Dewalt Powerstack 5ah vs XR 5ah Battery | Is This Expensive Dewalt Battery Worth It?

In this video we talk about the Dewalt Powerstack fine print, visual comparison of the Dewalt powerstack vs the XR battery and do a side-by-side impact driver comparison.
It's easy for someone to recommend the Dewalt Powerstack battery when its free. However, if you have to use your hard-earned money is this expensive battery really worth it?
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Items discussed in this video to review specs and/or purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Links included in this description may be affiliate links. If you purchase products using the links included, I may receive a commission however there is NO additional charge to you. Thank you for the support!
DEWALT 20V MAX Cordless Impact Driver Kit:
www.amazon.com/Dewalt-DCF787C...
DEWALT 20V XR 20V Battery, 5.0-Ah, 2-Pack (DCB205-2):
www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DCB205-...
DEWALT 20V POWERSTACK 1.7 Battery, (DCBP034):
www.amazon.com/DEWALT-POWERST...
DEWALT POWERSTACK 20V 5ah Battery (DCBP520):
www.amazon.com/DEWALT-Powerst...
Chapters
00:00 - Intro
00:25 - Powerstack Fine Print
01:33 - Visual Comparison
02:52 - Drill Test
03:56 - Final Thoughts
05:07 - Powerstack 2x Lifespan Claim
Disclaimer:
Because of factors outside the control of TeamDIYNow, we can’t guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications to anything outlined in this video. TeamDIYNow recommends all safety precautions be used when working with vehicles, tools, or anything else talked about or used in this video. TeamDIYNow assumes no liability for personal or property damage or injury incurred as a result of information within this video. No information provided in this video guarantees any expressed or implied warranty or outcome. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of tools, equipment, or procedures contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the viewer not TeamDIYNow. Everything demonstrated or implied in this video is to solely be used at your own risk.

[@TeamDIYNow]

These Powerstacks are considerably less expensive than they were last year! The 5ah was $249 now you can get for $100. Dewalt Powerstack 1.7ah: amzn.to/3RwpAxt, 5ah: amzn.to/3Rfvz8A

[@johnclarke6647]

I agree - one second is nothing. I have four 2.0ah batteries for my DeWalt drill (DCD771) and impact driver (DCF787). When one gets a little discharged, I just put the other one on. I have also heard the Power Stack batteries are fire hazards and I don’t need that.

[@TeamDIYNow]

I'm not familiar with the fire hazard on the Powerstack batteries... thanks for sharing I may have to look into that issue.

[@johnclarke6647]

@@TeamDIYNow I have lots of equipment with Lipo batteries, I’m sure. My IPads probably have Lipo batteries and I have never had one catch fire. It is probably an urban wife brought about by misuse or abuse.. you know how some folks are litigious these days and are looking to make a buck off someone instead of working for it

[@TeamDIYNow]

@@johnclarke6647 Yea you are probably correct! Could be a knockout battery that someone claimed caught fire as well. I have had genuine PS batteries overheat from repeat circular saw cuts, but they just stopped to protect themselves as designed similar to all other batteries.

[@jetsetjoey]

DeWalt did great with the PowerStack 1.7ah... BUT it bombed with PowerStack 5.0ah because of its size!!!

[@TeamDIYNow]

I agree, maybe that's why it took a whole year for the 5ah to be released as they tried to make it smaller but couldn't. The 1.7 was advertised as 25% more compact, but the 5ah packaging conveniently left out the 25% more compact because it's probably 25% bigger.

[@jasonvandervalk3679]

Great comparison. I agree for what you use the batteries does mean something. I currently have 9 batteries and a 4 port charger never any down time.

[@TeamDIYNow]

I'm the same way with having multiple batteries as I can't afford to wait around for one to charge. I don't have the 4-port charger, but that looks nice. Thanks for watching.

