5 surprisingly useful jobs your Milwaukee batteries have outside the workshop

Published Oct 4, 2026, 10:00 AM EDT Patrick Campanale has been in the tech space for well over a decade, specializing in PC/gaming news and reviews, as well as maker-focused products to build small businesses. With a start in technology back in 2010 surrounding the Palm/webOS ecosystem, Patrick spent his formative years developing mobile applications as well as blogging for various publications, eventually leading to starting his own website in 2014. After running a technology blog for a few years, he stepped out of that role and into the world of high-end custom PC manufacturing and building, with a focus on YouTube video production and overclocking. Then, in 2017, Patrick joined the 9to5Toys team as an editor/writer/reviewer with over 14,000 articles being published during his time there, ranging from deals and roundups to in-depth reviews on the latest technology, video games, 3D printers, and more. In his free time, Patrick loves to create projects from wood using various robots and methods, including leveraging the technologies of CNCs and lasers. If Patrick isn't working on a computer or playing video games, he's likely in his 2-car garage workshop creating something unique. In addition to all this, Patrick is also the media director at his local church where he feels God has called him to serve, and he loves every minute of it. Did you know that you could use your Milwaukee M18 battery to power a fridge on the job site? What about using an M12 battery to stay warm with a powered jacket? Here are five fun things you didn't know you could use your Milwaukee batteries to do. Jump-start your car's dead battery Just grab a fresh M18 battery off the charger first I've definitely been in the situation where my car's battery was dead, and I went to grab my portable jump starter I keep in the house, only to find that it, too, was dead. Thankfully, I have a bigger deep-cycle charger/jump-starter that's plug-in, so I could still get my car started. However, Milwaukee makes an M18-powered jump starter you can simply slide a battery into to jump your vehicle. It's simple, easy to use, and gets the job done. The biggest benefit, for me, is that the jump starter doesn't have to be charged directly. It just uses one of your M18 batteries that already stay charged. Milwaukee M18 HOTSHOT Jump Starter The Milwaukee portable M18 jump starter can get your car running in under 30 seconds, and one M18 battery pack can power up to 70 jump starts. Get one, and be prepared for an emergency. Stay warm in the winter A sleek M12 battery can power your jacket for hours Credit: Milwaukee I have friends with this jacket, and they swear by it in the winter. A heated jacket means you're not just hoping your body produces the heat it needs to stay warm. Instead, the jacket produces the heat. The best part is that you can keep extra M12 batteries on you to just swap them out whenever one dies and throw it back on charge. Milwaukee M12 Cordless TOUGHSHELL Black Heated Jacket If you want to stay warm in the winter, then Milwaukee's M12 TOUGHSHELL heated jacket is up to the task. Powered by an P12 battery, the built-in heated liner keeps you warm no matter the environment. Charge your laptop on the go No separate battery packs required Credit: Milwaukee Continuing the trend of powering things with your Milwaukee batteries, you can actually use them to charge your laptop or phone. Similar to the jump-starter, I hate having to keep portable batteries charged to power my laptop on-the-go. Milwaukee solved that problem with the TOP-OFF charging adapter. It slides onto an M18 battery and gives two USB-C ports — one at 15W and one at 100W. The interesting thing is that the 100W port is bi-directional. This means you can use it to charge your laptop, iPad, iPhone, or anything else USB-C-powered, or you can use a USB-C charger to charge the M18 battery, making it quite versatile. Milwaukee M18 TOP-OFF Charger Milwaukee's M18 TOP-OFF charging adapter is designed to hook up to your M18 battery and give you two USB-C outputs—one at 15W, and one at 100W. The 100W side also allows you to recharge the M18 battery over USB-C. Keep drinks cool on the job site A portable fridge has never been this easy to power Credit: Milwaukee Have you ever wanted to bring a fridge on a road trip, to the lake, or even just to the job site? Well, Milwaukee has you covered. The upcoming M18 30QT Rolling Fridge is designed for just that. It runs on M18 batteries and is capable of reaching temperatures as low as -4°F with no ice required. It has a variable thermostat so you can choose how cold it gets inside this mini refrigerator. This fridge looks like a cooler, but just with built-in cooling. The fully insulated design is said to give up to 24 hours of cooling, and there are 30 quarts of usable space inside. It also has an impact-resistant design and heavy-duty wheels, so it'll withstand tough job-site environments. However, it doesn't just run on M18 batteries. It can also run on an AC plug or a 12V DC vehicle adapter, so you can plug it into the truck on your way to or from the job site, use batteries when there are no power outlets around, and then plug it in when you need it. Really, I see this being a great tool for people to bring on vacations with them, since it can be plugged in inside of the car and run on batteries when no outlet is around. Warm your lunch without a microwave Your lunchbox just got an upgrade Credit: Milwaukee Like the fridge, Milwaukee has a way to heat up your lunch without a microwave. The Jobsite Lunch Warmer is designed to ensure your meal is nice and warm whenever it's time to eat lunch. A stainless steel container holds up to 4.75 cups and has a leakproof lid to prevent spills while traveling. Using a single 5Ah REDLITHIUM XC M18 battery, this unique tool can actually heat up to two meals with one charge. There's even an adjustable heat setting to allow you to choose what temperature your meal is finished to. The entire system is impact-rated and ready for job-site environments. Plus, it's IP54 water- and dust-resistant, ensuring that your meal stays clean and ready to eat no matter the environment. If you're tired of bringing a cold lunch or hunting for a microwave, the Jobsite Lunch Warmer might be the Milwaukee tool you didn't know you needed. Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Lunch Warmer The Milwaukee M18 Jobsite Lunch Warmer is designed to run on an M18 battery and have your lunch warm and ready for you when you need it—no microwave required. Milwaukee is constantly coming out with more unique tools I love seeing a brand continue to innovate like Milwaukee is doing. Of the tools on this list, all are available now except the refrigerator and lunch warmer, which are set to release soon. Hopefully Milwaukee will keep innovating and release more fun, unique products. I can't wait to see what they come up with next.