Black & Decker 40V MAX Battery Fast Charger

Why I added the LCS40 to my 40V kit

I rely on Black & Decker’s 36V/40V MAX platform for yard work—mowing, trimming, and cleanup—and I wanted a charger that could keep pace with back‑to‑back tasks. The LCS40 fits that role as a straightforward, single‑bay fast charger that gets most 36V and 40V MAX lithium‑ion packs back in play in under two hours. It’s not flashy and it doesn’t pretend to be “smart” beyond a status LED, but it’s consistent, compact, and easy to live with.

Setup and build quality

Out of the box, the LCS40 is about as frictionless as it gets. It’s a corded, wall‑mountable base that weighs roughly 1.3 pounds and has a small footprint (about 6.5 x 6.0 inches, 4.8 inches tall). On a benchtop it sits flat and doesn’t slide around when docking a battery, which is more important than it sounds—some chargers in this category are so light they skitter when you press a pack into place.

Mounting is simple: two screws on a stud or a piece of plywood and it hangs securely. I prefer to mount chargers vertically both to save space and to keep batteries up off a dusty work surface. The LCS40’s keyholes line up easily, and the housing feels sturdy enough to tolerate frequent battery swaps without flexing or creaking.

There’s a single status LED on the face and no extra buttons, fans, or displays. It’s a basic tool by design.

Platform compatibility

This charger works across the Black & Decker 36V/40V MAX lithium‑ion platform. If you’re in that ecosystem—mower, string trimmer, blower, hedge trimmer—the LCS40 covers the common pack types:

• LBX36: around 1 hour to full
• LBXR36: around 1.5 hours
• LBXR2036: around 2 hours

Those times matched what I saw in practice with room‑temperature packs. The difference boils down to capacity: higher‑capacity packs simply take longer to charge at a fixed charging rate.

For anyone wondering about the “40V MAX” vs “36V” numbers: 40V MAX references the maximum initial voltage when measured without load; nominal voltage during use is 36V. The LCS40 is built for that entire family, so you don’t have to think about it beyond using genuine 36V/40V MAX packs.

Charging performance

In day‑to‑day use, the LCS40’s consistency is its best trait. I timed several cycles:

• A partially depleted LBX36 went from roughly half to full in about 30 minutes.
• A fully depleted LBXR36 took just under an hour and a half.
• An LBXR2036 from empty to full wrapped a bit under the two‑hour mark.

The charger doesn’t offer percentage readouts. You get a status light during charging and a clear indication when it’s done, and then it stops actively charging. For me, that’s enough for yard workflows: I swap a fresh pack into the tool, dock the spent one, and glance at the LED while working. If you want granular state‑of‑charge information, that’s not what this unit provides, but it does keep the platform simple and inexpensive.

Heat management is uneventful in a good way. The housing gets warm during a fast charge—especially near the contact area—but not worryingly hot. Charging indoors at normal room temperatures yielded the fastest times. If you drop a pack onto the charger immediately after mowing on a 90°F afternoon, expect the initial ramp to be slower until the pack cools a bit, which is normal lithium‑ion behavior.

Everyday usability

The docking action is positive and secure: align the rails, slide the pack down, and it settles with a satisfying click. The status LED is visible from across the room, which makes it easy to check progress at a glance.

A couple of small quality‑of‑life notes from my time with it:
- The cord exits at a sensible angle that doesn’t fight you on a wall mount.
- The base is wide enough to be stable on a shelf with a battery installed.
- The LED feedback is simple. It indicates active charging and a clear “done” state. It’s not chatty, but it’s reliable.

Reliability and quirks

Across multiple packs, the LCS40 behaved predictably. I did encounter one older battery that wouldn’t initialize a charge and triggered the LED to repeat its “not charging” state. Power cycling the charger and reseating the pack didn’t resolve it; swapping in another pack worked immediately. In practice, that’s usually a battery health issue rather than the charger itself, but it’s worth mentioning: if you see a repeated non‑charge indication across multiple packs, reach out to support. If it happens with only one pack, the pack is probably the culprit.

A couple of constraints to be aware of:
- It’s a single‑bay charger. If you regularly cycle through three or more batteries during long yard sessions, a second LCS40 can be a worthwhile addition so you’re saving time between swaps.
- There’s no “storage” or “maintenance” mode. Lithium‑ion doesn’t need conditioning, but if you like advanced charge profiles, this is a straightforward fast charger without frills.

Practical tips for faster turnaround

• Charge at room temperature when you can. Let hot packs cool for a few minutes before docking; you’ll hit the faster portion of the charge curve sooner.
• Mount the charger near where you store your outdoor tools. Having a home base for packs reduces misplacement and accidental discharge.
• Rotate packs evenly. I label batteries A/B/C so wear stays balanced and charge times remain consistent across the set.
• Keep contacts clean. A quick wipe of the battery contacts with a dry cloth now and then helps ensure secure connections.

Size, weight, and shop integration

At 1.3 pounds and under seven inches in either direction, the LCS40 is easy to tuck onto a narrow shelf or mount between studs. I mounted mine vertically above a power strip, and it’s been a tidy, grab‑and‑go station for the 40V platform. The light weight also makes it simple to move to a jobsite or a shed outlet if needed, though I prefer to keep it indoors for the most predictable charging environment.

Who it’s for

• Homeowners committed to the Black & Decker 36V/40V MAX platform who want predictable, under‑two‑hour turnarounds on common pack sizes.
• Anyone running two batteries with a mower or trimmer who wants minimal downtime between swaps.
• Users who prefer a basic, no‑menu charger that simply indicates charging and completion and gets out of the way.

Who might want something else:
- Users who need multi‑bay or parallel charging in one device. The LCS40 is single‑bay only.
- Tinkerers looking for detailed diagnostics or percentage displays. This charger doesn’t do that.
- Those operating in unconditioned spaces with extreme temperatures might want to plan charging indoors for best results.

The bottom line

The LCS40 does exactly what I need from a yard‑tool charger: it charges 36V/40V MAX packs quickly, it’s stable whether benchtop or wall‑mounted, and it doesn’t demand attention. Charge times line up with the rated specs—about an hour for smaller packs and up to two hours for higher‑capacity ones—so it’s easy to plan around. The tradeoff for its simplicity is a lack of extra indicators or features, and in rare cases an aging or damaged battery may refuse to initialize, which looks like the charger misbehaving. In my experience, though, with healthy packs it’s been set‑and‑forget reliable.

Recommendation: I recommend the LCS40 for anyone using Black & Decker’s 36V/40V MAX outdoor tools who wants a compact, reliable, and reasonably fast single‑bay charger. It’s not feature‑rich, but it nails the fundamentals—consistent charge times, solid fit with platform batteries, and simple status feedback—at a size and weight that makes it easy to mount and easy to live with. If you routinely cycle through several batteries per session, consider buying a second unit to keep your workflow moving; otherwise, this charger is a practical, dependable fit for most home shops and garages.