[@jasonvandervalk3679]

@@TeamDIYNow ☝️

[@aphaileeja]

Hey hey, great vid, just wanted to let everyone know, 50% more power apparently means that the max power output LAST 50% longer, thanks!

[@TeamDIYNow]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing.

[@jetsetjoey]

I am disappointed in the size of the PowerStack 5.0ah because it has a SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER footprint than the 20v Max counterpart...

[@TeamDIYNow]

I agree, I like the size of the 1.7 but the 5.0 I have mixed feelings. Not unless you need the max power, I question the value of this expensive battery as 1 second faster on a screw is not showing up anywhere. I do see the 1.7 on sale now with free tools if you buy the battery. The powerstack 5ah is next in line.

[@georgedavall9449]

Well, don't buy It then joey boy! 😯🙄🤣

[@jetsetjoey]

@@georgedavall9449, that was an insightful piece of advice, coming from a trailer-dwelling miscreant---> JagoffGeorgieDrivel 🙂

[@ChrisCognito69]

@@jetsetjoey, ya can't fix stupid with the GeorgiePorgie type. All he ever did was kiss the girls, make 'em cry & run away...

[@alcerz984]

⁠this is probably the reason for the price drop

[@joeclay9745]

I've got a powerstack 5ah and hedge cutter runs for longer without the power stopping which is great. Battery lasts better so far. I'm impressed.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I have saw similar results with some of the testing I have done as well. It will be interesting to see if these batteries will truly have a 2x lifespan vs the regular batteries.

[@georgedavall9449]

Hedge cutters surprisingly don’t have a big pull on batteries. I have an older ‘brushed’ Makita 18 Volt hedge trimmer and can trim my 10 azaleas, and a few boxwoods on a 3.0 An battery, believe it or not!

[@charlesjacksoniii8787]

Years ago I bought a Dewalt drill and impact combo kit with the 2 2.0 ah batteries they work well and the charge hold up, I use them in my cordless Dewalt impact wrench to take off my zero turn blades also have try it in my DeWalt Grinder. I been thinking about the powerstack batteries but I dont really wont to pay the price.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I know what you mean some of these batteries are getting too expensive. Don't overlook the regular XR 5ah... I did a few videos on those batteries which will provide a decent improvement in power and runtime when comparing to the 1.5 and 2.0 as well (kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGTHi51pi7Sqd9k). Around the holidays most retailers give the XR 5ah away for free with tool purchases. May be good time to look into if interested.

[@charlesjacksoniii8787]

@TeamDIYNow Yes they are okay will check out the 5 ah

[@J.Wick.]

On a power hungry tool like a Circle Saw, Recip Saw, etc. They do make a marked difference in power. Life is still too early to tell, but they SHOULD last longer, maybe 2x as long, or 2x as many charge up/draw down cycles. That to me, is worth it. Not to mention the 1.7 makes the 20V Dewalt tools as convenient to use as the M12 line like you showed.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I agree there is a difference when using power hungry tools. I'm in the process of testing the DCD999 with a flexvolt vs the 5.0 powerstack and I do see some improvements.

[@matt59fire]

On bigger power hungry tools. Whats your opinion on this. Flexvolt vs power stack?

[@TeamDIYNow]

@@matt59fire Some of the testing I have done the powerstack has done better than the 6ah Flexvolt. However the new 9ah Flexvolt is supposed to be more powerful as it has the newer cells. If you can look past the price, I personally would choose the powerstack as its a smaller battery.

[@matt59fire]

@TeamDIYNow Sadly i already got the flexvolt bat lol. They are cheaper. The weight isnt really an issue persay for me. But i understand ppls complaints about the footprint

[@skye1212]

Is it JUST the power output/runtime? My understanding is that they are also good for more charge cycles too.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Correct, it's both more power and charge cycles. Dewalt claims this powerstack will last 2x the lifetime vs the regular XR batteries.

