Black & Decker 20V MAX POWERCONNECT 1.5 Ah battery

What it is and where it fits

Black & Decker’s 20V platform lives or dies by its batteries, and the 1.5Ah POWERCONNECT pack is the lightest, most compact option in the lineup. I’ve been using this 30Wh pack across a mix of compact tools—a drill/driver, oscillating multi-tool, hand vac, and a small inflator—and it makes immediate sense as a “grab-and-go” battery for quick fixes, punch-list tasks, and overhead work. It’s not a marathon runner; it’s the sprinter you throw on the tool you use most often because it keeps the weight down and the balance comfortable.

Build, weight, and ergonomics

At roughly 0.9 lb, the pack keeps even small tools nimble. The housing is more robust than its price and size suggest, with no creaks at the seams and no rattle in the cells or connector block. The latch mechanism is positive and predictable—easy to release with a thumb, yet it doesn’t back out under vibration or light knocks. I’ve set it down hard on concrete more than once and the casing shows only scuffs, no cracks or stress lines.

Dimensions are compact enough to avoid awkward protrusions on smaller tools, which matters when you’re working inside cabinets or close to walls. In practice, the lighter weight reduces wrist fatigue, particularly with an oscillating tool or while drilling above shoulder height.

Power delivery and runtime

This is a 20V MAX pack (18V nominal). That matters for expectations: you’re not getting more voltage than older 18V systems under load; you’re getting a lithium-ion implementation that holds voltage better as it discharges. On the tools I tested, power delivery was consistent right up until the pack’s electronics decided it was time to stop. There’s minimal performance sag, and the cut-off feels well-timed—no extended limping along at the end, which is typical of newer Li-ion packs with proper battery management.

Runtime, of course, is tied to capacity. At 1.5Ah (about 30Wh), I treat this as a “task battery”:
- Driving hardware and installing hinges or cabinet pulls: no problem finishing a small project on one charge.
- Oscillating tool for trim undercuts or a few plunge cuts: fine, but I’ll keep a spare nearby.
- Hand vac spot cleaning or inflating bike tires: plenty for several quick jobs.
- Outdoor tools (string trimmer, blower): it’ll do touch-ups, not a yard’s worth of work.

If your day routinely asks a tool to run steadily for more than a few minutes, you’ll feel the limits. The good news is that the lightweight pack keeps tools lively and reduces user fatigue; the trade-off is needing either a second pack or a step up in capacity for sustained work.

Charging and battery management

The pack includes onboard electronics that monitor temperature and voltage. In practice, that showed up in two ways for me:
- It shut down protectively when I pushed a compact saw blade too aggressively, then restarted after a brief cool-down.
- It didn’t let me over-discharge by “squeezing” out the last few seconds of weak power—frustrating in the moment, good for long-term health.

Charge time is listed as “30” with no unit specified. In my shop, paired with Black & Decker’s compact charger, top-ups were well under an hour. Your charger matters; older or trickle-only chargers will take longer, and no charger is included with this battery. If you plan to cycle packs, a dual-port or higher-output charger is worth it.

A practical note: lithium-ion doesn’t love heat or deep storage. I check the date code on new packs, charge them fully on arrival, and store around half charge if they won’t see use for a while. That practice has paid off with longer-lived packs across brands.

Compatibility and platform benefits

This 1.5Ah pack clicks into the 20V POWERCONNECT line—cordless tools and lawn/garden gear. The platform breadth is the main appeal: one battery format for a lot of homeowner-centric tools. I’ve also used the battery with a compatible adapter on older 18V Black & Decker tools; it’s a nice way to extend the life of legacy gear, though you should confirm adapter compatibility and be mindful that newer Li-ion packs will shut down rather than tolerate the deep sags older Ni-Cds shrugged off.

If you already have 20V POWERCONNECT tools, this pack is a logical lightweight spare. If you’re building a kit from scratch, I’d pair one 1.5Ah for light, frequent use with a higher-capacity pack (2.0Ah to 4.0Ah) for anything that draws steadily. The platform offers those options, and the upgrade in runtime is noticeable.

Heat, durability, and storage

Thermal behavior was uneventful—which is what you want. During heavier bursts, the pack warmed but never crossed into “too hot to touch.” The thermal limits stepped in appropriately under continuous oscillating tool use, and the pack recovered quickly. The shell has held up to normal jobsite mishandling: sliding around the bed of a truck, dust, and a couple of waist-high drops onto wood subfloor.

For storage, keep it out of hot cars and away from freezing sheds. A cool, dry shelf with a mid-level charge helps ensure the pack is ready weeks later. The self-discharge rate is low; I’ve pulled the battery after a month or two and started work without a top-up.

Value and right-sizing capacity

As the smallest pack in the range, this one is appealing because it’s inexpensive and keeps weight low. But value depends on your use case. If there’s only a small price gap to move up to a 2.0Ah or 3.0Ah pack where you shop, you’ll feel the difference in runtime immediately. If you mostly do quick household fixes and prefer a lighter tool, the 1.5Ah pack makes sense. I like keeping one on the drill and a larger pack for everything else.

The two-year limited warranty is reassuring, and it’s worth registering and testing the pack as soon as you get it. Lithium batteries don’t improve with long-term warehouse storage; if yours shows issues out of the box, deal with it promptly through the retailer or warranty channel.

Who it’s for

• Great for: homeowners and DIYers who prioritize light weight, quick projects, and occasional tool use; anyone building out a 20V POWERCONNECT kit who wants a compact spare.
• Good as a second battery for: compact drill/driver, oscillating multi-tool, hand vac, inflator.
• Not ideal as the only battery for: outdoor tools, cutting/grinding, or any task requiring sustained runtime.

Pros and cons

Pros:
- Very light at about 0.9 lb; noticeably improves tool balance
- Consistent power with smart cut-off and thermal protection
- Durable shell and positive latch; easy swaps between tools
- Works across the 20V POWERCONNECT platform
- Low self-discharge; ready after sitting

Cons:
- 1.5Ah capacity limits runtime; expect frequent swaps on high-draw tools
- Charger not included; plan your charging setup
- As with any lithium pack, long warehouse storage can be unkind—check and cycle on arrival

Recommendation

I recommend the 1.5Ah POWERCONNECT battery as a lightweight, reliable everyday pack for the Black & Decker 20V system. It shines on compact tools where balance and reduced fatigue matter, and it’s a smart spare to keep the work moving while a higher-capacity pack charges. If your projects routinely demand continuous runtime—yard work, cutting, or extended sanding—step up to a larger Ah pack or buy this one as part of a two-battery strategy. Used with those expectations, this small pack delivers consistent power, easy handling, and the convenience of a broad platform, backed by a sensible warranty.