DeWalt currently has 2 PowerStack (PS) batteries on the market, the 1.7 amp hr (DCBP034) and the 5 amp hr (DCBP5200). This article will discuss whether PS batteries are worth the extra cost over XR batteries.
The big sell on the PS batteries is that they have 50% more power and twice the lifespan of their 20V XR equivalents.
50% More Power
I can’t confirm twice the recharges, but we did show in the video below, that the 5 amp PS and 5 amp XR have the same runtime on a shop vac. We also showed the 5 amp PS could run 50% more board feet of 2x than the 5 amp XR.
Even so, people complained in the comments that 50% more power doesn’t mean 50% more work, but instead means more power to be called upon when needed.
Twice the Lifespan
DeWalt says twice the lifespan and then says that means twice the recharges, which can be two different things.
If it is true that lithium-ion batteries have a shelf life of roughly 3-5 years before they start to break down chemically, reducing their charge capacity regardless of how many times they’ve been recharged, then a person who recharges daily might get a better ROI than someone who recharges weekly.
All that said, recharges, storage conditions, etc., matter, and we all know that full bars in year one don’t represent the same runtime as full bars in year four.
Anyway, with PowerStack batteries currently sitting at twice the price of XR batteries, even if you do get twice the recharges, it’s a wash.
With the 1.7 amp PS you get a smaller, lighter, more powerful battery than the XR equivalent, so that may be worth it to you. Just know the 1.7 doesn’t have Flexvolt power like so many YouTubers claim. They’re testing it against the 15 amp hr 60V Flexvolt, which uses 18650 cells.
FYI: The 6 and 15 amp-hour Flexvolt batteries use 18650 cells, whereas the 9 and 12 amp-hour Flexvolts run the more powerful 21700s. We ran the 1.7 PS against the 9 amp-hr FV, and the Flexvolt won easily.
With the 5 amp hr PS, you’re paying more to carry a larger, heavier battery. The upside is the 5 amp hr PS has about the same power as the 9 amp hr 60V Flexvolt battery. Plus, the PowerStacks have that nice rubber shoe. It adds weight, but it’s pretty sweet compared to the plastic bottom on the XR batteries.
Bottom Line
If you like small batteries, I think the 1.7 PS is worth it. For the extra cost, you get a more compact and more powerful battery compared to the XR equivalent. If you recharge every day, it should offer a good return on investment.
The 5 amp PS is more powerful and thus, as we have shown, gets more work done in the same charge as a 5 amp XR. But that comes at the cost of extra weight and size. If you get twice the recharges the extra dollar cost will wash out.
I still prefer the smaller, lighter XR. That said, they have been increasing the size of the XR and have just removed the XR logo from the side, which makes it look cheaper.
After cracking open the new XR and finding the same 18650 cells as in the older, smaller ones, my theory is that they are making it larger and uglier to push us toward the PS.