[@UbiquitousRomp]

On the plus side, they come with a 3 year warranty instead of 12 months, which is good for the heavy trade users. They are a flatter wider profile for spreading the heat. Which is a plus, when doing long trigger runs with angle grinders, SDS drills or some of the circular saws. In the UK two 5Ah XR batteries cost about £90 and I recently picked up two of the Powerstacks for £115 so no where near double the price.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea the price has come down for these powerstacks recently in the US as well (amzn.to/3w5wr95). Around $90 for the 5ah makes them a lot more appealing for sure.

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

Alright, after watching...yeah, you kind of nailed it. Sure, my impact driver is power detect but it doesn't really matter. It's when you toss these things into the circ saw or the grinder that you are going to start to care. And, honestly...I have an 8 and a 10 for those tools. I run the smaller tools on the 5ah XRs and give it not a second thought. But nobody is going to run their sawzall with a 5ah XR battery, and that gets us back to the question about these vs 6ah or better.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Exactly I like the power, but honestly for the cost does the 1 second matter for most drilling applications. The 1.7 has been on sale for a while, I'm guessing later this year the 5ah will be as well. But when you start using the power hungry tools you're not looking at 5ah batteries. Until Dewalt gets the cost down/gets rid of new inflated price I can't see Dewalt selling a lot of these batteries.

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

@@TeamDIYNow I remember when I was a kid, in the 70s, and my Father paid almost $1000 dollars (in 1970s money) for a calculator. People give calculators out for free now, in swag bags with corporate logos on them. This is always the way. When you first bring a product to market, you have just freshly spent all of the money creating that product. You have to get that money back. At the same time, there are MANY people out there who love to spend top dollar in order to have the latest and greatest thing immediately. The original price is always, quite purposely, to tap those people and get them to pay he R&D expenses. Once those people are tap[p[ed out, and your product is a little older...then you shift to the regular market price so everyone else can have it. It is a cycle that dates back to Adam Smith. On these, we have just seen the full cycle on the 1.7s. The "have to have it when it's new crowd" paid out the nose, paid back B&D for their R&D, and now that those scores are all settled...it's a $60.00 battery as it should be. The 5Ah's will do the same thing, just like my father's 1972 calculator.

[@highoffgunsmoke]

​@@kennedymcgovern5413incredible analogy, thank you

[@georgedavall9449]

@@kennedymcgovern5413 Thank You Professor Economics for that great lesson! 🙄 Good comment, juss bustin yer chops! ✌👍😊

[@trapbartedlifts6038]

Good comparison. I wonder how well it would work with the older tools. I have 8 batteries so I'm always ready to work. But when I was cutting stringers for a deck last summer with my brushed 6.5 inch circular saw I was burning through a 4ah for each one.

[@TeamDIYNow]

You bring up good point with the brushed motor tools requiring more power. I had an older brushed Milwaukee M18 grinder that ate through batteries as well. As I briefly mentioned in the video, I do believe some of these power-hungry tools would benefit from this battery. I'm going to be doing some follow up test with this battery, I will see what I can come up with to test some other tools. Thanks for watching.

[@user-fs2tg8qd6t]

​@@TeamDIYNowo

[@georgedavall9449]

EXCELLENT Point taken, @ 05:19 !

[@TeamDIYNow]

Glad you liked it!

[@LacrosseMan0428]

Hi looking at getting the dcd800 kit and have the option of 169 for it with a 2.0 xr and powerstack 1.7, or 199 for it with 2 5.0 xr batteries. Any input kind of torn between the two?

[@TeamDIYNow]

In my opinion, I would go with the one with the 2 XR 5.0 batteries as the 5ah will have 2x the runtime. With that said, if you're only going to drill at few holes at a time then you may not need the longer run time. The powerstack 1.7 setup will be a lot more compact and you can save a few dollars. Either option would work great. Hope this helps.

[@shivanballiram4202]

I had a dcd999 cordless drill. Will the powerstack 20v 1.7 work well with the drill??

