Professional Tool Reviews for Pros

We really like the performance boost the DeWalt 20V Max Power Detect Angle Grinder offers. It's a great option if you're committed to staying on the 20V Max platform and not venturing into FlexVolt. However, the FlexVolt 1-battery kit is just $20 more and offers a lot more power, making it a very tempting upgrade.

DeWalt Power Detect tools get a boost in power when you use a 20V Max 8.0Ah battery instead of other sizes. It’s similar to FlexVolt Advantage tools that get their boost from a FlexVolt pack. We’ve seen similar performance in the two hammer drills from those lines, but what happens on a higher-demand tool? We’re testing the DeWalt 20V Max Power Detect Angle Grinder to find out!

To find out what kind of performance we get from this model, we got out our cutting wheels, flap disks, and grinding wheels and went to town on angle iron, rebar, and well, any scrap metal we could bear down to help us learn the tool.

For comparison, we started with a 5.0Ah battery. The cutting and grinding were confident, but clearly well short of the power we got from the Gen 2 FlexVolt grinder. It was right in line with what we’re used to getting from standard 18V/20V Max grinders.

Switching over to an 8.0Ah battery, the difference was immediately obvious. The grinder’s 9,000 RPMs held at a higher level, making cutting easier and polishing faster. It doesn’t suddenly turn it into a 60V Max grinder, though. In fact, if we’re looking at the general performance tiers of DeWalt’s cordless brushless grinders, it’s in the second of four.

But what about a FlexVolt battery?

We tried it using a 3.0/9.0Ah FlexVolt pack. There was a noticeable difference over the 5.0Ah battery, but we couldn’t tell a difference in power between the FlexVolt and 8.0Ah packs. So if you don’t have any 8.0Ah batteries available, feel free to pop in a FlexVolt battery and get the performance boost.

Stronger than a standard 20V Max brushless grinder, the DeWalt 20V Max Power Detect Angle Grinder tops out at 1350 UWO (unit watts out). The next step up is the FlexVolt Advantage model, boosting the power to 1550 UWO. The Gen 2 FlexVolt model tops the charts at a monster 2300 UWO. It’s a difference you can feel as you move up each level.

We are HUGE fans of DeWalt’s FlexVolt grinder handle. It’s the best out there. The Power Detect goes with a more traditional barrel grip. It’s agreeably slim and the paddle switch gives us plenty of gripping options.

There’s a generous amount of overmold to help secure your grip and add some comfort as well. Despite it not taking the form of our favorite grip, it’s very effective and more comfortable than some of the other cordless units we’ve reviewed.

There are two safety features worth pointing out. The first is an electronic clutch. In the event your wheel binds, the brushless motor stops it spinning in less than 1/10th of a second.

The second is what DeWalt calls E-Switch Protection. If you happen to pop a battery in while you’re holding down the trigger, the motor won’t active. You’ll have to release and reengage it before the tools comes to life. This is a bigger deal on model with a standard on/off switch instead of a paddle switch, but it’s still a nice insurance policy just in case.

Most retailers only sell the Power Detect grinder as a kit with an 8.0Ah battery and charger for $279. It would be nice to have a bare tool option, but considering you need an 8.0Ah battery for the best performance, we can understand why it’s only in a kit right now.

We really like the performance boost the DeWalt 20V Max Power Detect Angle Grinder offers. It’s a great option if you’re committed to staying on the 20V Max platform and not venturing into FlexVolt. However, the FlexVolt 1-battery kit is just $20 more and offers a lot more power, making it a very tempting upgrade.

On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools. Off the clock, his faith and love for his family are his top priorities, and you'll typically find him in the kitchen, on his bike (he's an Ironman), or taking folks out for a day of fishing on Tampa Bay.

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Professional Tool Reviews for Pros