The Festool 18V Starter Kit - 2 TBX 8 Batteries + SCA 16 Charger (578903) is a battery-and-charger bundle built to get a new Festool 18V cordless tool running the same day it shows up. This is an 18V battery starter kit designed for contractors and serious DIYers who are setting up a Festool cordless system for the first time — or adding capacity to one they already have — and want runtime and a fast charger in a single purchase instead of piecing them together separately. Model number 578903 pairs two 8.0Ah TBX 8 tabless battery packs with the SCA 16 Rapid Charger.

The batteries are the core of the value here. Each TBX 8 pack holds 8.0Ah at 18V, and the tabless cell construction inside them reduces internal resistance and heat compared to older tabbed-cell designs. In practice that means the battery holds its power output more consistently as it works through a demanding task, runs cooler under sustained draw, and lasts longer over its service life — all without changing how you use the tool. That matters most on high-draw tools like track saws, routers, and rotary hammers, where a battery that sags or overheats mid-cut costs you time.

The SCA 16 Rapid Charger is the other half of the kit, and it's built to keep pace with two batteries in rotation. It charges at up to 16 amps and uses AIRSTREAM active cooling to bring the battery's temperature down before and during charging, which is what allows it to get a depleted TBX 8 pack back to ready in as little as 25 minutes rather than the longer cycle times you'd get from a standard charger. Running on a 120V outlet, it's built for exactly the kind of job or shop setup most people already have.

Bluetooth connectivity adds a real jobsite convenience: pair the batteries with a CLEANTEC dust extractor and the extractor starts automatically the instant you switch on a compatible tool, then shuts off a few seconds after you stop — no remote, no extra cord, no separate switch to flip. The Festool app also lets you check charge level, battery temperature, and usage history on your phone, so you know which pack to grab before you're mid-task and running low.

System compatibility is broad by design — this kit is built for all applications and all 18V Festool tools, with a short list of exceptions: the ETSC 125 sander, RTSC 400 sander, DTSC 400 sander, and CTC SYS dust extractor, which use different power formats. For everything else in the Festool 18V lineup, these batteries and this charger are a direct fit.

Buy this kit if you're buying your first Festool 18V tool as a bare tool and need power day one, or if you're already running a Festool 18V system and want a second set of batteries with a charger that can keep up with them. If you only need a single battery or already own an SCA-series charger, look at individual battery packs instead — this kit earns its price when you need both pieces at once.

The Fastest Way to Get a New Festool Tool Running

The Festool 18V Starter Kit takes the guesswork out of outfitting a new cordless tool by bundling two high-capacity batteries with a charger fast enough to keep up with them.

• Who it's for: Anyone buying a bare Festool 18V tool who needs power and a charger on day one, or an existing Festool user adding a second set of batteries to their kit.
• Why it stands out: Tabless cell batteries plus a 16A rapid charger with AIRSTREAM cooling means less time waiting on a charge and more consistent power output while you're using the tool.
• Worth knowing: This is batteries and a charger only — no tool is included, so make sure you're pairing it with a tool purchase or an existing bare-tool buy.

• Does this kit include a tool? No. It includes two 8.0Ah TBX 8 batteries and the SCA 16 Rapid Charger only.
• Which tools is this kit NOT compatible with? The ETSC 125, RTSC 400, and DTSC 400 sanders and the CTC SYS dust extractor use different power formats and aren't compatible with these batteries.
• How fast does the charger recharge a battery? With AIRSTREAM active cooling, the SCA 16 can bring a TBX 8 pack back to ready in as little as 25 minutes.
• Can this kit start my dust extractor automatically? Yes — if you're running a Festool CLEANTEC dust extractor, Bluetooth pairing switches it on automatically when your tool powers on.