Makita DC18SD Battery Charger for Li-Ion Batteries: A complete Review

If you have a product that uses Li-ion batteries (LIB) and you are looking to find a good charger for that, Makita DC18SD battery Charger is one of the top picks. It is a well-known industry fact that LIB is the best battery available today and possibly the batteries of the futures as well. Maintaining these units is very essential for their long life, and having a good charger is one of the important factors in ensuring that. We are going to discuss the Makita DC18SD, and why it’s your best option if you’re a Lithium-Ion power unit owner. We are also going to discuss what you can do to prolong your battery life, and what you should keep in mind while charging.

Makita DC18SD” charger is your one-stop for all the 14.4Vand 18V LXT Batteries. It has got quite a range, and it’s. Before we get into the functionality of this battery charger, let’s discuss its specifications.

Specifications

• Manufacturer of this battery charger is Makita, and this model is called DC18SD. Makita corp. has been in the Industry since 1915 and today are one of the best manufacturers of power tools.
• It is compatible with all the 14.4V-18 V LXT batteries and the voltage of this product is 240v.
• For the battery type BL1850, the charge time is one hundred and ten minutes.
• For the battery type BL1840, the charge time is ninety minutes.
• For the battery type BL1830, the charge time is sixty minutes.
• For the battery type BL1815N, the charge time is thirty minutes.
• It has an inbuilt sound system for notifications.
• The weight of Makita DC18SD” is around 700.00 Grams. It is very easy to transport and set. Despite the lightweight, it performs it’s functions with ease.
• The overall length of the product is around 151 mm and the cell capacity of Makita DC18SD is 1.5-5.0 AH and the voltage is DC 7.2- 18 V

Features and Functionality

Lithium-Ion battery is surely a popular choice, becoming more and more popular every year. It is used in many ways today, with the huge scope of advancements for the future. Makita DC18SD is a charger designed to ensure the longevity and safety of the batteries. The advanced digital features of the charger make sure that the risks are contained while charging the batteries to the optimal level. Batteries differ according to their Charging speed, loading, depth of discharge and exposure to adverse temperature. Makita DC18SD is best suited for 14.4V- 18V LXT Batteries.

Makita DC18SD battery Charger is suitable for you because of the following reasons-

• The charging technology that is at work here, controls the current, voltage and temperature to maximize the battery life. Makita DC18SD 240V Lithium Ion 14.4V-18V Charges has a CPU that works by communicating to the battery’s built in memory chip during the charge cycle. What it does with that data is, it analysis that to determine the best course of charging at that point if time. Smart charging comes in handy when you consider the many factors that affect the life of your battery. This results in a better life for your unit. Makita DC18SD is your smart choice.
• The charger has an inbuilt sound system that is designed to let the user know about charging status and the completion of the charging process. It helps you keep track of what’s happening so that you can have a better idea of your battery’s charge timings.
• Makita DC18SD has Makita forced air cooling fan technology and it helps keep your unit in its top shape. Makita forced air cooling fan technology cools the battery during charging by forcing cool air through the built-in air vents, and hence helps in prolonging the life of your unit.

Why You Should Buy a Makita DC18SD Battery charger

I think the points mentioned above make a good case for Makita DC18SD. Battery performance and life are two of the most important factors that any customer is concerned with. The advanced functionality of Makita DC18SD ensures that your unit’s excellent performance can be prolonged, along with its life. Here are a few points you would like to read before making a decision about buying the product-

• It has a digital interface with a CPU that communicates with the inbuilt memory chip of your battery to determine the best course of charging for a particular session. It’s smart digital  power display indicates the charging level that keeps you informed about what’s going on.
• It is actually a great choice for those who want a great product within a moderate budget. It’s affordability will surprise you. It has a good life and is worth your money.
• It has an optimal charging system that maximizes cycle life and work volume.
• It is suitable for charging both  14.4 V batteries and 18 V batteries.
• The batteries have no memory effect from the top up charging, they are quickly and efficiently powered up for maximum work and prolonged work life.  
• The great cooling system cools the batteries by flooding the inbuilt air vents of within the battery with cool air, reducing the heat buildup and hence protecting the lithium that’s inside.
• It has a sound system that keeps the user in the loop about the status of the charge cycle
  and when the battery is fully charged.

How to care for your lithium batteries

Although the Lithium batteries are really great; they also require great care. You can enjoy a good service for a long time if you keep a few simple things in mind.

• The lithium ion batteries work on the ion movement between the positive and negative electrodes. The performance is affected by the factor such as cycling, elevate temperature, and aging.
• With good use, a battery can last longer than the specified date, but sometimes, the opposite happens due to heavy use, or unfavorable temperature conditions.
• The Depth of discharge determine the cycle count of the battery. The smaller the discharge, the longer life the battery will have.
• Also, Lithium ion suffers from stress if its exposed to too much heat. You should avoid keeping the cell at a charge voltage high voltage. Avoid stressing the lithium ion.  
• Start there. Don’t overuse the batteries, and keep them in a safe area, away from harsh conditions. Lower charge voltages are good for extended life.

What to keep in mind while charging

Charging Lithium ion systems is definitely less of a hassle than charging the nickel based systems. Here, the charge circuit is pretty straightforward. Voltage and current are easier to accommodate. The charging process can be intermittent according to need, and saturation is not needed, unlike the lead acid. There is no trickle charge, which makes the charging simpler. Lead ion requires equalizing charge, which is not the case with the Lithium ion units.

Here are few things you should keep in mind while you’re charging your Li-ion batteries-

• When you’re charging, make sure to do so in moderate temperatures. Avoid hot or extreme cold environments.
• When charging your batteries keep in mind, Lithium ion does not need to be fully charged. A partial charge is far more better.  
• Apply some charge t to an empty battery before you store it. Ideally, 40-50 % is good.
• Disconnect the charger or battery, if either one starts getting warmer than normal. This will definitely help in keeping your charger and battery in a good shape for a considerable time.
• Either turn off the device or disconnect the load charge while during saturation. This allows for the charge to drop unhindered. A parasitic load only confuses the charger, and that can complicate things.
• Always use the right type of charger for your unit to ensure proper charging. Compatibility is also a big factor.
• If you think that either the battery or the charger is not working normally, get it checked. although, accidents like that are unlikely if you’re taking proper care, still, safe is better than sorry.
• Place for storing the unit is also something you should consider carefully. As you know, optimal temperature is paramount in keeping the battery safe. If you live in an area that has extreme weather conditions, make sure that your storage place is in a normal condition.

Hopefully, this was helpful in giving you a good idea about the lithium-ion batteries, and how to keep them safe and properly charged. One more point that is an absolute must for keeping your unit in top condition is, pick a charger that’s good for it. Makita DC18SD is a great charger for your Lithium Ion system. We’ve discussed with you its specifications and functionality in the article and we hope that you will be satisfied with your purchase. Happy shopping!