AL 500 and AL 501: What’s the Difference?

What is the difference between the Stihl AL 500 and the Stihl AL 501 High-Speed Charger?
When you’re running a busy workshop or managing on-site power tools, every minute counts—and that means having the right high-speed battery charger. At A-Z Hire, your trusted tool hire in Dublin and Stihl Authorised dealer and service centre, we know that choosing between the Stihl AL 500 High-Speed Charger and AL 501 High-Speed Charger can be confusing. This deep-dive blog breaks down exactly how they compare—so you can maximise uptime, protect your batteries, and stay ahead of the competition.

1. Charging Performance: Same Core Speed for AK/AP Batteries

Both the AL 500 and AL 501 deliver a 12 A charging current, meaning:

  • Identical “speed to 80 %/100 %” on all AK- and AP-system batteries (e.g. AK 20, AP 200, AP 300 S).

  • Rapid charging and fast recharge times for your most-used handheld tools, keeping crews powered up and projects moving.

  • Advanced battery management system ensures battery health and longer cycle life.

Why it matters for A-Z Hire: When customers book tools from our tool hire in Dublin, they expect quick battery swaps. Either charger will recharge your Li-Ion battery packs just as fast—no downtime.

2. Electrical & Physical Specs: Almost a Tie

Specification AL 500 AL 501
Input Voltage 230 V AC 230 V AC
Input Current 2.6 A 2.6 A
Power Consumption 570 W 570 W
Frequency 50 Hz 50 Hz
Weight ≈ 1.3 kg ≈ 1.3 kg
IP Rating IP20 – splash resistant IP20 – splash resistant

Both units are equally lightweight and energy-efficient, making them ideal for mobile van setups or busy workshops at A-Z Hire, your expert Stihl Authorised dealer and service centre in Dublin.

3. Charging Times: Big Batteries, Small Differences

Where you’ll notice the split is on large-capacity backpack batteries (AR series):

Battery Model AL 500 (80 % / 100 %) AL 501 (80 % / 100 %)
AP 200 30 min / 45 min 30 min / 45 min
AP 300 S 30 min / 45 min 30 min / 45 min
AP 500 S 40 min / 55 min 40 min / 55 min
AR 2000 L 110 min / 150 min 120 min / 160 min
AR 3000 L 170 min / 220 min 180 min / 230 min

AL 500 advantage:
Charges AR 2000 L and AR 3000 L about 10 minutes faster at both 80 % and full—ideal for high-throughput sites.

4. Advanced Features: Convenience vs. Raw Speed

Feature AL 500 AL 501
Charging Algorithm Single-stage CC Two-stage (CC → CV) for gentle charge
Auto Shut-Off No Yes
Cable Management No dedicated tie Built-in Velcro cable tie
Mounting Options Desktop-only Wall-mount slot
Thermal Management Cooling fan + LED status Integrated thermal cut-off + status LEDs
Over-load Protection Via charger-battery communication Via charger electronics
Energy-Efficient Design – Power-saving standby mode

  • AL 501 for workshops & vans: The two-stage charging and auto shut-off protect battery health, while neat cable-tie and wall-mount options keep your workspace organised.

  • AL 500 for high-throughput sites: The simpler design focuses on rapid recharge and shaving crucial minutes off heavy loads of AR batteries.

5. Which Charger Suits Your Workflow?

  1. Multi-Tool Rental Fleet

    • You cycle AK/AP batteries all day: Either charger works.

    • Need tidy van storage? Lean toward AL 501 for cable management.

  2. Landscaping & Site Crews

    • You run AR 2000 L or AR 3000 L backpacks back-to-back: AL 500 for the fastest turnarounds.

    • Don’t sacrifice speed on big jobs—get crews back in action sooner.

  3. Service Centre & Workshop

    • Prioritise battery longevity and safe charging: AL 501 delivers constant-voltage finish and auto shut-off.

    • Neat cable management and wall mounting streamline your workspace.

Key Takeaways

  • Core Speed: Both deliver 12 A for identical AK/AP battery recharge rates.

  • Big Battery Performance: AL 500 is ~10 min faster on AR 2000 L & AR 3000 L.

  • Advanced Features: AL 501 adds two-stage charging, auto shut-off, cable management, and wall-mount.

  • Semantic Keywords Covered: high-speed charger, rapid charging, battery management system, Li-Ion battery, charging algorithm, thermal management.

  • Choose by Workflow: Pick AL 500 for high-throughput sites; AL 501 for workshop safety and convenience.

Any Stihl Queries contact gavin@azhire.ie