Protool PDC 18-4 Compact

[DB10]

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Anyone own or know much about one of these, apart from the non Centrotec system,  and the tiny batteries the technical data seems the same as the latest Festool PDC. Any other difference between this and the latest?
I picked it up on a deal, comes with 2x 1.5Ah batteries, Never had an 18v running on 1.5 batteries before, always thought they'd be a bit lame. I have a load of 4.2Ah Festool batteries I can use if need be. Drill is made in Czech Repub everything else in Germany. I shall see how it compares to the Makita DHP481.

 

[sae]

1.5Ah should only affect the runtime, not the power output (at least to start, voltage will drop quicker than your 4.2Ah but not as significantly as older battery technologies). Good thing you have those Festool batteries to back it up.

I had the DHP481 for a brief moment (known as the XPH07 in the US) before I bought my Metabo. It is a BEAST, in size and power. If that's your basis of comparison, I think you'll be disappointed in the power, but the PDC is also almost a kg lighter.

 

[wow]

See this thread from October 2012:

http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-sales-dealer-area/uk-new-protool-pdc-18-4-compact-cordless-in-stock!/

Warren posted:
"From first glance in the SYS 1 T-Loc Systainer, you have 2x 1.5Ah batteries, a smaller more compact charger unit and the machine itself.

Where does it differ from 'The Boss' PDC? Well the positives are that it has the 4 speed gearbox, with the same maximum speed of 3800 rpm, a favourite with all the customers of the original PDC. It has a light, a little smaller but mounted on the base just above the battery which I think works really well. The negatives are there is no Centrotec and the batteries are 1.5Ah, but remember this is a brushless motor so runtime should be pretty good nevertheless?

The big news is that they are around £150 + VAT less than 'The Boss' PDC, so maybe when comparing to non FESTOOL/PROTOOLs this machine can find a home in many more tool collections?"

 

[DB10]

Ok, Quick update. I was never quite 100%% with this brushless model of Makita drill and I didn't want to go down the Centrotec route just yet and thought that the Protool PDC using my 4.2 battery's would be an efficient work horse
      I carried out numerious tests between the PDC and the Makita, none of them scientific just carrying out every day tasks, using some Irwin speedbor's some drill bits and then driving some screws of various sizes, Makita had a charged 5amp bat the PDC had a 4.2 fully charged. What was Interesting was that on the speed test, this involved my boy with a stop watch, that the PDC was notably quicker in all of the above tasks, also lighter to use than that beast of a Makita. Chuck wobble on the Makita was also alot more noticeable compared to the PDC
  So my conclusion is that the PDC is more than capable of becoming a replacement to the Makita .  Ive got a buyer for the Makita all lined up, the only thing I will miss is those 5amp battery's when using my Recip saw.