Skil PWR CORE 20 Lithium 2.0Ah 20V USB-C Battery

Why this 20V USB-C battery caught my eye

I spend a lot of time bouncing between a drill, an oscillating multi-tool, and a laptop. A battery that can power my tools and double as a 100W USB-C power bank is the kind of crossover convenience I actually use. Skil’s 20V USB-C battery delivers on that promise in a compact 2.0Ah pack, and after a few weeks in the shop and on site, I’ve got a good handle on where it shines and where it comes up short.

For clarity, I’ll refer to it simply as the Skil 20V USB-C battery.

Design, size, and build

This is a 5-cell, 20V (18V nominal) lithium-ion pack rated at 2.0Ah/40Wh. Skil trimmed the footprint compared to its earlier USB-equipped pack; at 2.0 x 4.9 x 3.1 inches and 0.86 lb, it’s a genuinely compact option for overhead or one-handed work. On a drill/driver and impact driver, the balance is excellent, and it doesn’t crowd your hand around the grip. On bulkier tools, the smaller capacity shows up more in runtime than feel.

The pack has a fuel gauge button with a multi-LED level indicator, and another status LED near the USB-C port that pulses to show charge/discharge activity. The included “jacket” is a simple protective sleeve that adds some scuff resistance and makes it a bit friendlier to set on concrete when you’re using it as a power bank. Fit and finish are tidy: solid latch, clean plastics, snug USB-C port.

The USB-C PD trick: genuinely useful

The headline feature is the 100W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 port that works both ways. In practice:

• Charging the battery via USB-C: With a 65W PD wall charger, I saw the pack pull a consistent, sensible rate and go from empty to full in just under an hour. With a 30W travel charger, it took closer to two hours. The battery negotiates well and doesn’t get hot; Skil’s cooling design did its job with only mild warmth near the cells.
• Powering devices from the battery: I topped up phones and tablets at typical fast-charge rates and powered a 14-inch laptop. My laptop negotiated in the 60W range, which is common under PD; at that draw, the 40Wh capacity translates to roughly 35–40 minutes of productive laptop time. It will agree to higher profiles with capable devices, but keep in mind that at 100W you’re burning through 40Wh in under half an hour. For most jobsite scenarios—email, CAD touch-ups, pulling up drawings—it’s plenty for a quick save or working through a brief power outage.

The pulsing LED near the port is handy. It’s obvious when the pack is in USB-C mode, and you don’t have to guess whether it’s charging or discharging. I also like that Skil includes a short USB-C to USB-C cable in the box—useful day one, though I swapped to a 2 m cable for desk use.

One note: I treated it as either charging or discharging over USB-C, not both at once. It behaved predictably in that single-mode sense, which is what I want on a tool battery.

On-tool performance and runtime

A 2.0Ah pack is about portability and convenience, not maximum runtime, and the Skil battery plays that role well.

• Drill/driver: Driving 3-inch construction screws into PT lumber, I averaged around a hundred fasteners per charge with a compact brushless drill, throttling between speed settings. The battery held voltage well, with no premature cutouts.
• Impact driver: For light-to-medium mechanical tasks, it felt snappy and responsive. On longer ledger screws, the pack understandably warmed up and the fuel gauge stair-stepped down quickly near the end.
• Oscillating multi-tool: On trim and drywall cuts, I got a solid 15–20 minutes of continuous cutting. It’s not the pack I’d use for demo; it’s the pack I grab for a quick cut without adding weight.
• Circular saw and grinder: It’ll power them, but this capacity isn’t ideal. Expect short bursts rather than sustained ripping or grinding. On my 7-1/4-inch saw, a few crosscuts were fine; any more and you’ll wish for a 4.0Ah or larger pack.

Thermally, the pack stayed within a comfortable envelope in normal use. I didn’t trigger thermal shutdowns on drill/driver or multi-tool tasks. On a grinder with a heavy wheel, I could feel the pack warm quickly; again, this isn’t the intended use case for a 2.0Ah.

Charging behavior and workflow

The two-way USB-C is the big workflow win. I can leave the brand-specific charger at home on light days and rely on a USB-C brick I already carry for my laptop. For more intense shop days, I still prefer a dedicated cradle charger—dedicated chargers tend to even out cell balance a bit quicker and may be slightly faster depending on the model.

From empty, my fastest wall-to-full charge via USB-C hovered around 55 minutes with a 65W adapter. I also charged it off a USB-C power bank while driving between jobs; slower, but it meant I started the next task with more than a token charge.

Reliability notes

I tested three packs. Two behaved exactly as I’d expect across tools and USB-C. One sample had a quirk: after a full USB-C charge, the fuel gauge read topped off but sagged rapidly on an oscillating tool and tripped early. Charging that same pack on a cradle corrected the issue, and it hasn’t reappeared. That suggests the USB-C charge path and battery management were being conservative or misreporting state-of-charge on that cycle.

I also scrutinized for leakage, damage, or unusual heat. No leaks or swelling on my units, and temperatures stayed reasonable even when fast-charging via USB-C. As with any lithium tool pack, if you see residue, deformation, or smell solvents, quarantine the pack and replace it. Keep your receipt; Skil’s warranty should cover early failures, and with any new twist like two-way USB-C, I like buying from a retailer with easy exchanges.

Ergonomics and compatibility

It’s compatible with Skil PWR CORE 20 tools and plays nicely across the line. Balance on compact tools is a highlight, and the weight reduction versus larger packs is noticeable overhead or on a ladder. The footprint is not “micro” compared to some ultra-compact 2.0Ah packs from other ecosystems, but it’s still a tidy, one-hand-friendly size. The latch is positive and the battery slides cleanly into rails without wiggle.

Value and who it’s for

This battery is about versatility. If you’re in the Skil 20V ecosystem and you want:

• A lightweight pack for compact tools
• The ability to recharge from common USB-C PD chargers
• A legitimate power bank for phones, tablets, and even a laptop

…it makes a compelling case. If your day is mostly saws, grinders, and high-demand cuts, jump to 4.0Ah or larger. Consider this 2.0Ah as a backup or finishing pack in that scenario, not your primary.

Tips from use

• Label your high-wattage USB-C cable and keep it with the battery. Lower-grade cables can bottleneck PD.
• Don’t bury the battery under a hoodie while fast charging; give it airflow. It stays cool, but airflow is free insurance.
• For laptops, check your PD profile. Many 13–14 inch machines run fine at 45–65W; at those draws, this battery is a solid short-session saver.

Recommendation

I recommend the Skil 20V USB-C battery for anyone already on Skil’s PWR CORE 20 platform who values a light pack and the convenience of two-way USB-C. It’s especially useful for service techs, DIYers, and pros who split time between tools and devices and prefer traveling with one charger. Performance on compact tools is confident, USB-C charging works well, and the power bank capability is legitimately handy.

If your work leans heavily on high-draw tools, or you need long, uninterrupted runtime, pair this with a larger-capacity pack and treat the 2.0Ah as your nimble, do-everything spare. And as with any battery, buy from a retailer with straightforward returns to cover the small chance of an early dud. Overall, the versatility and size make it an easy addition to a Skil kit.