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Orbital sander battery not charging - any ideas?

5/29/2026 6:47:00 PM #1
DIYDave728
DIYDave728
New Member
Posts: 0
Hey all, my Ryobi 18V orbital sander stopped taking a charge. I've got two batteries both won't charge on the charger. The batteries work fine in my drill though. What gives? Checked for debris, nothing obvious. Any thoughts?
5/29/2026 7:28:00 PM #2
GearHeadGary729
GearHeadGary729
New Member
Posts: 0
Odd that both batteries work in the drill but not on the sander. Could be a loose connection in the sander's battery terminal. Check the pins on the sander itself. Sometimes they get bent or gunked up. Try a little contact cleaner on a q-tip.
5/29/2026 9:21:00 PM #3
BuildItBob406
BuildItBob406
New Member
Posts: 0
Also make sure the battery is sliding in all the way. I had a sander where a piece of dust got behind the battery and prevented full contact. Use compressed air to blow out the battery slot.
5/30/2026 12:29:00 AM #4
ContractorCarl616
ContractorCarl616
New Member
Posts: 0
+1 on checking contacts. If that doesn't work, might be a charger issue. Even if charger light comes on, it might not be outputting correct voltage. Test with a multimeter if you have one.

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