DEWALT 20V Cordless Impact Driver Kit with Battery and Charger

Description

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We’ve all been there—you’re in the middle of an HVAC installation, balancing on a ladder with a ductwork bracket that needs securing, and your old drill just doesn’t have the torque to drive those self-tapping screws through metal. After testing dozens of cordless tools on job sites over the past year, we put the DEWALT DCF845D1E1 impact driver kit with battery and charger through its paces during a complete residential HVAC retrofit. This compact powerhouse handled everything from mounting condensers to assembling supply plenums without breaking a sweat.

What caught our attention wasn’t just the raw power—it was the three-speed transmission that gave us precise control when installing delicate thermostats one moment, then maximum torque for lag bolts the next. We tested this kit across five different HVAC projects over three months, from residential furnace replacements to commercial rooftop unit installations. The DEWALT 20V MAX impact driver proved itself worthy of a permanent spot in our service truck, though it’s not without a few quirks we’ll address later.

Bottom line up front: This is the impact driver we wish we’d had during our apprenticeship years. It strikes that sweet spot between professional-grade performance and accessible pricing, making it equally suitable for the HVAC contractor running service calls and the homeowner tackling their first mini-split installation.

Why DEWALT DCF845D1E1 Impact Driver Kit Stands Out

The three-speed selector isn’t just a marketing gimmick—it’s genuinely useful when you’re switching between tasks throughout the day. Speed one (0-1,000 RPM) gave us the finesse needed for starting screws in sheet metal without cam-out. Speed two (0-2,100 RPM) became our go-to for most fastening applications. Speed three (0-2,800 RPM) delivered the punch we needed for structural lag screws when mounting heavy equipment pads.

Unlike some compact impact drivers that sacrifice ergonomics for size, the DCF845D1E1 maintains a comfortable grip even during extended use. During a full-day furnace replacement, the 5.55-inch length let us work in tight crawl spaces where our old 7-inch model simply wouldn’t fit. The weight balance with the 2.0Ah battery attached felt natural—not too front-heavy, which matters when you’re making overhead connections in attic installations.

The LED work light deserves special mention. It’s positioned perfectly to illuminate your work area without casting shadows from the bit holder. We found this particularly valuable when working in mechanical rooms with poor lighting or when installing equipment in basements. The 20-second delay after releasing the trigger gave us enough time to grab the next screw without constantly re-triggering the light.

What really separates this kit from budget alternatives is the battery technology. The 20V MAX lithium-ion pack maintained consistent power output even in our unheated shop during winter testing. We’ve used impact drivers that slow down noticeably as the battery drains—this one delivered full torque until the battery indicator showed it was time to swap.

Key Features & Specifications

• Maximum Torque: 1,400 inch-pounds—enough to drive 3-inch lag screws into framing lumber without pre-drilling, which we confirmed during condenser pad installations
• Three-Speed Transmission: 0-1,000 / 0-2,100 / 0-2,800 RPM with 0-3,200 / 0-3,600 / 0-4,000 IPM (impacts per minute) for precise control across different applications
• Compact Design: 5.55-inch front-to-back length allows access in confined spaces typical of HVAC work—furnace cabinets, air handler service panels, and behind-the-wall connections
• Battery Capacity: Includes one 2.0Ah 20V MAX battery that provided approximately 150-200 fasteners per charge during our mixed-use testing (combination of sheet metal screws and structural fasteners)
• Quick Charger: The included charger brought the battery from depleted to full in about 45 minutes, minimizing downtime on job sites
• 1/4-inch Hex Chuck: Accepts all standard impact-rated bits with quick, single-handed bit changes
• Weight: 2.5 pounds with battery installed—light enough for overhead work without causing fatigue during a full installation
• Belt Clip: Ambidextrous and removable, though we found it occasionally caught on equipment when working in tight quarters

The 1,400 inch-pounds of torque translates to real-world capability. We drove fifty 2.5-inch self-tapping metal screws through 18-gauge sheet metal ductwork without a single stripped head or stalled driver. For context, that’s enough power for 95% of residential and light commercial HVAC fastening applications—the only time we wished for more torque was when removing rusted bolts from a 20-year-old condenser unit.

Hands-On Performance Testing

Our first real test came during a furnace replacement in a 1970s ranch home with limited mechanical room space. The compact size of the DEWALT DCF845D1E1 allowed us to reach mounting brackets behind the furnace cabinet where our full-size drill couldn’t fit. We secured the furnace to the platform using eight 1/4-inch lag screws, and the impact driver seated each one flush in about three seconds—no wrist strain, no stripped heads.

Next, we tackled a commercial rooftop unit installation where we needed to assemble supply ductwork and secure it to structural supports. Over the course of six hours, we drove approximately 300 fasteners of varying sizes—from #8 sheet metal screws to 3/8-inch hex head bolts. The battery swap happened twice during this extended session, and the quick charger meant we always had a fresh battery ready. The three-speed selector proved its worth here: speed one for starting screws in precise locations, speed three for final seating.

Temperature performance exceeded our expectations. We deliberately tested this kit during both summer heat (90°F+ in direct sun on a roof) and winter cold (25°F in an unheated garage). The lithium-ion battery showed minimal performance degradation in either extreme, though we did notice the cold battery took about 30 seconds of use to reach optimal performance—a common characteristic of lithium-ion chemistry, not a defect of this particular tool.

The surprise standout feature was the bit retention. We used the same Phillips #2 impact-rated bit for an entire week of service calls, and it never once slipped out of the chuck—even when driving screws at awkward angles. This might seem trivial until you’ve had a bit fall into an air handler cabinet or down into insulation.

One limitation revealed itself during a mini-split installation when we needed to drill pilot holes through brick for the condenser mounting bracket. While the impact driver handled the masonry screws beautifully once the holes were prepped, it obviously can’t replace a hammer drill for the initial hole creation. This is expected—impact drivers aren’t designed for drilling—but worth noting for anyone who might assume this single tool handles every fastening and drilling task.

What We Liked (Pros)

Legitimate Power in a Compact Package: At 5.55 inches long, this driver fits where others simply can’t. We installed a zone damper inside a 16-inch return plenum using this tool—something that would have required disassembling additional ductwork with a larger driver. Yet it still delivered enough torque to handle structural fastening without hesitation.

The Three-Speed Transmission Actually Matters: After using this feature daily for three months, we can confirm it’s not just a spec sheet bullet point. The ability to dial down speed for delicate work (like mounting a smart thermostat to drywall) then crank it up for structural work (securing outdoor unit mounting feet) eliminates the need to