RYOBI 18V Battery Not Working? [Easy DIY Charging Hack]

A Ryobi battery will typically go bad when it simply has exceeded its number of effective charges, has 1 or more cells that have an internal short, or has simply fallen below the minimum charging threshold for the charger.

In the latter case, the battery isn't necessarily bad, it just can't be recognized by the charger because the voltage is too low. However, this case can be reversed with a little hack.

Proceed with the steps outlined in this video at your own risk. This is for entertainment purposes only. Wear safety glasses if you proceed.

Remove the screws on the battery case and the tamper-plug (which will void your warranty, so please exchange your battery if it is still covered).

Check the voltage of each of the cells and see if they are relatively close to each other without any outliers.

If they are, and the overall voltage is just low, you can proceed with modifying the charger to bypass the battery control module that is mounted on the battery.

The steps in this video outline the process.
Website:

[BryanFournier-ki]

This worked for 2 of my P102 “dead” batteries. What I learned though is that you need to touch the GND side before the + side .
When I had the positive connected first … it went to “defective “. When I touched the GND plus sensor wire then the positive… it worked. 2x at 30 seconds then back on the charger and I have 2 working batteries! Thank you!

[anthonymigchelbrink]

Thanks! Your tutorial made this a quick and easy project! I brought an almost new but non-functioning pack back to life!

[jrbatek]

This worked! Thank you! $20 trickle charger and $10 for a set of hex lock heads saved me $100 on two batteries!

[seatosky]

I had a brand new Roybi 18V battery sitting in garage for a few years and never been used. Recently take it out and plug in and it won't charge. I tried three methods and not be able to revive the battery. This is the fourth try and it worked. Thank You ! Also in my case I found out that the negative and neutral wires should not be touched each other when attaching them to the negative terminal of the battery. I felt really happy finally the battery can be revived using your method.

[Steve_K]

I've now watched a half dozen videos on this process, and like this one the best. Many thanks.

[marvinmendez]

It worked!!! I had two dead (detective according to charger) ryobi batteries laying around for about 3 years. This worked like a charm. I used my car battery to jump them.

[wymemery]

I was on my way to HD to buy some new Ryobi batteries and decided to search on fixing them first. Found this video and gave it a shot. Got one battery from 4.9v to 15 in just a few minutes, and the second from 0 to 15 in just a few minutes longer. One is finishing on the charger now while #2 waits it's turn. Awesome hack, thanks!

[terryhollingsworth]

Your video is the best one out there. My Ryobi Li-ion 18v battery was totally dead! Almost no voltage and I measured the voltage of each battery as you said to do and they did not measure the same. I tried your method exactly as you show in the video, and it worked like a charm! Mine went bad after using it on my circular saw. The charge ran out while cutting a board. I let it cool and then when I tried to charge it...nothing! This method brought it back. Thanks

[kabib]

Thank you so much. I had two batteries that I haven't been able to to charge. I didn't want throw them away hopping one day I would be able to take a look inside. I searched for a video and found yours. Very easy to follow instructions. I was able to save the batteries and they are now fully charged.

[AussiePom]

I bought a new Ryobi leaf blower and it stopped working within two weeks. The shop I bought it from said that the battery I was using was too old (manufactured 2020) but when they tried it on a new battery it was still dead and refused to work. I have two 5ah batteries from 2020 and a 4ah battery from 2016 and a 2.5ah battery from 2013 and all still charge perfectly because I run them until they completely dead before recharging them fully. I have two Ryobi cordless drills the first from the Ni Cad era and the second from the Lithium era and Lithium batteries power the Ni Cad era drill because they didn't change the design of the drill where the batter connects. So I can use one to drill holes in wood and the other as a cordless screwdriver without the need to change head bits. I saves a hell of a lot of time.
This video is just the icing on the cake for the drills last for years and now the batteries can too provided the cells aren't past it.

[HuggyBearHikes]

I opened up my dead battery to bypass the protective circuit, and just used a known good battery with cover on to jump wires to for about a minute and it worked like a charm.

[keaco]

I fixed mine by putting the battery in and out of the charger quickly about 6xs and on the last one it recognized the battery. Worked on 2 of them.

[hunters]

Thanks for the video. This helped me to open and bring back to life a Ryobi battery I found on the curb in my neighborhood. It looks brand new but the voltage on the contacts were 1.5V. Its amazing how lithium batteries can be saved. Acid batteries if go below 20% of their minimum, can't be saved easily. I had to do it 3 steps because it stopped charging after reached 6V. Then I had to wait a few hours and charge again. Then stopped at 9V. Third time when it stopped at 12.30v I put back the case and put it in it's own charger. I used a Bosch battery to save the Ryobi. Cheers.

[wepainting]

I had 2 bad batteries and I followed the steps that you said in your video. It really works. Thank you 🙏

[Hutchoo]

Easier than I thought! No jump start needed. Once I opened it up and inspected the cells I found a break in the circuit. They were all held together with hot glue which had cracked. Probably a sharp blow like dropping the battery had broken the joint connecting two cells. I glued everything tight and soldered the bus. It worked! My 5 tool pack now has 2 good batteries... just like it came with 18 years ago.

[MaxxerMan-Dan]

this was an awesome hack!! I had some spare 14/2 wire and I just looped the ends to slide over the internal clips...worked like a charm. Gotta say, I was a little nervous that the battery was going to explode or something, but it didn't. Glad I brought my dead battery back to life. Thanks so much for making this video!

[miztatone]

Thanks man i had 2 4 ah batteries that i let sit too long and wouldn't charge it was my fault but still a huge bummer. I have watched a few videos about this yours was by far the best i have come across. I have been a little nervous to try this until i saw this and you broke it down simple and clear. I now have both my batteries back and you just saved me 100 bucks thanks man

[joeorciani]

Great video, I had this exact same problem, my battery would just flash red on the charger and wasn't that old, I found your video and said, I might as well try this before I go out and buy a new one. Well i followed your video step by step and IT WORKED, my battery has recharged and is back to life. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU

[JutKddng]

I followed your directions and it worked!!! Thank you for saving me some $$$.

[rbenoit]

I used a similar method, but the old battery was so low the charger still didn't recognize it. I put a good battery in the charger and once it begins charging, use ur method below the board on the dead battery, AND wallah! Worked like a charm.