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.

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"

Thought it was the end for my favorite power drill. However, after charging it with the new PS-180 Charger, it's up and running like new. Thanks

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.

It does the job. It charges well, but don't leave the battery on too long because that is how our first charger broke.

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 .

They have supposedly improved the life of these batteries.
I won't know how much it has improved until the new one fails...

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.

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