My Orbital Sander Battery Won't Charge – Any Fixes?

Hey folks, I've got a DeWalt 20V orbital sander that's been great for years, but now the battery won't charge. I've tried two different batteries and they both work fine in my drill, so it's not the battery. The charger shows green light but when I put it on the sander, it just won't run. Any ideas? I've cleaned the contacts but no luck.

Hey Rick, sounds like the issue might be the switch or the brushes. I had a similar problem with a sander once, turned out the trigger switch was worn out. If you're handy with a multimeter, check for continuity across the switch. Also, clean out any dust inside – those sanders suck up a lot of dust and it can get into the switch. But if it's the brushes, they're cheap to replace. Let us know what you find.

I had a DeWalt sander do the same thing – turned out the battery contacts inside the tool were loose. I took it apart and resoldered them, worked fine after that. If you've cleaned the contacts and it still doesn't work, could be that. Also, check if the sander works with the cord if it's a combo (some are). But sounds like it's the tool, not the battery. Good luck!

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll try checking the switch and the contacts. I did open it up and sprayed contact cleaner, but maybe I'll look at the switch more closely. I'll also look for loose wires. Appreciate the help! I'll update if I find the issue.

No problem, Rick. Keep us posted. And if you need to replace the switch, they're usually pretty standard parts – you can find them online or at a local shop. Sometimes it's just a bit of corrosion. I've revived many a tool with a little TLC. Good luck!