Black and Decker PS180 14.4 Volt Battery Charger #418352-02 Reviews

• Throwing Good Money After Bad

  
  By A2SXQO9ESWJIKC on 2007-12-28
  This product is as close as it gets to being a complete waste of money. I know you're on a tight budget (you're buying B&D tools), and I know many tool reviewers advise you to buy products that cost way more than you want to pay.
  
  But I'll give you two good reasons not to buy this product. First, this is the same charger B&D ships with their tools. Unless you bought a used tool, which didn't come with a charger, you already own it. Why would you buy a product that you know, from firsthand experience, will fail?
  
  Here's a better reason not to buy this item: If your charger quit, you probably broke it. You can break this item just by trying to use it. Read the "IMPORTANT NOTICE" in the manufacturer's product description: B&D says that plugging a "bad battery" into the charger will short the wiring out and void your warranty. They warn you to test your battery before trying to use this item to recharge it.
  
  How are you supposed to know that your battery has gone bad? Mine was sitting in the case with my drill for a few months. I plugged it in, thinking I'd just forgotten to charge it after my last project, and the charger stopped working. I also fried a replacement model that I bought at a local store.
  
  So no matter how tight your budget it, this is no bargain. If you don't buy a battery tester and use it before every recharge, the odds are that you'll eventually fry your charger.
  
  Black and Decker makes a much better charger-- the Black and Decker PS1MVC 8.4-Volt to 14.4-Volt 1 Hour Pod Style Battery Charger. This model won't die if you plug in a bad battery-- it'll flash a warning light. Also, it works with any "pod-style" battery between 8.4 volts and 14.4, which is nice if you have tools running on different voltages (this one only does 14.4).
  
  It charges about 50% faster, too, it's available here and it costs just a few bucks more.
  
  DeWalt offers an even better option: DeWalt DW9116 7.2-Volt to 18-Volt Pod Style 1 Hour Battery Charger. It really will work with B&D batteries; I know because I finally bought one.
  
  The Dewalt is roughly the same price as B&D's deluxe model. It also won't break if you have a bad battery. It works with an even wider voltage range (7.2 to 18 Volt). And it charges even faster.
  
  If those alternatives aren't available when you read this, or prices have gone way up, you might have no other alternative but to get this item. But if you order it, follow the manufacturer's instructions and order a battery tester. If not, you might not have it for long.
  
  

• Black & Decker PS180 14.4 Volt Battery Charger #418352-02 (Purchased on 11/11/2006)

  
  By A24HFICJJVZSYT on 2007-01-09
  
  Vendor should have informed customer @ the time of order to get battery checked, saying that "if your battery is bad the charger will brake down and then it will not be warranted"
  
  Instead I was not told at the time of ordering charger, (because they want to make a sell immorally) I found out about the condition in terms of printed note when I received the charger. Even if I decide to send it back I have to pay $6 to $7 shipping for claiming my money back.
  
  I think this is not moral. They should inform the customer upfront when he/she is ordering the charger.
  
  Bharat Pandit
  
  

• junk

  
  By A28PY3HLG4YPVW on 2008-05-05
  This thing will over-charge your battery and ruin it if you leave it charging more than a day. Spend a few $$$ more and get the smart charger (the orange one) it will not keep charging when the battery is full. Also the power on the unit will fry-out if left plugged in.
  
  

• charger

  
  By A3TMLP6OU2KBGV on 2007-08-07
  I used the charger one time and charged one battery and when I went to charge the second battery it didn't work. I have since seen on other web site that this is what happens. I wish now I would have put the money toward a new drill/ driver with a new charger. That is what I did in the end.
  
  

• It does the job

  
  By A2LN3IJ47P2IEN on 2007-10-30
  It does the job. It charges well, but don't leave the battery on too long because that is how our first charger broke.
  
  
• might actually be dangerous
  By A2J3H4HLRC02X1 on 2008-03-17
  Two of these were included with the selection of "Firestorm" tools I originally bought several years ago, plus one "smart" charger. I used the "smart" charger almost exclusively, but on heavy tool use days would also use one or both of these. One of the PS180s simply quit after not quite a year, and I didn't much care. The other lasted somewhat longer, but when it failed it actually melted part of itself. I don't think there was even a battery in it when that happened, though it could be that I just didn't notice the problem until the next time I tried to use it. I'm not entirely sure what happened or when, but when I opened it up, the charging circuitry was toast. The near-fire originated with a component on the circuit board. A very crudely designed and assembled board too, in my opinion.
  
  My advice is - if you already have one of these, at least don't leave it plugged in when not in use, and don't place it on or near anything flammable. If you have more than one, then you probably have enough need to get something better and ditch them all.
  
  BUYING one is just plain STUPID, when a few bucks more will get you a PS1MVC
  
  Nearly living up to the "Firestorm" name is not what I would call a "feature"
  
  
  
• fedsecurityofc
  By A3CQL009PFN5VU on 2007-10-21
  This charger work as expected. The manufactor warned to check the battery before using the charger and after I did and used the charger there was no problems with the charging procedure and I now have my 14.4 volt drill working again.They shipped this item by fed ex and received it very quickly. I would give them an A+ service .
  
  
• Do not buy this charger
  By AUQ1HAOLW827W on 2008-05-16
  If you need to replace the charger that came with your PS130 Firestorm battery DON'T BUY THIS ONE. I charged the battery once and it worked fine. The second time I went to charge the battery, the charger was not working and now I need to replace it. What poor quality from Black and Decker. I wonder if they really care?
  
  
• Terrible product
  By A32GTKD42TSZBZ on 2008-06-26
  SO, my father-in-law gave us a brush trimmer that uses this charger.....I charged the battery and it worked for about 15 minutes. I tried charging it again. It wouldn't work at all. SO, I thought it was the battery. I ordered another battery. I charged it as soon as I got it. The light on the charger never came on, so I wasn't sure what was going on. I used the trimmer for about 15 minutes again and the thing died. My husband told me to buy another charger. After using this piece of junk, I would NEVER buy another one. I read other reviews and decided to order another charger. I am hoping the new one will work :)
  
  
• Fried Charger
  By A1J97P49YRHWB8 on 2008-07-06
  I used the charger a few times, then it unexpectedly broke. I took it apart and used a voltage tested to find that the leads coming in from the AC adapter was not providing any power.
  
  I definately do not recommend this unit. I just purchased the slighly more expensive orange one.
  
  The unit worked for 4 years before crapping out.
  
  

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