You’ve plugged in your DeWalt battery, see that solid red light on the charger, and assume everything’s fine, until you realize the battery’s not charging. What gives? In this guide, we break down what the solid red light means, why your battery might not be charging, and how to troubleshoot it fast. While this article focuses on DeWalt chargers and batteries, many of these tips apply to just about any battery platform out there.
Table of Contents
What Does the Solid Red Light on a DeWalt Charger Mean?
A solid red light on most DeWalt chargers typically means:
- The charger is receiving power.
- A battery is properly connected.
- The charger is attempting to charge the battery.
Why the Battery Isn’t Charging (Even With Solid Red Light)
Here are the most common reasons:
- Battery Is Too Hot or Too Cold
- Lithium-ion batteries have a safe temperature range.
- If the battery is outside that range, it won’t charge, even though the red light is on.
- Let it cool down or warm up to room temperature, then try again.
- Battery Is Deeply Discharged or Overdrawn
- If a battery is run too low, the charger might not recognize it.
- You may need to "jump-start" the battery using another battery (only if you know what you're doing, more on this below).
- Charger Contact Issues
- Dirt or corrosion on the terminals can block charging.
- Clean the contacts with a dry cloth or soft brush.
- Don’t use liquids or chemicals.
- Faulty Battery
- The battery might be damaged internally.
- If you’ve had it for a long time or it was dropped, it could be toast.
- Try another battery on the same charger to rule it out.
- Charger Malfunction
- Not as common, but the charger itself might be the issue.
- Test another charger if possible.
What You Should Not Do
How to Test What’s Failing
- Try a different battery on the charger.
- If it charges, the charger is fine, and your original battery is likely the issue.
- Try the same battery on a different charger.
- If it charges there, your original charger is faulty.
- Check for flashing red lights.
- Flashing red usually signals temperature, battery fault, or connection issue, check your charger’s manual as sometimes a flashing red light means it's charging..
When to Replace the Battery or Charger
If:
Need More Answers?
If you need more answers or have additional questions, here are some great resources.
Faq
A solid red light usually means the charger is receiving power and has detected the battery, and it’s attempting to charge. However, it doesn’t guarantee the battery is actually charging.
This could be due to several issues: the battery might be too hot or cold, deeply discharged, have dirty contacts, or be faulty. It could also be a problem with the charger itself.
If the battery doesn’t charge on multiple chargers, feels swollen, has visible damage, or won’t hold a charge, it’s likely bad and should be replaced.
A solid red light usually means the charger is receiving power and has detected the battery, and it’s attempting to charge. However, it doesn’t guarantee the battery is actually charging.
This could be due to several issues: the battery might be too hot or cold, deeply discharged, have dirty contacts, or be faulty. It could also be a problem with the charger itself.
If the battery doesn’t charge on multiple chargers, feels swollen, has visible damage, or won’t hold a charge, it’s likely bad and should be replaced.
Bottom Line
A solid red light on your DeWalt charger doesn’t guarantee your battery is charging. Check temperature, contacts, and test both battery and charger before tossing anything. It’s a common issue, and in most cases, you can fix it with a little know-how.
