Rank #6 in Best SDS Drill 2026: 10 Ranked, and Why the Amps Don't Add Up
Scheppach AB1500X 1300W SDS-Max Demolition Hammer, 20J
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Scheppach AB1500X is a corded SDS-Max demolition hammer at £109, sixth in our guide to SDS drills. Scheppach sells three breakers at 1,300 W, 1,500 W and 1,600 W with claimed impact energies of 20 J, 7 J and 50 J; this is the 1,300 W / 20 J one, the cheapest way into that range. Its 4.6 rating is drawn from 549 ratings, and the star breakdown supplied with the listing runs 4 one-star, 1 two-star, 4 three-star, 12 four-star and 79 five-star — 100 in total.
The specification sheet is where this one gets interesting. 13 amps at 230 volts comes to 2,990 watts by anyone's arithmetic, and yet the same listing gives maximum power as 1,300 watts. The number 4,100 appears twice: once as blows per minute in the bullet points, once as a maximum rotational speed in RPM — on a tool whose only job is to hit, not to turn. Everything below is taken from the Amazon listing, not from any test of our own.
How those 549 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.6 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £109.00 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5, from 549 ratings (star breakdown supplied adds to 100) |
| Maximum power | 1,300 W (as listed) |
| Amperage and voltage | 13 A at 230 V — a 2,990 W sum on paper (as listed) |
| Impact energy | 20 J (bullet point) |
| Blow rate vs rotation | 4,100 blows per minute (bullet) and 4,100 RPM maximum rotational speed (specs) — the same number in two units |
| Chuck | SDS-Max, tool-free changes; maximum chuck size listed separately as 18 mm |
| Body | 6 kg, described as slim (bullet point) |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“Brilliant tool - I can manage the weight easily enough and there is negligible vibration :O)I have managed to remove my 16 inch deep concrete fence post bases with it although it has taken me some time as the impact energy at only 20 Joules is well short of the 50 Joules from the much heavier breakers which are normally used for this type of workI have no idea how long this machine will last - I noted it does not have a brushless motor for example but it is cheap enough that this does not matter too much as it would cost me the same to hire in a breaker for a weekI am miffed though that I cannot find any information anywhere including on the internet on what type of grease to use to lubricate the internal mechanism - I can see that from the factory it's filled with a yellow grease but I have no idea what the specification isI think I will just use thick white lithium grease when it needs refilling and if it goes boom then I will know I used the wrong stuff :O)”
Verified purchase“absolute bargain. Chiselled through 5 fence post foundations and was impressed with its power and comfort. Not to heavy but heavy enough for jobs like these.”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best SDS Drill 2026: 10 Ranked, and Why the Amps Don't Add Up.
Questions people ask
What power does the Scheppach AB1500X draw?
The listing gives 13 amps at 230 volts, which works out at 2,990 watts, while the same listing states maximum power as 1,300 watts. Both numbers are on the page and they cannot both be right.
How much impact energy does it deliver?
20 J, as stated in the bullet points. A review on the same listing says this is well short of the 50 J produced by the much heavier breakers normally used for deep concrete work.
How many blows per minute?
4,100, according to the bullet points. The specification table also gives 4,100 RPM as a maximum rotational speed; a demolition hammer does not rotate, so that entry looks like the same figure recorded in the wrong unit.
What is included with the AB1500X?
The bullet points list pointed and flat chisels plus a storage case. The specification table separately lists 'Case, Drill Attachment'.
What chuck does it take?
SDS-Max, with tool-free bit changes and, per the bullet points, good power transfer. The specification table gives a maximum chuck size of 18 mm.
How heavy is the Scheppach AB1500X?
The bullet points describe a slim 6 kg body for tight spaces. The specification table does not give a weight.
Comments
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