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yes, the 1.7 powerstack will work well with the DCD999. The only downside would be the run time, however if your only drilling a few holes you will have good results.

[@elliottwooding9931]

I am building decks all day lol. Light and powerful…. Looks amazing I’m ordering some

[@TeamDIYNow]

For you this is the right tool for the job! I really like the power and size of the 1.7.

[@MrOgger151]

Best video on this so far. Heard plenty detailed technical comparisons. They where useless. This covers the bottom line. Are they enough of an improvement to justify the cost? No not for me anyway! Life span is a different issue and difficult to test.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Thanks for the kind words and glad I was able to help!

[@simonsays5979]

The size of the powerstack is substantially bigger and the price is ridiculous. I was able to get 2 of them on sale for 80 dollars each instead of 250 each so it was worthwhile for me to try them

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea if you can get them on sale for sure they are worth it if you can look past the 5ah powerstack size. Lately some of the XR 5.0 2 packs are getting kind of pricey as well.

[@danefuentes3877]

Home D-po’ has this thing on sale right now. Timing was perfect since I was in the market for a 1/2” 20v ratchet. I got this battery for free.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea the price has come down quite a bit recently on these PS batteries at various retailers. Definitely makes them more appealing when they are on sale or you get them for free!

[@AdamMargie4ever]

Awesome review. Thank you for being so honest. I was on the fence on buying powerstack batteries. I think I won’t be buying them after all.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Glad I was able to help. Thanks for watching!

[@durantplayz7111]

All my 5 ah powerstack ive bounggt for 100 each. Theyve been on sale alot recently at different places.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I agree they have been on sale a lot lately. Amazon Powerstack 1.7 and 5ah prices have also considerably come down as well: amzn.to/3RoiBFL

[@durantplayz7111]

@TeamDIYNow one site just had a flash sale 2 pack for 200 you get a free tool. I dint own many dewalt but hard to pass up

[@alcerz984]

I think for the impact wrenches that 5.0 powerstack is a good option for the extra power

[@TeamDIYNow]

I personally don't have one of the Dewalt impact wrenches, but seeing the extra power it gives the impact drivers I would agree.

[@CJ-111]

I got the 805 drill with 3 powerstack 5ah batteries for £215 Can't complain about that

[@TeamDIYNow]

Good deal! The powerstack price has dropped significantly in the last year.

[@blueskies8834]

I have just taken delivery of 5 amp power stacks from amazon. After charging the indicator shows fully charged but it will not run a Dewalt 20v vacuum.

[@TeamDIYNow]

You need to be careful which seller you buy from on Amazon. Items sold and shipped by Amazon are the ones sold by Amazon. There are a bunch of them that are Amazon prime but sold by random sellers. If your sold by was a random name I would return them as they may not be genuine Dewalt batteries.

[@georgedavall9449]

TeamDIYNow !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Gettin’ er done!!!! Really Nice Model Collection!

[@TeamDIYNow]

Glad you like it!

[@TheColinputer]

Really interested to see how these go long term. I was able to pickup a 2 pack that also came with the USB C charger/power supply and so far i havent really noticed any difference in the few dewalt tools i have. Also as an RC hobbyist and knowing just how volatile lipo pouch style batteries can be. I hope dewalt has done their homework, to keep them stable in hard jobsite conditions.

[@TeamDIYNow]

When using the powerstack vs the regular battery on the surface its hard to see a true difference unless using power hungry tools. I agree I'm interested in the longevity as well which is why I only bought 2 to see how they hold up over the next few years.

[@billrehm3590]

I been using dewalt for years as a contractor. I have all size of batteries. I just got a 5hr power stack with a tool and haven't used it yet. I have never had a dewalt battery go bad for me. They get used hard and get their share of drops. I've lost a few batteries and I did drop one from a decent height onto concrete and it still worked but wouldn't charge. So those power stacks lasting twice as long ,l would have my doubts we will see. At twice the price it's probably just a marketing thing. If you are going to lose a battery or drop one and destroy it ,I would rather it be a cheaper one.

