DeWalt 1800 Watt Portable Power Station and Simultaneous Battery Charger

What it is and why I reached for it

I’ve been looking for a clean, jobsite-friendly way to run corded tools and keep critical home loads alive during short outages without rolling out a gas generator. DeWalt’s 1800W power station hit that sweet spot for me because I already own a lot of 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries. Think of it as a compact, battery-fed 120V outlet that doubles as a four-bay charger when you plug it into the wall. It’s not flashy, it’s not trying to be a camping power station with a dozen ports and a smartphone app, and the waveform is modified sine—not pure sine—but it does what it promises with minimal fuss.

Setup and build

Out of the box, the unit feels solid and work-ready. The housing is sturdy, the handle is substantial, and the controls are intuitive. It’s about 18 lb bare (plan on mid-20s once you add four packs), and the footprint stows easily on a shelf. There’s one main AC duplex outlet and four battery bays—any combination of 20V MAX and 20V/60V FLEXVOLT works. The cooling fan is thermostatically controlled and stays quiet with light loads, spinning up audibly only when you push it.

A few practical notes:
- There’s no AC power cord in the box. You’ll need an extension cord to use the built-in charger.
- It’s meant for dry locations. Treat it like an indoor tool or a protected-site unit.
- No USB ports, no app, and no watt-hour display. You get basic status LEDs and audible alerts.

Power output and tool performance

Rated at 1800 watts continuous (3600 watts peak), it effectively emulates a 15A residential circuit. In my use, that’s enough to run:
- A corded 7-1/4-inch circular saw for intermittent cuts
- A small shop vac on and off while doing a punch list
- A corded drain auger and a corded jigsaw
- A household fridge cycling normally during a storm

The inverter handled startup surges from these tools without tripping. The 3600W peak spec appears to be honest—brief surges are fine, but it’s not magic. If you lean on a high-inrush tool repeatedly or try to sustain near 15A for long stretches, you’ll hear the fan ramp and you may hit the protection. It’s best scoped for intermittent, real-world tool use rather than a continuous-duty substitute for wall power.

For compressors and larger saws: some will work, some won’t. Modified sine wave can make certain AC motors run hotter and pull a bit more current. My trim compressor (light, oil-free) cycled, but recovery was slower and I wouldn’t call that an ideal pairing for all-day work. If you depend on a specific corded tool, test it before you commit to the setup.

Modified sine wave: what that means for you

This is not a pure sine unit. Most chargers, TVs, laptops, and many power tool chargers are fine on modified sine (mine were). LED lights and small appliances generally behaved. Where you might see trouble:
- Older or sensitive audio gear may buzz.
- Some UPS units won’t accept the waveform and will stay in battery mode.
- Certain AC motors may run warmer or noisier.

For jobsite and temporary-home-use loads, I didn’t hit a showstopper, but if you’re planning to power sensitive electronics or medical devices, a pure sine inverter is the safer path.

Runtime: setting expectations

Runtime depends entirely on your battery pool and load. DeWalt doesn’t include batteries, and the unit pulls from all installed packs in parallel, shutting down when the first pack hits low voltage. Mixing small and large packs reduces runtime to the smallest pack’s level, so plan to match capacities.

A rough guide using typical 18V nominal watt-hours and ~85% inverter efficiency:
- Four 5.0Ah (≈90Wh each): ≈360Wh total, ≈300Wh usable
- Four 6.0Ah (≈108Wh each): ≈432Wh total, ≈370Wh usable
- Four 9.0Ah (≈162Wh each): ≈648Wh total, ≈550Wh usable
- Four 12.0Ah FLEXVOLT (≈216Wh each): ≈864Wh total, ≈735Wh usable

Estimate runtime by dividing usable watt-hours by your average load:
- 100W TV + laptop ≈ 120–150W: 4×6Ah gives about 2.5–3 hours; 4×12Ah ~5–6 hours.
- Fridge averaging 80–120W (with surges): 4×9Ah can cover several hours of normal cycling.
- A 500W load (lights + router + fridge mid-cycle) on 4×12Ah: around 1.3–1.6 hours continuous.

