DeWalt 20V to Makita 18V (Ni-Cd) Battery Adapter
$43.00
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DeWalt 20V to Makita 18V (Ni-Cd) Battery Adapter
$43.00
Taxes included.
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Use your DeWalt 20V MAX batteries on Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH cordless tools, without buying into a second battery platform. The molded ABS housing keeps it light and hard-wearing, and pure copper contacts keep current delivery steady. A practical way to extend the value of the DeWalt 20V MAX batteries you already have.
Specifications
- SKU
- PTA-DWM20-MAK18NC
- Fits this battery
- DeWalt 20V MAX (Lithium-Ion)
- Battery voltage
- 20V
- Runs these tools
- Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH (Nickel-Cadmium / Nickel-Metal Hydride)
- Tool voltage
- 18V
- Housing
- ABS (Injected)
- Terminals
- Copper
- Current rating
- 40A continuous (80A peak at 18VDC for up to 2 seconds)
- Internal wiring
- 5 mm²
- Weight
- 112 g (4.0 oz / 0.25 lb)
- Colour
- Black
- Operating humidity
- 5–95% RH
- Operating temperature
- -10 °C to 50 °C (14 °F to 122 °F)
- USB port
- Yes
- What's in the box
- Battery adapter
- Warranty
- 12 months after the date of deliveryMore details
Why choose this adapter
- Injection-moulded ABS, not 3D printed — no layer lines to split under load.
- Solid copper terminals, so less of the current is lost as heat.
- 5 mm² internal wiring, rated for 40A continuous with 80A peak at 18VDC for up to 2 seconds, so a high-draw tool is not held back by the adapter.
- A USB port on the adapter, so the same battery charges a phone on site.
- Covered by a 12-month warranty from the day it arrives.
DeWalt 20V MAX and Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH compatibility
It works in one direction only: DeWalt batteries powering Makita tools. For the opposite pairing, see adapters that run on Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH batteries.
Compatibility can vary with the exact battery and tool model. Before ordering, confirm that your battery belongs to the DeWalt 20V MAX platform and that your tool takes Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH batteries.
Important charging and safety information
This adapter is for powering cordless tools and nothing else. It cannot charge DeWalt or Makita batteries and must never be connected to a charger of any kind. Always take the battery out of the adapter before charging, and charge it on the original charger made for your DeWalt 20V MAX battery.
How it works
-
1. Use the battery you own
Any compatible DeWalt 20V MAX battery you already have.
-
2. Slide on the adapter
It goes where the original Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH battery sits.
-
3. Click in and work
No tools, no wiring, no modifications.
DeWalt 20V MAX to Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH — Common Questions
My battery says 20V. Can it run a tool rated differently?
Yes, and they are closer than the labels suggest. 20V is what a DeWalt 20V MAX battery measures off the charger with no load; 18 V is what it holds in use. Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH tools are built around 18 V. The two numbers describe the same class of battery, which is why the adapter works rather than merely fits.
Will this fit my other DeWalt batteries?
Only DeWalt 20V MAX batteries. DeWalt also sells DeWalt 12V MAX, DeWalt 18V Ni-Cd, and those use a different socket — same brand, different rail and contacts, so they need their own adapter. Compare the rail on your battery with the photos before ordering.
Will my Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH tool run as long on a DeWalt 20V MAX battery?
Runtime comes from the battery, not the adapter — a 5.0Ah DeWalt 20V MAX battery lasts roughly twice as long as a 2.5Ah one, exactly as it would on its own tool. The adapter’s copper terminals and heavy-gauge wiring are there to keep resistive loss low.
Could this damage my DeWalt 20V MAX battery or my Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH tool?
Used with undamaged, compatible equipment it is not expected to. DeWalt 20V MAX batteries are lithium-ion with a protection circuit built into the battery, and it keeps working through the adapter — it stays in the battery and never moves into the adapter. Stop when the tool slows noticeably rather than running the battery flat, and stop using the adapter if it becomes unusually hot or the contacts look damaged.
Can I charge through the adapter?
No, and it should never be attempted. The adapter carries power one way only, out to the Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH tool — there is no charging circuit inside it. Connecting it to a charger puts the battery, the charger and the adapter at risk. Always take the DeWalt 20V MAX battery off the adapter and charge it on its own charger.
Does it work with third-party DeWalt batteries?
Usually. What matters is the socket, not the badge: if the battery slides on and locks the way an original does, the adapter takes it and the Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH tool runs. Aftermarket moulding does vary, so if yours looks unusual send us a photo and we will check before you order.
How much does it add to the Makita 18V Ni-Cd/Ni-MH tool?
112 g (4.0 oz) and a short extension between battery and tool. You notice it overhead or in a tight cabinet; on a drill or driver held normally it disappears.