[@HnrPram]

The speed difference is just few second, not so long difference... Maybe the different are about the duration for working and off course the price... It's my humble opinion 😊

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I agree, a lot of factors go into deciding one vs the other!

[@KibaStar]

The biggest difference between the standard 20v battery and the Power Stacks is fully in the power sag, nothing else. The size difference of the 1.7 is nice, but not the actual intention of the "design". The dewalt 20V tools are 18V tools with a higher peak (startup usually). If you are just using the tool in short burst, you wont see a difference. If you are hammering down on a lag bolt with a 3/8 impact, you will a lot of difference. You will see a lot when they are both full, but you will see a massive difference when they are both low on charge. The standard, while it power sags when full, power sags BADLY when low. Thats the intention of the power stack, is to maintain near peak amperage for much longer, which allows you to maintain your workflow without having to think if you should charge your battery (or swap) before the next cut.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Thanks for sharing.

[@androidken]

Best part of the 5ah PS? All the non PS 5ah batteries are going on sale or free with other purchases. 😁😁😁😁

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I agree, best time to purchase when get free batteries with purchase of tool!

[@RebelBoy-is7hw]

I just bought the smaller powerstack with a charger an got a free half inch impact

[@BoldWittyName]

My own assumption about the release of the 5 AH PS is that they are taking an iphone approach and trying to milk every ounce of the new=higher price idea.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Interesting thought...that could explain the staggered roll out of the 5ah PS.

[@georgedavall9449]

👍@ 06:57. DONT. BUY A BATTERY OUTRIGHT, @ FULL PRICE, unless absolutely necessary!

[@TeamDIYNow]

100% agree!

[@squirts1]

They will go one of two ways... Either they will fail to sell and be cancelled or they will start to phase out cylinder cell batteries then becoming the standard (at standard prices)

[@TeamDIYNow]

I believe there will be a future for these batteries, however until Dewalt can get the cost down I doubt they will ever sell the quantities they hope. Would be interesting to see if these powerstacks are just marked up for marketing reasons or if they truly are more expensive for Dewalt to produce.

[@squirts1]

@@TeamDIYNow i suspect initial runs were expensive. new tooling and manufacturing techniquse, sourcing new types of batteries, R&D, etc... but as with most things, prices will come down with higher production quantities. Especially after they recoup all the R&D and initial production ramp up costs.

[@andythompson3528]

I wonder if DeWalt will ever make 12v powerstack batteries in the future.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I have wondered this as well. As of now I don't know of any plans Dewalt has to make a 12v PS.

[@zachvargas122588]

They should have just made a 3.4 instead of 5 just basically doubling height in the 1.7 but keeping same footprint of 1.7

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea that would have been interesting as the 1.7 is a good size.

[@NELSONG12]

Home Depot has a 2ah Powerstack for $99 on sale.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Thanks for sharing...I have noticed the price has come down considerably on the Powerstack as well. On Amazon the 1.7 is selling for even less around $60 (amzn.to/3uImspp). Just be careful which 'sold by' company you choose, I have bought from JBtools and they are genuine.

[@jetsetjoey]

Hmm... I wonder if DeWalt will debut a FlexVolt PowerStack Battery???

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I'm thinking the same thing. I'm guessing they will as they have the 1990's contracts with the orange vs the blue store which they constantly compete against each other with 90's marketing fine print. Powerstack flexvolt probably will have 62% more power now!

[@BoldWittyName]

I don't believe there would be any advantage to a PS Flexvolt. Dang thing already draws 60 volts. If anything I feel like this could ultimately kill Flexvolt.

