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Ryobi, a renowned Japanese brand, specializes in manufacturing a wide range of cordless power tools and home cleaning devices. These devices rely on lithium-ion batteries with varying amperage ratings for their operation.
For instance, power tools such as drill machines, ratchet kits, framing nailers, table saws, fan blowers, hand vacuums, string trimmers, and more utilize Ryobi’s 18V lithium-ion battery pack. On the other hand, larger devices like push lawn mowers, pressure washers, chain saws, and others are powered by a 40V battery.
However, if your Ryobi lithium-ion battery fails to charge, it can render all these devices useless. If you find yourself facing a charging issue with your Ryobi 18V battery pack, don’t worry! In this guide, I will provide you with several methods to revive a non-charging Ryobi battery, regardless of whether it is an 18V or 40V model.
Why is My Ryobi Battery Not Charging?
When a Ryobi battery is left uncharged for an extended period of time, it may discharge below its minimum threshold. As a result, when you attempt to charge it again using a Ryobi charger, the charger enters a testing mode and subsequently a defective mode. This scenario is a common cause for a Ryobi battery’s failure to charge.
Nevertheless, there are other potential reasons why a Ryobi battery may not charge. These include issues such as faulty wall adapters, damaged or worn-out charging cables, dirty charging terminals, and defective battery cells.
It’s important to consider these factors as well when troubleshooting the charging problem of a Ryobi battery.
How To Fix Ryobi Battery Not Charging?
If you are facing charging issues with your Ryobi battery pack, there are several solutions that can help revive it. Follow the steps below to troubleshoot and fix the problems:
Try A New Wall Outlet

If your Ryobi charger is not receiving any power, it indicates a potential issue with either your wall outlet or the power cord. To begin troubleshooting, start by testing your wall outlet. Try plugging your Ryobi charger into a different power outlet to determine if the battery starts charging.
2. Clean The Metal Contacts

If the metal contacts on your battery pack and charger are dirty, it can impede the flow of current and prevent proper charging. Therefore, it is important to check the metal contacts for any dirt or debris. If you find them to be dirty, use sandpaper to gently clean the metal contacts.
Once the cleaning is complete, reinsert the battery into the charger. If the testing light on the charger blinks red, it indicates that the charger is successfully supplying power to the battery.
3. Jump The Charging Controller Circuit

Ryobi Li-ion batteries are equipped with an overcharge protection circuit that regulates the current flow. If you have not charged your battery for an extended period, it may have entered sleep mode.
In sleep mode, the charging controller circuit automatically interrupts the current flow when the battery discharges below its minimum threshold. To resolve this issue, you will need either another Ryobi battery or charger to bypass the controller circuit.
By using the alternate battery or charger, you can jump-start the charging process and reactivate the battery that is in sleep mode. This will allow you to resume normal charging and bring the battery back to an operational state.
Follow these steps to jump and wake up Ryobi battery from sleep mode-
- Unscrew the battery pack.
- Test the voltage of individual cells with a multimeter to ensure the reading is above 3 volts.
- Identify the positive and negative terminals of the battery connection.
- Take another Ryobi battery of the same amperage and connect the jumper wire.
- Touch the jumper wire with your dead battery for 20 to 30 seconds.
- Test the voltage difference of individual cells again and connect the wire until it reaches 3 volts.
4. Remove And Insert The Battery Into Charger
If you don’t have a screwdriver set or another battery/charger to jump-start the battery, you can try an alternative method. Simply repeatedly insert and remove the battery pack from the charger. This action can sometimes help reset the charging controller circuit and initiate the charging process. By performing this action multiple times, you may be able to overcome the sleep mode and allow the battery to start charging again. Remember to be patient and persistent while attempting this method.
Here’s a video tutorial on how to do it-
5. Replace The Defective Cell

The Ryobi 20V battery pack consists of five lithium-ion rechargeable battery cells connected in series. The performance of the battery pack can be affected if any of these cells are damaged or defective.
To address this issue, it is recommended to test each individual cell using a multimeter. Ensure that each cell has a voltage reading of more than 3 volts. If any of the cells measure less than 3 volts, it indicates a low charge or potential damage. In such cases, it is advisable to replace the affected cells in order to resolve the charging problem and restore optimal performance to the battery pack.
What Causing Your Ryobi Battery Won’t Charge?
If a Ryobi battery is left uncharged for an extended period, it can enter sleep mode as the lithium-ion cells discharge below their minimum threshold.
When you insert the battery pack into the Ryobi charger, it performs a voltage test and may display a defective battery error if the voltage is too low.
Another frequent cause of charging issues is a faulty cell within the Ryobi battery pack. It is possible to test the voltage of each individual cell and identify any defective ones. Replacing the faulty cells can help resolve the charging problem and restore the battery’s functionality.
How To Troubleshoot a Ryobi Battery That Won’t Charge?
If your Ryobi battery has entered sleep mode, one solution is to jump-start the charging circuit using another battery. Additionally, a faulty cell within the battery pack can prevent it from charging.
To identify any problematic cells, you can test each one individually using a multimeter. If any of the cells register a voltage reading below 3 volts, it indicates a low charge or potential damage. In such cases, it is advisable to replace the affected cell. You can find replacement rechargeable battery cells through the provided link.
If none of the above methods work, purchasing a new Ryobi battery pack may be necessary for your device. Replacement battery packs are commonly available at hardware stores or through online retailers.
Conclusion
In cold weather, Ryobi batteries can frequently enter sleep mode. To address this issue, it is recommended to jump-start the battery pack using another battery or the charger. This process helps revive the lithium-ion cells within the battery. Once the cells are revived, you can proceed with charging them as usual.
I hope this guide has provided helpful solutions to fix the charging problem you were experiencing with your Ryobi 18V/40V battery pack.
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