We get asked a lot of questions about Bosch batteries and especially about compatibility. Below we explain exactly what you need to know about Bosch batteries and chargers for their cordless power tool range of products.
There are two distinct ranges, depending on your needs and they are called "the home and garden range" or the Professional range". We will cover both in this article.
As a rule of thumb, it's always best to go with the highest power battery you can afford. You get all the power you need and they last the longest. I also prefer to have two batteries as one can be on charge while you are using the other one.
What Battery Voltage Sizes do Bosch Have?
Bosch make tools with the following battery voltage sizes:
- 10.8 / 12 Volts
- 18 Volts
- 36 Volt
These batteries can range from 2Ah right up to 12Ah so there is quite a bit of choice. The most popular and best selling, by a huge distance is the home and garden 18V option, though most tradesmen will use the professional range of battery.
Bosch 18V Range of Home and Garden Batteries
PBA 18V 6.0Ah W-C
- Part of the home and garden range
- The battery PBA 18 v 6Ah – maximum life and power
- Maximum power and 140% more life CO to your 2, 5 ah battery, innovative cell technology
- Lightweight and compact Battery with a lightweight design By 0.6 Kg
- Soft grip makes the battery especially ergonomically
- Box contents: PBA 18 v, 3.0 Ah, card
- Compatible with: AL1810 CV, AL1815 CV, AL 1830 CV, AL 1880 CV/Not compatible with: AL 2204 CV, AL 2215 CV
94% buyer satisfaction based on 700+ reviews
PBA 18V 4.0Ah PowerPlus
96% buyer satisfaction based on 7,000+ reviews
PBA 18V 2.5Ah W-B
- Part of the home and garden range
- Longer runtime thanks to 2.5 Ah battery capacity
- No memory effect, no self-discharge – always ready to use thanks to lithium-ion technology
- Particularly long life due to Bosch Electronic Cell Protection (ECP)
- Power for ALL: The battery can be flexibly combined with all tools in the Power for ALL 18 volt system from Bosch
- Compact and robust design with easy-to-operate unlocking mechanism
- Compatible with: AL1810 CV, AL1815 CV, AL 1830 CV, AL 1880 CV/Not compatible with: AL 2204 CV, AL 2215 CV
95% buyer satisfaction based on 3,500+ reviews
Bosch Home and Garden Charger AL 1830 CV 18 Volt
- Part of the home and garden range
- Compatible with all Home & Garden 14.4/18V batteries, and all battery capacities (Ah)
- "Ready to Go" signal indicates that the battery is ready to use (80% charged) e.g. 2.5 Ah battery is ready to use after 40 minutes (80% charged)
- Intelligent, gentle charging process leads to long battery lifetime
- One battery fits all – suitable for all Home & Garden tools in the "Power for ALL" 18V cordless systems
92% buyer satisfaction based on 1,000+ reviews
Bosch 36V Range of Batteries
GBA 36V 2.0Ah
- 18 Volts Lithium-Ion battery 2Ah
- Color: Navy Blue
- Min. 50% longer runtime (cf. 1.3 Ah battery)
- CoolPack technology for up to 100% longer lifetime (cf. battery without CoolPack)
- Bosch flexible power system – battery suitable for all tools in one voltage class
88% buyer satisfaction based on 150+ reviews
GBA 36V 4.0Ah
- 36 Volts 4Ah Lithium-Ion battery
- Min. 50% longer mileage (see 2,6–Ah battery)
- Bosch flexible Power System-Battery Suitable for all devices of a volt class
- CoolPack technology for up to 100% longer life (see without Battery Pack)
- Extremely robust-fully functional, even after falling from 3.28 yrd (3 m) on concrete
94% buyer satisfaction based on 100+ reviews
Bosch AL 3620 CV 36v Cordless Li-ion Battery Charger 240v
- Part of the pro range
- Robust design
- Compatible with all Home & Garden 36V batteries, and all battery capacities (Ah)
- "Ready to Go" signal indicates that the battery is ready to use (80% charged) e.g. 2.5 Ah battery is ready to use after 40 minutes (80% charged)
- Intelligent, gentle charging process leads to long battery lifetime