For tools, think duty cycle. Occasional cuts and short bursts barely dent capacity; continuous sanding or grinding at 700–1200W will chew through packs quickly.

Charging performance

Plug the unit into AC and it turns into a four-bay simultaneous charger. That’s the key word—simultaneous. Many multi-bay chargers are sequential; this one charges four packs at once, which is a big deal on busy days. My charge times lined up closely with guidance: roughly 2.5 hours for four 5.0Ah packs, about 3 hours for four 6.0Ah packs from low. The fan runs during charging but it’s not loud.

One thing I wish this had: a dedicated fuel gauge for the inverter and a clearer low-battery warning. As it stands, you get an audible alert and then a shutoff once a pack hits the threshold. Plan your switchover and keep spare packs ready if you need uninterrupted power.

Noise and thermal behavior

The fan is sensible; it stays off under light loads and cycles on under sustained or higher loads. It’s quieter than a small generator and unobtrusive indoors. Venting is side-mounted—keep it clear, especially when you’re charging. I didn’t experience thermal shutdowns, but I was mindful not to bury it in sawdust or stack items against the vents.

Portability and ergonomics

At around 18 lb plus batteries, it’s easy enough to move room to room or across a jobsite, though carrying it one-handed with four 12Ah packs gets hefty. The handle is comfortable, and the footprint sits securely on steps and benches. It’s not weatherproof; I tuck it under a canopy or keep it inside when it’s wet.

What it’s great at

• Turning your existing 20V MAX/FLEXVOLT battery fleet into a practical 120V source
• Powering common corded tools intermittently, with honest 15A circuit behavior
• Quick, simultaneous charging for up to four packs
• Quiet, fume-free backup for short outages: fridges, networking gear, lights, and small electronics
• Jobsite punch-list work where running cords is impractical

What it’s not

• A pure sine, feature-rich “lifestyle” power station with USB-C PD, DC outputs, apps, or a big display
• A long-duration backup solution unless you’ve got a deep bench of high-capacity packs
• A guaranteed match for all AC motors or UPS units; modified sine has limits
• Weather-rated for open exposure

Tips for better results

• Use matched, higher-capacity packs (6Ah and up). Avoid mixing small and large batteries.
• Keep loads intermittent when possible; plan for bursts rather than continuous heavy draws.
• For sensitive electronics, test first or use a pure sine intermediary if needed.
• Stage spare batteries and swap proactively; the shutoff isn’t a long, graceful countdown.
• Bring an extension cord; the charger function doesn’t include one.

Reliability and service

Electronics in inverter-chargers are complex, and serviceability can be limited after the warranty window. I haven’t had failures to date, and protections behaved as expected during overload tests. With a 3-year limited warranty and a 90-day return window, there’s a reasonable safety net early on. As always, register the tool and keep it dry.

Bottom line and recommendation

If you’re already invested in DeWalt 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT and you want a dependable, jobsite-first inverter that doubles as a fast four-bay charger, this power station makes a lot of sense. It’s compact, straightforward, and genuinely useful for short outages and remote work where a cord would be a hassle. The modified sine output and lack of modern “power station” niceties are the trade-offs, along with runtimes that hinge on the size and number of batteries you own.

I recommend it for tradespeople and homeowners who:
- Own multiple DeWalt packs and value simultaneous charging
- Need a portable 120V circuit for intermittent tool use
- Want a quiet, indoor-safe backup for a few essential loads during outages

I wouldn’t recommend it if your top priority is clean power for sensitive gear, off-grid camping features, or all-day runtime without a large battery pool. In those cases, a pure sine inverter with more ports—or a larger-capacity dedicated power station—will suit you better. For everyone living in the DeWalt ecosystem, though, this is a practical, durable bridge between your batteries and the 120V world.