Dewalt has upgraded their DCF840 cordless impact driver kit with a 2Ah battery.
The Dewalt DCF840 is a 20V Max impact driver with brushless motor, compact size, and 1700 in-lbs max torque.
It lacks some of the premium features of the excellent Atomic series DCF850 impact driver and DCF845 impact driver that shares a similar design and size.
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In my opinion, the DCF840 is underrated. It’s a fantastic impact, but I always felt its kit configuration could be better.
The DCF840 has been available in a promo-priced kit for several seasons now, DCF840C2, which is bundled with a charger, tool bag, and 2x 1.5Ah (or 1.3AH?) batteries.
Lowe’s has this kit at its typical seasonal sale price of $99 right now.
The only negative about this kit is its batteries. When I bought the kit, I kept the impact and gave away the batteries. I generally don’t keep 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah batteries – I donate them, whether purchased as part of a kit or received with review samples.
Except for Dewalt’s super-compact PowerStack battery, I generally don’t like to use batteries with less than 2Ah of charge capacity.
Now, Dewalt upgraded the DCF840 to be bundled with a 2Ah battery in this new kit, DCF840D1.
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Dewalt has done similar with their new 20V Max Atomic drill and impact driver kits earlier this year. With the Atomic series, those new kits are shipping with “new “D1” battery configurations – a single 2Ah battery. As with the DCF840, the older Atomic tool kits shipped with “C2” battery configurations – two 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah batteries.
Dewalt also recently updated their Atomic series impact driver kit to match – DCF809D1. That makes sense; if the new Atomic drills are now kitted with a 2Ah battery, the impact from the same line was bound to receive the same treatment.
The Atomic impact kit received more of an upgrade, as a single kitted 2Ah battery replaced a single kitted 1.3Ah/1.5Ah battery. For the new Atomic drill kits, a single kitted 2Ah replaced 2x 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah batteries that the outgoing models were bundled with.
In case you’re wondering, I prefer the DCF840 impact discussed here over the Atomic series DC809 impact.
When the new Atomic cordless drills were announced, I asked Dewalt about the battery change. They said:
Through our research, we have concluded that users preferred the DCB203 battery over the 1.3Ah, which is why we decided to kit with the DCB203. We want to offer our users different options in this category that bring value at multiple price points.
Indeed, I would rather buy a kit with 1x 2Ah battery than 2x 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah batteries. Dewalt’s official rationale for why they bundled the new Atomic drill and impact driver kits with a single 2Ah battery perfectly aligns with this.
However, there are definitely strategic reasons why the brand could have continued to offer these kits with two batteries.
Thinking aloud, could this potentially be a cost-cutting measure, at least in part?
Two 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah batteries each with 5x Li-ion battery cells, a battery management circuit board, tool contacts, and a plastic housing, might cost more than a single battery with 2Ah cells.
Maybe we’re starting to see shortages or higher prices for 18650 cylindrical-style Li-ion battery cells? A few years ago, when 21700-sized cells were emerging, a cordless power tool battery engineer told me that we are bound to see changes in 18650 battery cell pricing or availability as 21700 cells increase in popularity. Could that have now come true?
Regardless as to the reason, I’m glad to see the change.
Conventionally, two batteries are better than one, especially when the total charge capacity is higher.
But unless you’re just buying a drill or impact kit, I typically prefer higher capacity batteries. A 2Ah battery is going to last longer than a 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah battery before requiring a break to recharge.
Yes, you can swap two batteries, but like a lot of users I like to equip every tool needed for a project with its own battery.
Once a user expands beyond what’s included in these promotional-priced tool kits, 1.3Ah and 1.5Ah batteries start to lose their utility. My lowest capacity batteries end up relegated to backup status, and I have found over the years that I never use them.
Dewalt PowerStack is the exception, as their 1.7Ah battery provides smaller size and lower weight benefits, and has the muscle to power more demanding tools than the older style 1.3Ah and 1.5Ah battery packs.
In my opinion, this update makes the DCF840D1 kit slightly less perfect for beginner users, and much more appealing to existing or future Dewalt 20V Max cordless power tool users.
I can always buy more batteries, but I don’t like paying for 1.3Ah or 1.5Ah batteries I won’t use.
Most competing cordless power tool brands, such as Milwaukee, Makita, Ridgid, and now Flex, also offer promo drill and impact driver kits bundled with a single battery. I believe that Bosch and Metabo HPT are the only brands that still offer promo kits with 2 starter capacity batteries.