- One battery fits all – suitable for all Professional range batteries 36V
90% buyer satisfaction based on 100+ reviews
Bosch 12 Volt Battery Range
GBA 12V 2.0AH Battery
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- Color: Black
- Battery Capacity: 2.0 Ah
- Cell Technology: Lithium-Ion
- Battery Voltage: 12v (10.8v)
92% buyer satisfaction based on 4,000+ reviews
GBA 12V 3.0AH Battery
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- Scope of Supply: GBA 12V 3.0Ah
- Voltage: 12.0
- Compact 3.0 Ah battery in the 12 V category
- Compact design is ideal for the 12 V tool range
- Optimised battery capacity makes it suitable for most 12 V applications
- Professional 12V System: Compact performance. Maximum freedom. The tool is Compatible with all Bosch Professional 12 V and 10.8 V rechargeable batteries and Chargers
94% buyer satisfaction based on 1,100+ reviews
GBA 12V 6.0AH Battery
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery
- 50% more runtime CO to existing 12 V 40 Ah
- Bosch flexible power system – 100% compatibility for 108 V & 12 V tools
- Compact and lightweight for easy handling
94% buyer satisfaction based on 500+ reviews
BOSCH AL1115CV Li-ion Standard Battery Charger
- 12 Volts Lithium-Ion battery charger
- GSA 10; GSB 10; GSR 10; Light Series GSR 10; Light Series GWI 10; PSR 10,8 LI-2; PST 10
- Output voltage 3, 6V, 10, 8V
- Charging time 100% or 30 min
- Charging time 70% or 15 min
- The charger is usable for 10.8 V batteries and can be combined with other tools of the family of 10.8 V Bosch Power4All cordless tools
92% buyer satisfaction based on 500+ reviews
Battery Voltage Explained
As you can see Bosch have 12V, 18V and 36V batteries available. Why do manufacturers like thismake different voltage of batteries?
The answer to this gets highly technical and is best explained by scientists.
In the simplest of terms, a battery’s voltage tells you how much power the cell generates in perfect conditions. The voltage signifies the maximum energy potential of a battery.
Higher voltages such as 18V and 20V are required to power heavier use power tools like hedge clippers, impact wrenches, cordless drills etc.
Smaller voltages can operate smaller power tools like cordless screwdrivers, rotary tools and light use drill/drivers.
Those batteries with larger voltage sizes are heavier than smaller voltage batteries and that is always a consideration for manufacturers depending on the actual use of the tool.
Bosch Battery Ampere Hours Explained
Whereas voltage measures the potential energy of a battery, it is the Ah rating (usually 1.0Ah to 6.0AH) that measures the capacity of the battery.
As a general rule, the larger this number, the longer your battery will last for on each charge.
For example a 5.0Ah battery will last much longer than a 1.0Ah battery, but not 5 times as long as there is always a decline.
Where you can afford to, you should always buy the biggest Ah rating that you can afford.
Bosch Lithium-Ion Batteries Explained
For many years power tools were powered by either Nickel Cadmium (NiCD) batteries were used.
After that Nickel Metal Hydride batteries(NiMH) came along and started to replace the older NiCD batteries.
Those two types allowed recharging and also allowed manufacturers to produce and manufacture a range of cordless power tools.
There were however one main problem with these as even when charged, but not being used they would discharge. That meant, when you next cam to use your power tool, the battery had discharged and was flat. You would then have to recharge these, and that could take hours.
Along came Lithium-Ion batteries (Li-Ion) and these have revolutionised the power tool market. The technology used is so much better, and although they also discharge when not in use, they do this very slowly and a charged battery will hold its charge for weeks.
You can also charge these without having to wait until they are completely discharged.