Quick answer
- Red ON + Green FLASHING = charging in progress. This is normal operation.
- Red OFF + Green solid = charging complete, charger in maintenance mode.
- Red OFF + Green fading = fully charged, Energy Save mode.
- Red FLASHING + Green OFF = Evaluate mode — pack is too hot, too cold, or deeply discharged. Charger will retry automatically.
- Red FADING + Green OFF = defective pack or defective charger.
Symptoms
The Ryobi P118 uses a two-LED scheme — one red LED and one green LED. You must read both LEDs together; reading a single color in isolation will lead you to the wrong conclusion.
The most common source of confusion: users see the green LED flashing and assume something is wrong. On the P118, green flashing with the red LED on is the normal active-charging state. This is what the charger is supposed to look like while it is putting charge into the pack.
The full LED state table, verified against the P118 owner's manual:
| Red | Green | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ON | FLASHING | Charging in progress (normal) |
| OFF | Solid | Charging complete, maintenance mode |
| OFF | Fading | Fully charged, Energy Save mode |
| FLASHING | OFF | Evaluate mode — temp or deep discharge |
| FADING | OFF | Defective pack or charger |
| ON | OFF | Charger powered, no battery inserted |
One critical distinction: fading (smooth slow pulse) is different from flashing (sharp on/off). Fading red with green off means the pack or charger has a problem. Flashing red with green off means the charger is waiting for the pack to come into range — a recoverable state.
Quick checks
- Read both LEDs. A single color tells you nothing useful on the P118.
- Distinguish fading from flashing. Fading red = smooth pulse, likely defective unit. Flashing red = sharp on/off, recoverable evaluate state.
- Check pack temperature. A pack that is hot from use or cold from an overnight garage will enter Evaluate mode (red flashing, green off) until it reaches a chargeable temperature.
- Check for deep discharge. A 18V ONE+ pack that has been sitting discharged for months may take several minutes in Evaluate mode before the charger starts showing a charging pattern.
- Try a different outlet if no LEDs illuminate at all — rule out a dead circuit before suspecting the charger.
Step-by-step fix
Red ON + green FLASHING — charging normally:
Leave it alone. When charging is complete, the red LED will turn off and the green LED will go solid (maintenance mode) or begin a slow fading cycle (Energy Save mode). Either is a fully charged pack.
Red FLASHING + green OFF — Evaluate mode:
- Remove the pack from the charger.
- If the pack feels hot from recent use: set it on a non-flammable surface and allow 30 minutes to cool. Ryobi's charging window is approximately 40°F–105°F (4°C–40°C).
- If the pack is cold from garage or outdoor storage: bring it indoors to room temperature and wait 20–30 minutes.
- Reinsert the pack. If the temperature has cleared, the charger should return to red on + green flashing (charging).
- Per the P119 charger manual (same two-LED scheme as the P118): if Evaluate mode persists for more than 30 minutes at room temperature, the battery pack is likely defective.
Red FADING + green OFF — possible defective unit:
- Try a different 18V ONE+ battery on the same charger. If the second battery charges (red on + green flashing), the first pack has reached end-of-life or suffered a cell fault.
- If every battery you try shows red fading with green off, the P118 charger itself has failed. The pack is not the problem.
View Ryobi P118B Charger on Amazon (paid link) View Ryobi P118B Charger on Home Depot (paid link)
If it still isn't working
If a battery shows red fading on two different P118-class chargers, the pack has a cell-level fault and is not recoverable. Ryobi covers 18V ONE+ batteries under a 3-year limited warranty. Call Ryobi support at 1-800-525-2579 with proof of purchase. Registration is not required for warranty claims.
For recycling, Home Depot and Lowe's both accept Li-Ion battery drop-offs through the Call2Recycle program at no charge.
FAQ
Is a flashing green light on a Ryobi P118 charger bad? No. Green flashing with the red LED on is exactly what the P118 should look like while charging your 18V ONE+ battery. It is the normal active-charging state, not a fault indicator.
What does solid green mean on a Ryobi P118? Solid green with red off means the battery has finished charging and the charger has switched to maintenance mode, keeping the pack at full capacity. You can leave the battery on the charger.
Why is my Ryobi charger blinking red with no green? Red flashing with green off is Evaluate mode. The P118 detected the pack is too hot, too cold, or too deeply discharged to begin charging. The charger is monitoring the pack and will retry automatically. If this state persists more than 30 minutes at room temperature (per the P119 manual for this same LED scheme), the pack may be defective.
Can I use the P118 to charge older NiCd Ryobi batteries? No. The P118 charges Li-Ion 18V ONE+ packs only. For NiCd or NiMH Ryobi batteries, use the P117, which is Ryobi's dual-chemistry charger.
My Ryobi charger shows no lights at all. What does that mean? No lights usually means the outlet has no power, no battery is inserted, or the charger itself has failed. Check the outlet with another device, reseat the battery firmly, and if it remains dark, the P118 likely needs to be replaced.