All those thoughts about the context aside, are you getting more or less? You’re getting less – one fewer battery and lower total charge capacity – but I see this as an upgrade.
I’m surprised Dewalt gave the DCF840 kit the same treatment as their Atomic series, but probably should have anticipated it.
The DCF840 is a fantastic impact at $99 (and can sometimes be purchased for less when retailers run coupon promos). It might be the only single speed impact driver I enjoy using.
Price: $99
MM
A feature I really like on my old DCF895 and which is sadly lacking on so many new ones is a trigger aka “push button chuck” to release/eject bits. I greatly prefer the trigger compared to the collar that most tools use these days, so much so that it’s the first thing I look for whenever I hear about a new impact driver.
On an unrelated note, some specs of Milwaukee’s new 2979 impact wrench have leaked, and they make mention of pouch cell batteries under the name “FORGE”. So it looks like Powerstack has some competition coming!
Big Richard
I also saw that and inquired about it the other day. In its torque rating they advertise maximum torque when paired with their new FORGE batteries, which is believed to be the rumored pouch cell battery they have been working on. Still trying to get more info, but they are keeping it pretty hush hush.
DeWalt seemed to use pouch cells to make low-mid capacity batteries more compact, while still offering power levels on par with existing larger cylindrical cell batteries. FLEX went the other way and used pouch cells to make the most powerful batteries possible. Based on the verbiage Milwaukee is using, it sounds like they are going the FLEX route. Their 12.0 HO battery has some weaknesses, so I’m thinking we will see a high capacity FORGE battery, not a little 1.7Ah guy like the OG PowerStack.
Steve
About time for Milwaukee…
Proton
What’s the difference between the push eject button on the 895 and the push eject sleeve on the 887? The 895 was gimmicky and didn’t hold up to extensive use and only difference is that you push the button towards the tool to eject the bit. I you remove the rubber moulding on the 895, you see that it just a regular chuck, and the ring pushes the collar out, like the regular chucks.
895 was good, but I’ve never looked back, and missed it, since moving to 887. Better grip, sleaker chuck and better lighting. The bulky pigsnot on the 895, got in the way more than once.
Big Richard
They also offer it in the E1 kit, with the 1.7Ah PowerStack. It retails for $20 more than the D1 kit ($179 vs $159).
But you are right in that it is underrated.
Stuart
The DCF840D1 kit is $99 at all the linked-to retailers at the time of this posting, possibly as part of post-Father’s Day or July 4th promotions. Whatever the price is next month, I’d expect it to go back to $99 in October or November for the winter holiday season.
My inclination would be to buy the D1 kit at $99 and shop for PowerStack batteries separately.
Amazon (direct) has the 2-pack for $134, 3rd party resellers have it for less.
Big Richard
Agree, 100%, I was just stating that the old C2 kit was not the only way they offered it.
Related, Farm & Fleet has had the OG PowerStacks on clearance for a couple weeks now, $49.88 a pop.
JC
Stuart,
Help me find a good holster for the DeWalt impact driver! There is a bit of a challenge to this because of you use a bigger battery the base weighs more and it just wants to fall out.
Stuart
Some drill holsters and pouches have retention straps, but will still feel imbalanced.
Have you considered using the belt clip?
There are also models with tether straps that wrap around the handle grip, but those seem like they’d be a hassle to hold. e.g. https://www.amazon.com/Spider-Tool-Holster-DUAL-TOOL/dp/B07PPXNWJ2/?tag=toolguyd-20
JR
I’m currently using the belt clip, but it’s not as secure as I would like. The holsters I’ve seen all seem like you have to clip them in or they will fall out.
For the times when you’re on a ladder or scaffold it’s really nice to be able to place it and retrieve it with one hand.
Proton
Use the smallest battery then?
PW
I really dislike the 1.3-1.5AH kit batteries, mostly because they’re missing a key feature – the LED charge gauge! For that reason alone I prefer the 2AH battery in a kit.
Honestly wish they did this years ago, I’m drowning in the small capacity kit batteries that haven’t died yet, but which I can’t just replacing until they do.
Boras
Ordered one through from acme through your link, thank you for demystifying the options and showing the deals.
Stuart
Thank you – I’m glad you found it useful!
Proton
I’ve never even considered buying a drill driver, without speed/force setting capacity. This is just pointless, when you have just one speed and power.
The low setting on my DeWalt drill drivers, are amazing for delicate and precise usage. Soft material or small applications.
Why buy a one speed drill driver, when you have similar drill drivers with different settings.