Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger
Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger (PCG008)
If you have invested in the Ryobi ONE+ 18V extensive platform of tools, then you no doubt have multiple 18V batteries and just as many chargers. I love using my Ryobi battery-operated tools due to their convenience and utility. However, once a battery is extinguished, it takes a good deal of time to recharge it before that battery is operational again. The hours of waiting for your battery to be back at 100% capacity are now over with the new Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger (PCG008).
Specifications
- Fastest charger on the 18V ONE+ battery platform
- 4X faster charging than the PCG002 charger
- Compatible with all RYOBI 18V ONE+ batteries
- Two LED indicator lights show battery charge status
- Includes both a USB-C (3A max) and a USB-A (2.1A max) charging port
- Rubber feet for added stability and slip resistance
- Includes two keyhole slots so it can be mounted to a wall to save space
- Energy Save Mode to preserve battery life
- Includes an attached 6-foot electrical cord
- Battery sold separately
- Includes a 3-year limited warranty
- Available for $89.00 at The Home Depot
Physical Footprint
The Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger (PCG008) is physically larger than the standard 18V ONE+ Charger (PCG002) that ships with most Ryobi tools. The increase in size is, however, absolutely worth it! The 8A Rapid Charger is 6.4 inches in width, 8.2 inches in length, and 2.5 inches in height. It also includes a lengthy attached 6-foot electrical cord.
There are 4 large raised rubber feet on the bottom of the charger to provide stability and slip resistance. If you choose to mount the charger on a wall, there are two large keyhole slots on the bottom with a guide on how far apart to separate the screws.
On top of the 8A Rapid Charger there is a 2-inch fan opening so that the unit can cool itself while running. The faster charging speed generates more heat than the typical charger, so Ryobi intelligently includes a built-in fan to keep the unit cool. The fan immediately starts running once the charging begins.
When the fan is operating, it does so fairly quietly, measured at only 45 decibels one foot directly above it. The fan allows a battery to charge at increased speeds, but what I really like about it is once the battery has reached 100% capacity, the fan stops running. This auditory reminder is super helpful when you are waiting for a fully charged battery before beginning your next project.
Also, on top of the unit are two LED indicator lights—red and green—that help you gauge the charging status of the battery. These lights operate in the same manner that all of the other Ryobi chargers do; for example, a flashing green light indicates ongoing charging and a steady green light indicates a fully charged battery.
Added USB Charging Convenience
As we have become more dependent on our cell phones, companies have increasingly included USB charging capabilities in so many different devices. To maximize user convenience, the Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger includes two USB charging ports for portable electronics. I frequently used the 2.1A USB-A charging port with my iPhone, especially when I was streaming music to my Ryobi Bluetooth-enabled speaker. Ryobi also included a faster 3A USB-C charging port, perfect for their new USB Lithium line of tools and other portable devices. You must provide your own cable in each case. Being able to charge both your Ryobi 18V ONE+ battery and your portable electronic device from one charger is super handy.
Powerful Performance
The Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger was designed to charge batteries quickly, and it does this task incredibly well. The Ryobi 8A Rapid Charger cuts down on charging times so dramatically, it might be the only ONE+ 18V charger you ever use again.
I own several Ryobi ONE+ 18V batteries and I tested them all inside the Rapid Charger over the course of 2 months. Each time, I was thoroughly impressed by how quickly the battery went from 0-50%, and then ultimately how quickly it topped off at 100%.
Ryobi notably includes in the manual that the “rapid” charging period ends after the battery reaches 80% and the battery will finish charging at a reduced rate until it reaches 100%. This is an important built-in safeguard to protect the battery and the charger. Once at 100%, the green LED will remain solid while the charger is in Energy Save Mode to save power and ensure the battery pack remains in a fully charged state.
Ryobi also included safeguards in the 8A Rapid Charger to check the temperature of the battery prior to starting the charging process. With this technology in place, if the battery was too hot or too cold, the red LED will flash until the battery reaches the acceptable temperature range, whereupon charging will begin.
Swift Charging Times
This Rapid Charger will have you back and up and running in no time. In many cases, you might be able to recharge a dead battery before a battery that you’re using actually runs out. The Ryobi Rapid Charger will definitely facilitate speedy battery swaps through reduced charging times.
The tables below indicate the charging times I experienced using the Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger and the standard Ryobi PCG002 charger. The battery was fully extinguised for each recharging test. The times are indicated in minutes:seconds, and in three cases, hours:minutes:seconds.
Ryobi ONE+ 18V 6Ah Battery Charging Times
I tested several of my Ryobi 18V ONE+ 6Ah batteries first since they are the ones I use most often in a variety of my heavy-demand tools. Begrudgingly I had accepted that the batteries would take more than 2 hours to recharge in my standard charger.
I didn’t know what to expect from the Ryobi Rapid Charger initially, but was shocked when the charger fan stopped and the 6Ah battery indicated it was at 100% capacity in less than 40 minutes. Over multiple tests, the Rapid Charger reached 50%, 75%, and 100% capacity 3 to 4 times faster than a standard charger.
Ryobi ONE+ 18V 4Ah Battery Charging Times
Since most of my Ryobi tools arrived with an 18V 4Ah battery, I was very interested in these times. The Ryobi Rapid Charger again flaunted blazingly fast recharge times. It reached 50% capacity more than 3 times faster on average. On multiple occasions I was able to recharge a depleted battery before I was done using another 18V 4Ah battery in my Ryobi 3 Gallon Wet/Dry Vacuum. In fact, I could recharge three batteries in the Rapid Charger more quickly than I could recharge one battery in the Ryobi standard charger. Who wouldn’t want that type of power at their fingertips?
Ryobi ONE+ 18V 2Ah Battery Charging Times
Again, the Rapid Charger times for my 2Ah batteries were incredibly fast in comparison. Being able to recharge an 18V 2Ah battery in less than 25 minutes on average will keep my Ryobi LED Clamp Light readily available for the next project.
Final Thoughts
The charging times that the Ryobi ONE+ 18V 8A Rapid Charger displayed were eye-opening, especially after being accustomed to a standard charger needing more than an hour or two to charge an 18V battery. The time that this Ryobi Rapid Charger saves you makes it a “must-have” purchase at the affordable price of $89.00. When you add in the convenience of 2 ports to charge your USB portable electronics at the same time, Ryobi has created your new favorite and indispensable Ryobi ONE+ 18V household charger.
