Everything people ask us most, in plain English. Can’t find your answer? Get in touch and a real person will reply.
What ZED gear actually does
What does a ZED 12V adapter do?
It clips onto a cordless tool battery you already own and turns it into a regulated 12V power supply, so you can run a fridge, lights, fans, pumps, chargers or a Starlink Mini off it. No second battery, no power station, no generator.
Is a ZED adapter the same thing as a “volt dropper”?
Volt dropper is the common Australian nickname for a device that turns an 18V tool battery into 12V power, so yes, that’s the category. ZED units are properly regulated converters that hold a steady 13.5V output rather than just dropping voltage, with genuine Anderson plugs and internal protection.
Which tool batteries do ZED adapters fit?
Makita LXT, Milwaukee M18 and DeWALT XR/FlexVolt 18V/20V. Each adapter is built for one battery brand, so choose your brand at checkout to match your tools.
What’s the difference between the Middle Man, Power Plate and Battle Station?
The Middle Man is the portable all-rounder: 10A output, takes two batteries, has vehicle bypass and packs into a carry bag. The Power Plate is 5A with a built-in LED flood light and tool-free clamps, and the Battle Station is the 5A bolt-in fixed-mount option.
Do you make adapters for Ryobi, Bosch or Ozito?
Not at this stage. We build for the tradesman-grade platforms — Makita LXT, Milwaukee M18 and DeWALT XR/FlexVolt — because those packs are the ones people already own a shelf of.
Batteries and battery protection
Will a ZED adapter damage my tool batteries?
No. ZED adapters are designed from the ground up to work safely with modern tool packs, with internal fusing and protection against over-current, short circuit and over-temperature. Cheap adapters are the ones that cause trouble, usually by continuing to draw current after they should have cut off.
Which ZED adapters have the Smart Low Voltage Disconnect?
The ZED Smart LVD is fitted to our Milwaukee and DeWALT adapters. It cuts power before the pack over-discharges, then idles at ultra-low draw. Makita packs have their own internal disconnect built in, so ZED Makita adapters rely on that rather than duplicating it.
Do ZED adapters charge my tool batteries?
No. They draw power from the battery to run your 12V gear. Vehicle bypass and solar connections share or switch the power source, but neither recharges the tool battery.
Do I get a battery or a fridge with my kit?
No. ZED adapters and kits don’t include tool batteries or fridges — the whole point is that they use the batteries you already own. Check each product page for exactly what’s in the box.
Runtime and what you can run
How long will a 12V fridge run on a tool battery?
Roughly 8 to 12 hours from a single 5Ah or 6Ah pack in mild weather, and about 24 hours from two 6Ah packs in a Middle Man — that figure came off our own bench test with a 32L Engel set to 4°C in 26°C shade. For your exact battery and fridge, run the numbers through our free 12V fridge runtime calculator.
What can I run off a ZED adapter?
12V fridges, LED lights, fans, water pumps, phone and tablet charging, and a Starlink Mini. The Middle Man handles up to 10A, the Power Plate and Battle Station up to 5A; anything that needs 240V mains still needs an inverter.
Can I run two things at once, or add solar?
Yes. An Anderson splitter cable lets you run two devices, or combine a load with a regulated solar panel so the solar shares the work. Stay within the adapter’s output rating and the splitter’s 20A combined rating. Solar shares the load, it doesn’t charge the tool battery.
Can I run gear straight off my vehicle?
The Middle Man has a vehicle-bypass mode. Plug it into an ignition-isolated 12V cigarette socket with the Anderson-to-male-cigarette cable and it runs off vehicle power while you drive, then falls back to the tool battery when the engine’s off.
Starlink
Can I run a Starlink Mini off a tool battery?
Yes. The Starlink Mini runs on 12V with no inverter needed, so any ZED adapter plus our Starlink Mini to Anderson cable will do it. Expect roughly 2 to 4 hours per 5Ah or 6Ah battery depending on location, weather and snow-melt settings.
Which Starlink cable length should I get?
The 1m, if you’re running off a ZED tool-battery adapter. It sounds backwards, but the short run is what keeps voltage above the 13.3V the Mini needs under load — longer cables drop volts and cause dropouts. The 2m and 3m suit 24V vehicle and solar setups with more headroom.
Tinnie Tamer
What is the Tinnie Tamer?
A stackable aluminium can tray that locks 15 standard 375ml cans in their own spots inside a fridge or esky, or 30 with a second tray stacked on top. It stops cans rolling, rattling and fizzing up, and spaces them so they cool faster. Designed and built in Far North Queensland with BTA Industries.
Will the Tinnie Tamer fit my fridge or esky?
Each tray is 345mm (L) × 220mm (W) × 55mm (H). It’s optimised for Engel fridges and fits most upright fridges, chest fridges, fridge drawers and eskies — measure your interior against those dimensions before ordering to be sure.
How they’re built
Are ZED products really made in Australia?
Designed and assembled in Queensland, and quality-checked here before they ship. We name our fabrication and supply partners on our About Us page rather than leaving it as a vague claim.
Are the housings 3D printed?
No. ZED housings are professionally manufactured from high-grade polycarbonate, not run off a desktop 3D printer. That’s what gives you a housing that locks onto the battery properly and survives being dropped.
Are they tough enough for the worksite and the 4WD?
That’s what they’re built for: thick polycarbonate rather than brittle ABS, stainless hardware, genuine Anderson plugs and six internal protection mechanisms, tested in Australian heat, dust and vibration. They’re not submersible though, so keep the electronics out of standing water.
Do you use genuine Anderson plugs?
Yes. Where an Anderson-style connector is used, it’s a genuine Anderson plug with soldered terminals — never a look-alike.
Ordering, delivery and warranty
What does shipping cost and how fast do you dispatch?
Shipping is free to Australia and New Zealand. Battery adapters go Express with Australia Post and accessories go standard, and we aim to dispatch within 1 to 2 business days with tracking emailed to you. We ship worldwide, with international rates calculated at checkout.
What’s your warranty and returns policy?
Every ZED product carries a 12-month limited warranty from delivery, on top of your Australian Consumer Law rights. Changed your mind? Send it back unused within 30 days and we’ll refund the product price once it’s inspected — you cover return postage. If it’s genuinely faulty we cover an Australian return label and sort a repair, replacement or refund.
What payment methods do you accept?
All major credit and debit cards, plus Shop Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal and Afterpay.
Do you have a retail store?
No, ZED is online only. Everything is designed and assembled in Queensland and shipped direct from zedsupplies.com.