[@inhell3348]

Please test dcd 999 flexvolt vs 5ah power stack.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Currently I dont have a DCD998 or DCD999 which I believe is the same tool just different retailer (8ah vs flexvolt in kit). I have noticed some Dewalt kits stacking up at my local stores that appear to be left over from the holidays. Some of these kits they have 50+ jamming up the isles. When they go on clearance, I may pick one up and see what I can do. I plan to do some additional test soon with this 5ah powerstack.

[@matt59fire]

​@@TeamDIYNow Okay so when you do get both can you do a test with the dcd998 and the dcd999. And swap the batteries on both to see the performance difference. But the powerstack on the 999 and put the flex on the 998 then use both bat how they are marketed and cross examine any difference if there is one

[@dougsteenhuis3700]

You should put the 1.7AH Power Stack against the 5AH Power Stack!

[@TeamDIYNow]

We do have a comparison of the Dewalt 887 hex impact coming soon. Will make sure we include both powerstack batteries.

[@dumbelldoor610]

Dependent upon your area some smaller stores like Blain's has the 1.7 on sale for 59 dollars

[@TeamDIYNow]

I know Amazon has had them for around $70, but $59 is a really good deal!

[@THEBEARDEDTOOLGUY]

I Think if you want the HYPER car vs the PINTO and can AFFORD it

[@TeamDIYNow]

I agree these powerstacks generate more power, however for the cost are they really worth it for drills? Not unless your building decks all day long the few seconds gained per screw aren't going to show up anywhere in my opinion. I think where you would benefit is where the regular XR 5ah struggles, which is with the higher power tools like miter saws and grinders. Im going to be doing follow up with a grinder as I believe that is where these may be worth the cost.

[@Mark-op6tx]

Dewalt should have done a PS 10.0 or more the 1.7 makes sense 5.0 you would just use the 6.0 or 8.0 or 10.0 if you need more ballz.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I agree, the footprint would probably be the same for a higher powerstack just a little bit taller.

[@vaulmoremack3072]

We need flexvolt pouch cells

[@TeamDIYNow]

Agreed!

[@jasonlow7010]

Is funny how the size remained almost the same as lithium battery..

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea you are right...although we have a shorter battery case with the PS battery, we now have a larger footprint.

[@P8intballEvans]

The 1.7 power stack packs are amazing! Smaller than the regular 1.5 and more power than a regular 5ah. The new 5ah power stack doesn't look like it holds to the original point of the design.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Couldn't agree more!

[@dexteranthony2556]

I dont understand why anyone thinks these test are actually legit. Downwards force is impossible to match on power tools with a human hand/arm. I can use a 2ah battery and make a 10ah battery look bad.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Thats not necessarily true. If the drill/impact isn't going to drive the screw by itself; by applying pressure it's just going to bog it down and the overheat protection will kick in and stop the drill. If you are using cheap screws with a phillips head that require you to apply force so the head doesn't strip, then maybe you could see a slight variance but it's not going to be anything significant. In all my demos across my videos I use premium GRK construction/structural screws with a T25 bit that require zero effort, so the drill is doing all the work. In fact, a lot of times I have to use my left hand to hold the battery to keep it straight as I'm barely holding the drill with my right hand. In the end, I have no bias on any of these drill comparisons as I'm simply trying to show a real-life example vs what the manufacture claims.

[@douglasdever6134]

Your 25% is a lot different than any 25% I have seen.

[@TeamDIYNow]

Your experience better or worse? I have done some additional follow up reviews comparing these 2 batteries and the results are similar: kzbin.info/www/bejne/roCbY2hrh7d8jbs

[@josepht6274]

I am bringing mine back today for refund to LOWES unfortunately this is all they sell by me so cash is king till I order XR. these POWERSTACKS will not even start my RIDGID Sawzall were as the XR packs run fine for less money. As soon as the rest of the population catches on we will just see how Dewalt reacts

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea the regular XR 5.0 batteries have been solid for me for many years. I noticed the other day at my Lowes that they are now relabeling all the powerstacks as XR batteries with the powerstack logo very small on the bottom.

