7 weird issues you possibly can energy with Milwaukee batteries (even when you most likely should not)

Milwaukee batteries are literally fairly versatile. While you would possibly assume they’ll solely run energy instruments, you possibly can truly do an entire lot extra with them. Here are six genuinely odd (but tremendous helpful) issues that you could positively energy with Milwaukee batteries—and one that you simply most likely should not do.

Your laptop computer or Steam Deck can run off a drill battery

The TOP-OFF’s little USB-C port stunned me

You may not notice it, however Milwaukee actually sells a TOP-OFF inverter for its M18 line of batteries that is fairly highly effective. From a single M18 battery, you may get 175W of AC energy, 45W USB-C PD energy, and round 12W of USB-An influence—all usable on the identical time.

This is extraordinarily helpful in so many areas. For occasion, you can use the USB-C Power Delivery port to cost a Steam Deck, because the Steam Deck’s inventory charger can also be 45W.

Or, you can use the AC adapter to cost your MacBook or different laptop computer—as long as the ability draw stayed below 175W to not journey the inner circuitry.

Why use an M18 battery to cost a Steam Deck or laptop computer? Well, you most likely have already got a number of, they’re pretty compact, and you’ll flip one into a conveyable battery to energy no matter you need to plug into it. It appears like a no brainer to me.

It’s constructed for tiny electronics, not simply splicing wire

While Milwaukee already has the M12 soldering iron, it is truly not all that versatile. The M12 soldering iron has a hard and fast temperature and you’ll’t make it hotter or colder. 750°F is what it hits, and it will get there in simply 18 seconds from room temperature.

That’s fairly wonderful, however when you want roughly warmth, the M12 soldering iron simply will not do it for you. However, there are a ton of USB-C-powered soldering irons, just like the TS101 or Pinecil V2 which provide a powerful quantity of choices.

These soldering irons are usually fairly low-cost, so you possibly can simply hold one in your bag so it is all the time prepared if you want it. There is a variety of ideas accessible, adjustable temperature, and even open-source firmware if you wish to mod your soldering iron.

Just plug it into the M18 TOP-OFF’s USB-C port and also you’re off to the races.

A Raspberry Pi can go wherever a drill battery can

Perfect for tasks nowhere close to an outlet

Credit: Patrick Campanale / How-To Geek

While some Raspberry Pi tasks are in a hard and fast location with entry to AC energy, not each mission is that approach. Sometimes you need to construct one thing like a bird-feeder digital camera, climate station, or just power your Pi somewhere that you don’t have access to a wall outlet.

With both the M12 or M18 TOP-OFF adapter, you possibly can simply energy any Raspberry Pi mission the place a drill battery suits. The M12 TOP-OFF adapter solely outputs 15W, so you may use that one for smaller tasks which are run by a Pi Zero 2 W or Pi 4.

However, with the M18 TOP-OFF offering each USB-C and AC energy, it could possibly even run the Pi 5 when you want one thing with extra oomph to it.

So, no matter mission you’ve gotten developing together with your Raspberry Pi, Milwaukee may also help energy it with out plugging into the wall.

Starlink Mini on a jobsite battery is wild

Internet wherever, so long as you packed spares

Credit: SpaceX

Have you ever wanted web when tenting, however did not need to must deliver a full generator or energy station? Well, you can actually power a Starlink Mini utilizing an M18 battery and the TOP-OFF adapter.

This time round, you may have to make use of the AC plug as the Starlink Mini actually needs 65W minimal for energy, and the 45W USB-C PD that the TOP-OFF gives simply is not sufficient.

However, the system actually solely attracts 25-40W on common, which signifies that a 5Ah battery would final round two hours, and a 12Ah battery round 5 to 6 hours.

Brand

Starlink

Range

1,200 sq.ft

Wi-Fi Bands

802.11a/b/g/n/ac

Ethernet Ports

One Ethernet LAN port

MU-MIMO

Dual Band 3 x 3 MU-MIMO

Security

WPA2

Starlink Mini is a compact, moveable package that may simply slot in a backpack, designed to offer high-speed, low-latency web on the go. It features a built-in WiFi router, decrease energy consumption, DC energy enter, and max obtain speeds over 100 Mbps.

Backyard film night time, powered by Milwaukee

A projector is less complicated to run than I anticipated

I do not learn about you, however because the temperature begins to drop and leaves start to fall, I need to be outdoors greater than ever. Once daylight financial savings time ends, and it will get darkish early, there is no higher use of that early darkness than watching a film outdoors below the celebrities.

A M18 battery, once more with the TOP-OFF adapter, can simply power a small portable projector and even just a few audio system to allow you to watch your favourite motion pictures within the nice outside. Some moveable projectors may be powered over USB-C, and others want AC energy, however the TOP-OFF adapter gives each.

Christmas lights with no single extension twine

Just do not count on the inflatables to final all night time

Credit: Govee

Sometimes you need to put Christmas lights the place there merely isn’t any simple method to get energy. Sure, you can run just a few hundred ft of extension cords, however that is not often advisable.

Using the AC port on the M18 TOP-OFF, you possibly can truly energy LED lights for fairly a while. Depending on what number of you string collectively, you would be very more likely to get a number of hours of runtime out of the lights.

Most inflatables additionally draw lower than 175W, so you can use a M18 battery to energy these, too. Just do not count on to get a number of hours out of a battery when operating inflatables.

Regardless of what sort of Christmas or different vacation ornament you may be operating on a M18 battery, simply keep in mind these batteries aren’t waterproof. You’ll need to stick with it off of moist floor and lined to forestall shorting out.

Power Wheels with an M18 pack is an entire factor

This is the place you most likely should not (but additionally actually ought to)

Now, for the a part of this text that I’ve been ready for—Power Wheels.

I haven’t got youngsters but, but when I did, I’d completely be doing this mod. Most Power Wheels are run on 12V batteries. However, you possibly can truly exchange that 12V energy supply with an 18V energy supply with few draw back.

The improve delivers way more velocity than you get from inventory energy sources. However, it does put extra pressure on the motors, gearboxes, and wiring. I positively do not suggest doing this for youthful youngsters, as I’ve seen folks do that mod and it could possibly add a whole lot of energy to the system, which may even let it pop a wheelie.

To do the improve proper, you may want a battery adapter, some wires, and fuses. This is not an improve to take evenly, nevertheless it may add a ton of enjoyable to Power Wheels on your youngsters who can deal with it.

I’ll by no means take a look at my drill batteries the identical approach once more

What as soon as had been used simply to run drills, energy device batteries can now run virtually something you possibly can consider—inside purpose. From a Starlink Mini to Power Wheels, Milwaukee’s compact batteries can energy far more than I assumed they ever may. Here’s to all of the loopy issues that you simply (or I) discover to do with these drill batteries that we’ve mendacity round our homes.