DeWalt 36V/28V 1 Hour Charger

I still keep a small corner of my shop dedicated to DeWalt’s legacy 36V and 28V tools, and the DC9000 has been the charger that keeps that corner alive. After months of topping off big lithium packs for saws, rotary hammers, and an older drill that refuses to quit, I’ve formed a solid opinion on what this charger does well, where it shows its age, and who it makes sense for today.

What it is and who it’s for

The DC9000 is a corded, single-port charger designed specifically for DeWalt’s 36V and 28V lithium-ion batteries. It’s built around a three-stage charging process and targets a full charge in roughly an hour. If you’re running the legacy 36V/28V platform, this is the purpose-built charger you want. If you’re on DeWalt’s 20V MAX or FlexVolt systems, this isn’t compatible—there’s no cross-over here, and it won’t charge those packs.

Because 36V and 28V tools are less common on job sites today, this charger is squarely aimed at owners who still rely on those heavy-hitting tools or need to keep a fleet of older gear in service.

Setup and build quality

Setup is straightforward: plug into a 120V outlet, set the charger on a stable surface, and slide in a battery. The housing is the familiar DeWalt yellow, with a footprint that’s stable on a bench and a cord wrap molded into the base. The cord wrap sounds minor, but it keeps the cable from getting kinked or snagged in a bag, which is a real quality-of-life improvement for something you’ll move around a lot.

As for build, the DC9000 feels like a typical DeWalt charger from the era—solid casing, clear label, and a sensible angle for the battery bay so packs seat positively. There are no rubber feet, but it doesn’t skate around on a standard benchtop. It’s not compact by today’s multi-voltage, multi-port standards, yet it’s appropriately sized for the larger packs it supports.

Charging performance and battery care

On charge speed, I consistently see right around an hour from near-dead to full on 36V packs, and slightly less on 28V packs. My real-world range is roughly 55–70 minutes depending on battery condition and temperature. That aligns with the “≈60 minutes” claim and feels predictable enough to plan around.

The brighter point is how it treats the batteries. The three-stage algorithm (bulk, topping, and balancing/maintenance) brings packs up efficiently and then eases off to protect cell health. I’ve never seen it force heat into a battery to “hit” a time—if a pack is warm from tool use, it starts gently, and if the temperature is too high or low, it pauses with a clear indicator. Over time, the packs I charge on the DC9000 hold capacity as expected for their age, with no signs of overcharging or aggressive trickle.

If you’re reviving packs that have sat for a while, the DC9000 will attempt a soft-start approach before ramping up. It won’t resurrect a truly failed pack, but it’s more forgiving than some older rapid chargers I’ve used.

Indicators and user experience

Status communication is simple but effective. The charger’s LED indicates charging, full, hot/cold delay, and fault conditions with distinct blink patterns. Many 36V/28V packs also include a fuel gauge, and the combination makes it easy to check where you’re at without guessing. I keep one battery charging and another staged; the consistency of the LED patterns means I rarely misread status.

One note: there’s no screen, no percentage readout, and no app connectivity. If you’re used to modern chargers with digital displays, this is a step back. However, with a one-hour target, the old-school LED approach is adequate for most workflows.

Heat, noise, and safety

Charging is quiet—there’s no fan in the charger itself—so you’ll only hear a faint electrical hum if your shop is totally silent. Thermal behavior is what I’d hope for: the charger warms up during the bulk phase and then settles. It never got uncomfortably hot on my bench. The hot/cold delay lockouts are conservative, which I appreciate; it prioritizes pack safety rather than squeezing out the absolute fastest time.

As always, keep it in a well-ventilated area and avoid coiling the cord tight during use. With older packs, that extra airflow can prevent nuisance thermal delays.

Portability and storage

The integrated cord wrap is genuinely useful, especially for transport. I often toss the DC9000 into a tote with a pair of batteries, and the cord stays put rather than tangling with everything else. There’s no wall-mount keyhole on mine, so it lives on the bench, but the stance is stable and the bay angle doesn’t invite accidental knocks. If you want a wall-mounted charging station, plan on adding a shelf or using a strap system.

Compatibility and ecosystem caveats

This is the section that matters most if you’re considering buying into—or staying in—the 36V/28V world. The DC9000 is specific. It won’t charge 20V MAX, 12V, or FlexVolt. For me, that’s fine because I keep my systems separate, but it’s easy to mix up packs when everything is yellow. Label your cases and don’t assume battery compatibility.

If your crew or shop is standardizing on 20V MAX, the DC9000 won’t help consolidate chargers. In that scenario, it’s a single-purpose tool used to support legacy equipment. If, however, your 36V rotary hammer or 28V circular saw is a core part of your workflow, the DC9000 is the right charger to keep those packs healthy.

Longevity and warranty

The charger is covered by a 3-year limited warranty, 1-year free service, and a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. That’s reassuring for a single-port unit. In practice, mine has been mechanically reliable—no cracked plastic, no intermittent contacts, and no odd behavior after repeated use. Keep the battery rails clean and avoid using it as a step or shelf, and it should hold up.

Where it falls short

• Single port only. If you need to cycle multiple large packs in parallel, you’ll need more than one charger or careful scheduling.
• No advanced features. There’s no USB port, no auxiliary power, and no digital diagnostics beyond LED codes.
• Bulky compared to modern compact chargers. Not a major issue, but space is space.
• Platform-specific. It’s great at what it does but only for 36V/28V Li-ion packs; there’s zero interoperability with newer DeWalt lines.

None of these are deal-breakers if you already own the tools it serves, but they’re worth noting if you’re evaluating shop-wide charging strategies.

Tips for best results

• Let hot packs rest. If you’ve just hammered on a tool, give the battery a few minutes to cool before charging to avoid hot/cold delay.
• Use the cord wrap after every session. It keeps the cable healthy and speeds up deployment on the next job.
• Keep the bay and pack contacts clean. A quick wipe with a dry cloth every few weeks prevents false faults and helps with consistent seating.
• Rotate batteries. If you have multiple packs, rotate them evenly to spread cycles and promote longer life across the fleet.
• Don’t block airflow. Even without an internal fan, the housing needs space to shed heat during the bulk phase.

The bottom line

The DC9000 does exactly what it promises: it charges DeWalt 36V and 28V lithium-ion packs in about an hour, treats them gently, and communicates status clearly. It’s not modern in the “smart charger” sense, but it’s dependable, safe, and thoughtfully built for the platform it serves.

Recommendation: I recommend the DC9000 if you’re maintaining or actively using DeWalt’s 36V or 28V tools. It’s the right charger for those packs, it hits the advertised one-hour target reliably, and its three-stage approach protects battery life. If you’re not invested in that legacy platform—or you’re trying to standardize around 20V MAX or FlexVolt—skip it and choose a charger that supports your current ecosystem. For the users who still count on 36V/28V tools to do heavy work, this charger remains the steady, no-drama choice.