DeWalt's DCB094K Turns Tool Batteries Into 100W Laptop Chargers

DeWalt rates its new DCB094K USB Charging Kit's USB-C port at 100 watts in both directions, letting a tool battery charge a laptop with no outlet in sight. The kit, which Runnings lists at $119, converts the energy already sitting in garage battery packs into power for phones, tablets and computers.

The core device is the DCB094 adapter, which clicks onto a DeWalt battery and offers both USB-C and a USB-A port rated at up to 12 watts. The USB-C connection is the one intended for laptops, though DeWalt's documentation urges buyers to check a computer's charging requirements first: a USB-C socket on a laptop does not guarantee it accepts charging through it, and the adapter is not a universal substitute for every power brick.

What makes the adapter unusual?

Power travels both ways. The bidirectional USB-C port can recharge a DeWalt battery from a suitable USB power supply, eliminating the need for a dedicated tool-battery charging dock when a compatible USB charger is on hand. For users who move between DIY projects and laptop work, that return trip is the product's strongest argument — stored energy becomes available to something besides the tool it normally powers.

What do buyers get for $119?

The kit ships with:

• The DCB094 adapter
• A 65-watt wall supply
• A 100-watt-rated USB cable
• A metal belt hook

No battery is included. That omission shapes the purchase decision. Anyone buying a battery as well pays for an entire setup when the actual need might simply be keeping a phone charged, which makes the kit far easier to justify for owners who already have compatible packs on hand.

The headline specification also deserves scrutiny. The port accepts 100 watts, but the bundled wall charger delivers only 65. The adapter's maximum capability and the supplied charger's output are different numbers, and the included charger cannot deliver a 100-watt input simply because the port allows it.

Which batteries work, and what are the limits?

DeWalt lists compatibility with its 20V MAX and FLEXVOLT batteries. The housing stays in character: yellow-and-black plastic with ventilation slots and a belt hook, sitting on the battery like a smaller piece of power-tool equipment rather than a disguised desk accessory. In product photographs, the attached battery still accounts for much of the assembly's bulk.

Two design choices ask for attention. The indicator LEDs report charging activity for the DeWalt battery only — DeWalt's manual states they will not illuminate while charging personal devices, so users must check the receiving device to confirm it is drawing power. The manual also instructs owners to keep the charger out of rain and snow, provide a dry location outdoors, and detach the battery when the adapter is idle to avoid draining the pack in storage.

At $119, the DCB094K is a considered accessory purchase rather than an automatic cart addition. For contractors and DIY users who already own spare 20V MAX or FLEXVOLT packs, the useful question is how often those existing batteries could cover a charging need away from an outlet — and whether the two-way charging justifies adding a connection to equipment they already own.

By Marcus Bennett