Black & Decker 20V MAX POWERCONNECT 1.5 Ah Battery and Charger Kit

I put the 1.5 Ah POWERCONNECT kit to work the way most people would: as a spare battery and charger for a small stable of Black & Decker 20V tools around the house and yard. After several weeks of swapping it between a drill/driver, hedge trimmer, inflator, and occasionally a small pruning saw, I have a clear picture of what this kit does well—and where it runs out of steam.

What you get and how it feels

This is Black & Decker’s compact 20V lithium-ion pack paired with a wall-mountable charger. The battery itself is light for the platform—roughly a pound and change—which makes smaller tools feel more balanced. The housing is tough enough to take casual bumps and drops; mine took a few inevitable knocks in the garage without any drama. The slide-on interface is snug, and the latch has a positive click that’s easy to operate one-handed, even with gloves on. No wiggle on the rails, and no surprise disconnects while working.

There’s no built-in fuel gauge on the battery, so you’re relying on tool indicators (if your tool has them) and the charger’s single LED. A solid green on the base means fully charged; otherwise you’ll see various blink patterns during charging or if the pack is outside its comfort zone. The kit is part of the 20V POWERCONNECT lineup, so it swaps into anything in that range—handheld vacs, small lawn tools, lights, and the usual DIY suspects.

Charging experience

Black & Decker lists different charge times in various places, and that tracks with what I’ve seen across their chargers. Using the included wall-mount base, my empty-to-full times landed around three to four hours for this 1.5 Ah pack. Top-off charges are faster. It’s not a “fast charger,” so plan the day accordingly: if you’re bouncing between tasks, having at least two batteries in rotation keeps the workflow smooth.

The base is compact and easy to mount near an outlet. Cable strain relief is adequate, and the pack seats cleanly without needing to hunt for alignment. One tip: if you’ve just worked the battery hard, don’t slap it right on the charger. The onboard electronics will reject a hot pack, and you’ll see the LED blink without progress. Give it a few minutes to cool and it charges normally.

Runtime and performance

At 1.5 Ah (about 30 Wh), this is the smallest battery I’d pair with 20V tools. That’s not a knock—just physics. In practice:

• Drill/driver and light fastening: Excellent. I got a couple dozen 1-1/2 in screws into pine and a round of 3/16 in pilot holes in hardwood before I noticed sag. For an afternoon of shelf installs or cabinet hardware, this pack is perfectly serviceable.
• Inflator and light-duty vac: Good. Topping up four car tires and a bike set was no problem on one charge. The inflator’s intermittent load helps the battery go further than you’d expect.
• Hedge trimming and grass edging: Usable but short. I could tidy a 30-foot hedge run and edge a small patio, not both. Think 10–20 minutes of continuous yard work, depending on tool and thickness of what you’re cutting.
• Compact pruning saws or chainsaws: Not ideal. Cutting small limbs is fine in a pinch, but anything that continuously loads the motor drains 1.5 Ah quickly. For yard tools with higher draw, a 2.0–4.0 Ah battery changes the experience dramatically.

The standout trait is how light the battery keeps the tools. For overhead work or long reach, that matters more than you might think. On a hedge trimmer, that weight savings translates to less fatigue and better control.

Protection and longevity

The pack’s electronics monitor voltage and temperature, and the charger respects those limits. I intentionally pushed a few tools to the cutout point to see how it behaved. It shut down predictably, cooled, and recharged without complaint. That’s exactly what you want: no limping cells, no mystery resets. Over several charge cycles, I didn’t see any early fade or inconsistency. Lithium-ion self-discharge is low; I left the pack on a shelf for a few weeks and it still had enough juice to run an inflator when I grabbed it.

A small ask: I’d love a basic fuel gauge on the pack. It’s not uncommon at this price tier to omit it, but it’s the one convenience feature that meaningfully improves planning.

Platform play

The real reason to buy this kit is the POWERCONNECT ecosystem. If you’re already in it, an extra battery and a dedicated wall-mount charger are quality-of-life upgrades. The latch design is consistent across tools, and the pack fits everything I tried without interference or wiggle. If you’re just getting started, this kit gets you a functional charger plus a spare battery you can dedicate to a high-use tool (say, your drill) while your yard tool hogs the other pack.

Durability notes

Battery housings take abuse, and this one seems up to it. I’ve dropped it from bench height onto concrete—no cracks, no loose internals, and the rails remained true. The charger is lighter and more plasticky, as most wall-mount units are. Mount it securely to avoid stress on the plug and cord. If you see a persistent blinking LED on a cool battery that won’t progress, reseat the pack firmly; if it continues, try another outlet to rule out a flaky power strip. Those simple checks resolved the only two “is it charging?” moments I encountered.

Value and which capacity to choose

With 1.5 Ah you’re buying portability and price, not endurance. For inside-the-house DIY and light maintenance, it makes sense. If your week-to-week tasks include trimming hedges, edging, or running anything with a blade or chain, stepping up to at least 2.0 Ah is noticeably better, and 3.0–4.0 Ah is a sweet spot for yard tools. The nice part: you can mix and match within the platform. Many people end up with one compact pack like this for light tools and a higher-capacity pack for heavier ones.

Tips for best results

• Rotate batteries. Use both packs you own in turn rather than abusing one repeatedly.
• Let it cool before charging. Heat is the enemy of cell life and can trigger the charger’s protection.
• Store around half charge if you won’t use it for a while. It preserves longevity.
• Label your packs. A piece of tape with the purchase month helps you track age and performance changes.
• Keep the charger off dusty floors. Debris can interfere with airflow and contacts.

Pros

• Light and compact; keeps small tools nimble
• Solid latch and consistent fit across POWERCONNECT tools
• Charger is easy to mount and has a clear “charged” indicator
• Predictable protection behavior under load and while charging
• Good shelf-hold; ready to go after sitting

Cons

• Limited runtime for high-draw yard tools and saws
• Included charger is not fast; expect multi-hour charges
• No on-pack fuel gauge
• Plastic charger housing feels basic

The bottom line

I like the 1.5 Ah POWERCONNECT kit for what it is: an affordable, lightweight spare battery with a tidy wall charger that keeps small 20V tools ready to work. For drilling, fastening, inflating, and quick touch-up cuts or trims, it performs reliably and protects itself well. It’s less convincing as the primary battery for lawn care or cutting tools; there just isn’t enough capacity for sustained work.

Recommendation: I recommend this kit if you’re already in the Black & Decker 20V system and need an extra battery for light-duty tasks or a second charging point in the garage. It’s a sensible add-on that keeps compact tools balanced and ready. If your main use is hedge trimming, edging, or cutting wood, skip the 1.5 Ah and buy a higher-capacity battery instead—you’ll spend more up front but save time and frustration every weekend.