[@rosalinosanchez63]

Its not worth it!! Basically same running time on 20v tools. 4 Double price!!!

[@TeamDIYNow]

Yea I agree, I wouldn't buy them at full price for sure!

[@Factory400]

The DeWalt claim is about delivering 50% more power is unrelated in any way to capacity (Ah rating) The claim is that PowerStack has a lower ESR which allows it to deliver more power. By delivering more power, it will deplete it faster than a battery with the same capacity rating.

[@TeamDIYNow]

I was actually referring to Dewalts 2X the lifespan claim for these newer cells in the powerstack vs the XR. So technically 2 batteries would have the same lifespan of that 1 powerstack and I would rather have 2 batteries on a job site. In regard to the lower ESR, I was not aware of that...thanks for sharing!

[@Factory400]

@@TeamDIYNow By 'lifespan' do you suppose they mean the number of charge cycles? I decided to get the small 1.7aH PowerStacks for my vacuum and router. They don't last long but deliver a lot of current. That is a great benefit with current hungry tools like a router and vacuum. Not so sure I get any benefit with the drill and screw tools as you pointed out.

[@TeamDIYNow]

@@Factory400 Correct, Dewalt claims these 5ah powerstacks will be able to charge/discharge twice the amount of times vs the traditional DEWALT 5ah cylindrical battery. Did you see any improvement in vacuum suction by using the 1.7 vs the regular battery?

[@Factory400]

@@TeamDIYNow Yes.... the vacuum works better with the little PowerStack compared to the little 2Ah slim batteries. I don't have any of the cylindrical 5Ah batteries to compare.

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

Before watching this, I am sure the powerstack will win this one. But that's not the question. I have two 5ah XRs and they are fine. But I also have an 8 and a 10, for my more powerful tools. The place in the lineup where I might put a powerstack is for use in those tools. I am sure you will cover this (and I am going to watch, don't worry), but Dewey goes with better power cells in the XR lineup, starting with the 6Ah. In fact, all of the people who test this stuff on the interwebs say that the 6AH throws more power at the power detect tools than the 8 and the 10. So the decision I am about to make is between the 6AH XR and the 5Ah power stack. That is the decision most people are making right now. Is it worth it to make the jump to power stack before buying one round of 6AH XRs...that's what we are all trying to figure out. We all know that the price of the 5ah Power stack will come down, once DeWey has recouped their R&D costs on it. The price has already come down on the 2AH Powerstack, and we all knew that would happen too. That's just how these things work. If you are old enough, you can remember your Father paying a grand for a calculator, for the same reason. So...do we jump now and buy the 5AH power stack at it's current high price, or buy 6AH XRs for now, and run them until they need to be replaced and THENN go power stack, at the lower price the future holds. THAT, my good friend, is the question. And the answer comes in the form of "how much (if any) better is the new tech vs the best of the old tech.

[@TeamDIYNow]

I 100% agree, yes its a newer technology however it's not the tried-and-true battery that we know will last. Only time will tell us how well these powerstacks will hold up and whether we can rely on the 2x lifetime promise on the label. With that said, when the price comes down I think they will get stronger adoption of this battery but until then I just cant see them selling very well.

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

@@TeamDIYNow Yeah, you're right. As a rule of thumb, however, DeWey men like us know to ignore them any and every time they use a "%" or an "x." That is, unless we really need to know how their new thing stacks up against the phone they made for Bedrock Bell, that had a tetradactyl in it.

[@josepht6274]

THE power stack SUCK hold the drill chuck to put a load on it and the battery shuts down making these packs useless

[@TeamDIYNow]

I have noticed as well that these Powerstacks tend to be picky on occasion and will shut down. There definitely appears to be a different level of circuit overload protection on these vs the regular XR 5.0.