The Milwaukee M18 and M12 Gangbox Rapid Charger, model 48-59-1804, is a four bay AC charger built to sit inside a steel gangbox or job box, and Milwaukee’s US press page lists it at $299.00 while Pro Tool Reviews shows $329.
What does the Gangbox Rapid Charger do?
It has four bays: two take M18 batteries only and two accept either M18 or M12. According to Milwaukee, it charges two batteries at a time at a rapid rate and then moves to the next two, and it can charge two M18 REDLITHIUM XC 5.0 batteries in 60 minutes.
Two 15W USB-C ports sit beside the bays, so phones, tablets and Milwaukee personal lights can charge from the same unit. A built-in 450 lumen flood light turns 270 degrees and shuts off by itself after 1 hour.
Pro Tool Reviews adds a detail the press page leaves out: each side of the charger works on one battery at a time, so the six ports do not all charge at once. It lists the weight as 7.2 lbs and the maximum output as 6A for M18 and 4.5A for M12.
How much faster is it than a standard charger?
Milwaukee’s product page includes a chart caption for an HD12.0 battery: about 130 minutes on this charger against about 482 minutes on a standard charger. That is the maker’s own comparison, and no independent charge times have been published yet.
Charge time for an HD12.0 battery according to Milwaukee: 130 minutes on the Gangbox Rapid Charger, 482 minutes on a standard charger.
Will it fit my gangbox?
The hybrid bay design is 25” long, and Milwaukee says two units fit side by side in a Knaack 89 piano style gangbox. The charger mounts with magnets, a cleat or keyholes, on a shelf, under a shelf or on the front of one.
Shelf mounting brackets, model 49-16-1804, are sold separately and suit Crescent JOBOX piano style shelves. The charger carries a 5 year warranty.
How much does it cost in Canada and the US?
The US press page lists $299.00 and Pro Tool Reviews lists $329, so check the current price at a dealer before you plan a purchase. The Canadian product page on milwaukeetool.ca shows no price in CAD and no availability date, only a Where To Buy link. Canadian pricing has not been announced.
Who it suits
- Crews with a service van or gangbox: one wall of the box becomes the charging station, with light for finding parts at night. Confirm your box is wide enough for the 25” bay layout.
- Shop and fleet managers: two units side by side can keep a stack of M18 and M12 batteries rotating, but remember each side charges one battery at a time.
- Homeowners and small shops: the price and size are aimed at commercial job sites, so a smaller multi bay charger may fit better.
- Anyone on both M12 and M18: the hybrid bays save carrying two chargers.
You also need a nearby AC outlet, since the charger is mains powered only.
Open the product page on milwaukeetool.ca and use Where To Buy to see which Canadian dealers list the 48-59-1804 and at what price.
