The Craftsman brand debuted a one-of-a-kind, time-saving technology for its cordless line of 12-volt lithium-ion NEXTEC power tools this week at the 2011 International Builders Show (IBS) in Orlando. With its new QuickBoost Charger, Craftsman is doing something that no other major brand is at least claiming to be able to do: bring a completely dead battery back up to a 25 percent charge in three minutes. This is to provide the extra “boost” or time needed to finish the job at hand. The new charger hits store shelves this spring. Pricing wasn’t set, but it will be an individual product sold alongside Craftsman’s other NEXTEC products like the Craftsman Nextec 12V drill driver.
Craftsman QuickBoost Charger Features
Why is a three minute charge a big deal? Well, as anyone who’s worked on a project with a cordless tool knows – there are times when you’re almost done and you still have a little bit to go. If your other batteries are being used (or worse, depleted), you now have an option to maintain productivity without waiting for a half hour or more. When a battery charge runs out, the Craftsman NEXTEC QuickBoost Charger supplies the power needed to get back to work quickly. In the time it takes to get a cup of coffee or grab some more fasteners from the work truck, the user will have enough power to hang that last curtain rod or drive in those remaining screws.
“The new Craftsman NEXTEC QuickBoost Charger is the first product of its kind and was developed in response to our customers’ desire for innovative time-saving solutions. When a battery runs out of power, it can be frustrating to have to wait 30 minutes or more for a charge when the project is almost complete. Now the user only has to wait three minutes and can get back to work right away.”
– Kris Malkoski, vice president and general manager of the Craftsman brand
The unit is very simple to use and it lights up to both indicate that QuickBoost can be used, and to let you know when the process is done. What this means is that , when you put a battery pn the QuickBoost charger, it immediately evaluates to see if the battery is under 25% charge. If it is, the QuickBoost technology is enabled and you can press the big yellow button. It then flashes green and lets you know it’s charging. When it hits 25% (in 3 minutes) the light goes solid green and the battery is ready to be grabbed and used.
If the battery is determined to be over 25% charge (remaining) then a full charge can be completed in about 30 minutes. While in use, the charger’s on board diagnostics clearly monitor the battery’s progress, indicating the battery’s status in the process including “charged”, “charging”, “complete” and “over temperature” using red, yellow and green LED lights.
The QuickBoost Charger works with all of the products in the Craftsman NEXTEC product line, including the innovative Hammerhead Auto Hammer, Multi-Tool, Circular Saw, TrueFinish Sander, Drill/Driver, LED Light and the newest addition to the NEXTEC line, the Right Angle Impact Driver. The Right Angle Impact Driver provides access to tight spaces where an ordinary drill or screwdriver cannot fit, thanks to its unique 90 degree head shape. A three minute quick boost charge of the Right Angle Impact Driver will allow the user to drive an additional 70 1.25 inch screws.
Craftsman QuickBoost Charger Specifications
- Volts: 12.0
- Charge time: 3 minute quick charge; 30 minute full charge
- Max watts: 43
The Craftsman NEXTEC QuickBoost Charger will hit shelves in May 2011. It will be sold separately and as part of selected NEXTEC kits that include the tool, battery and charger.
