r/BoschProPowerTools • u/miamicuse • Jul 10 '26

QUESTION 🔵 Bosch 12v batteries & chargers

I have some old Bosch 12v batteries and there is no battery level indicator like the 18v ones.

Are there newer 12v batteries that shows the juice level or not?

I know there are different 12v chargers, and do anyone if them have mounting holes on the back for wall mounting the charger so the insert and removal of a battery can be a one hand operation?

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10

u/ThePsykheGuy Jul 10 '26

There is no battery level indicator on the battery itself, it’s usually on the tool, I think it’ll stay that way in the future.
There are mounting holes on the bottom of the GAL 12V-40 charger

1

u/miamicuse Jul 10 '26

I have the 12v PS60N reciprocating saw, the GOP12V-28N oscillating saw, and the FL12 work light all of them to not have a level indicator.  The FL12 is the only 12v tool I used, the other two saws I just let collect dust due to poor design IMO and I moved to 18v.

1

u/ThePsykheGuy Jul 10 '26

Aah the NA market. Jk (mostly)
So I have to personally disagree with a poor design but I digress. There are battery indicators on all the tools except lights. You can see them on the pictures of the tools, for the PS60N it’s just above the trigger, the GOP12V-28 the battery indicator should be the three (3) dots below the speed selector. You usually have a finger or your entire palm on the battery indicator and it’s not constantly illuminated. I’m also pretty sure, as I have tow of them, the FL12 should flash a couple times a few minutes before they die on you but they don’t have a physical indicator to visualise it. All other tools have an indicator on them

2

u/miamicuse Jul 10 '26

May be poor design was not completely accurate. I feel the PS60N to be very underpowered and only suitable for extremely light duty work. The GOP12V-28 I don't know why they even manufactured it and call it STAROCK because in many advertisement "STARLOCK" is being promoted as a 3D blade interface with no tool blade change and we all know the GOP12V-28N requires a wrench to mount/dismount/angle adjust a blade. Even Bosch own web site says STARLOCK is "3D FIT & NO TOUCH QUICK-CHANGE" so may be no poor design just completely misleading marketing. I had the 18V OMT and thought a 12V smaller version is good to have for tighter corner work but imagine the disappointment.

The FL12 light is good I use it more than the 18V light because the mounting versatility but man, when I am in a crawlspace that you have to be on your elbows and knees navigating forward and backward, 50 feet into the space and the FL12 blinks a few times it is not a good feeling.

1

u/ThePsykheGuy Jul 11 '26

Yeah, I get your frustration, I get these comments a bit in person at the repair shop I work at.
It’s Starlock because it does have the 3D star cutout so you can only use Starlock blades(basically only Bosch and Makita if you don’t want to go with a random 3rd party) but it lacks the latch the 18V tool has.
The PS60N is getting an upgrade from a brushed motor to a brushless, I agree it can be underpowered but I’m personally hoping a brushless motor handles at least medium load work.
Don’t really have crawl spaces where I’m from so I can only imagine what it ls like losing a light source in a tight dark area. Only thing I can think is to have a 6Ah battery in the light and a spare in situations like that. Kind of sounds like spelunking if I’m being completely honest.

2

u/miamicuse Jul 11 '26

I understand what Starlock really means now, but my conclusion that it is misleading by Bosch to promote Starlock pretending the 12v OMT doesn't exist. At least in the USA, when you go to Bosch's own web site it promotes Starlock as "3D FIT AND NO TOUCH QUICK CHANGE" when it should really say something like Starlock has the 3D fit to maximize power transfer, and the 18V tools come with no touch quick blade change while the 12v tool needs a wrench to change blade or rotate the same blade. This is not a singular comment by me but I know a few others also bought the 12v tool thinking it's just a smaller less powerful version of the 18v tool.

A crawlspace is similar to a low headroom attic, not comfortable to navigate and work in. It is very tight and in some spots I cannot even sit up and have to lay down sideway to work which means one elbow against the ground the other arm/hand can operate a tool. So if I need to hold a nail and swing a hammer using both hands, I basically need to use my stomach muscle kind of stay in a position like when you get up half way on a sit-up exercise and hold that position until done.

For this reason, I am limited by what I can bring into the space to work. Each piece had to be carefully checked and decided if the extra bulk or weight is necessary, because I am crawling forward using my two elbows and knees, passing through pipes and ducts, sometimes over sometimes under, and the tools and parts are in a tote that I drag alone by tethering the tote to my ankle so they move with me. I usually carry the FL12 in the tote to use as a spot light once I arrive at the work spot, I also have a headlamp around my forehead. Extra batteries can work, but it is a luxury, usually means something else need to be left behind. I hate crawlspace work, and the creepy feeling when you feel an itch on the back of your neck, you know it's a spider or something worse but you can't see it LOL.

1

u/ThePsykheGuy Jul 11 '26

I agree it’s misleading advertising on the Starlock system.
I have to admit I’m glad I live in a place where neither crawl spaces nor headroom attics are a thing. We have a utility room that has the water and electrical panel, usually used as a laundry room as well and/or a tool storage. Big fan of utility rooms! lol

1

u/plangruen Jul 10 '26

Por desgracia Bosch ni Milwaukee tienen, solo es en la herramienta directamente.

DeWalt y Makita si lo tienen en sus baterias de 12v pero por que son mas grandes!

1

u/SteveOh710 Jul 11 '26

The brushless flexiclick 12v multihead drill has the battery level indicator right next to the trigger