery, perhaps it’ll be a better choice than the PowerStack 5Ah for applications that don’t require greater power.
It’s advertised as delivering 50% more power than the legacy 5Ah battery, and so it should be able to handle slightly greater performance demands.
Interestingly, this is the same claim made for the PowerStack 5Ah battery, suggesting that the PowerStack 3.5Ah and 5Ah batteries should be capable of delivering comparable power and performance levels.
The compact 1.7Ah battery is Dewalt’s smallest 20V Max battery, and the PowerStack 5Ah delivers more punch in a larger and heavier package. It seems that the 3.5Ah is designed as a balance between the two, delivering more power than legacy higher capacity batteries, but in a smaller size while compromising on runtime.
If you’re not sure which PowerStack or XR battery to select for a tool or application, this one seems to be right in the middle – 50% more power than the legacy 5Ah battery, with the same claim being made for the PowerStack 5Ah battery, and more compact size.
It’s not as compact as the 1.7Ah battery, and doesn’t have the runtime of the 5Ah battery.
Following are prices and cost per amp-hour of charge capacity calculations for all XR PowerStack and PowerPack batteries. Figures were taken from authorized Dewalt dealers at the time of this posting.
1.7Ah (DCBP034): $119 | $70 per amp-hour
1.7Ah 2-pack: $149 | $43.8 per amp-hour
3.5Ah (DCBP320): $169 | $48.3 per amp-hour
3.5Ah 2-pack: $249 | $35.6 per amp-hour
5Ah (DCBP520): $199 | $39.8 per amp-hour
5Ah 2-pack: $299 | $29.9 per amp-hour
8Ah (DCB2108): $219 | $27.4 per amp-hour
8Ah 2-pack: $329 | $20.6 per amp-hour
