Quick answer
On a Ryobi P118B, a flashing red LED with the green LED off is Evaluate: the pack is hot, cold or deeply discharged, and charging starts on its own when it comes into range. Red and green flashing together is the Error state. On the single-LED P119, Evaluate is two quick pulses and a pause, and the manual says the pack may be defective only if Evaluate lasts longer than 30 minutes at room temperature. We have no manual for the 40V chargers, so check yours for its light codes.
Try our charger light-code decoder for any of these. Every pattern below comes from Ryobi's own manuals.
LED code decoder
Ryobi P118B (18V ONE+, red and green LEDs)
| LED pattern | What it means (Ryobi's manual) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Red on, green off, no battery in the charger | Power: ready to charge a pack | Insert a pack |
| Red flashing, green off | Evaluate: the pack is hot, cold or deeply discharged | Wait. Charging starts automatically; a deeply discharged pack is pre-charged first |
| Red off, green flashing | Charging | Wait |
| Red off, green on | Fully charged | Remove the pack |
| Red flashing and green flashing together | Error: battery pack or charger error | Remove and reinstall the pack. If the error repeats, try a different battery (see below) |
| No LEDs lit during charging | The manual says to remove the pack to avoid damaging the product and not to insert another | Return the charger and battery to an authorized service center |
Source: Ryobi P118B operator's manual, pages 4 and 5.
Ryobi P119 (18V dual chemistry, one LED)
The P119 slides onto the pack and charges Li-Ion or Ni-Cd batteries. It has a single LED, not a red and a green one.
| LED pattern | What it means (Ryobi's manual) | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Flashing in the Evaluate pattern (two quick pulses, then a pause) | The battery is being tested; if voltage is low it is conditioned first, and if it is hot or cold charging begins when the temperature is right | Wait. If it lasts longer than 30 minutes at room temperature, the pack may be defective (see below) |
| Flashing (charging pattern) | Charging | Wait |
| On | Fully charged; the charger is in Energy Save mode | Remove the charger from the pack |
| Does not light | The manual says to remove the charger from the battery to avoid damaging the product and not to insert another battery | Return the charger and battery to a service center |
Source: Ryobi P119 operator's manual, pages 4 and 5.
40V chargers
We have not saved a Ryobi 40V charger manual, so we can't confirm its light codes. Look up your charger model in its own manual rather than relying on a pattern from another charger.
What to do
Evaluate on a P118B or P119
Evaluate is normal for a hot, cold or deeply discharged pack. The P118B manual says hot or cold packs can be placed directly on the charger and charging begins automatically. It gives no time limit for the P118B. The P119 manual does: if it stays in Evaluate for longer than 30 minutes at room temperature, the pack may be defective.
Error on a P118B, or a long Evaluate on a P119
Both manuals give the same test:
- Remove the pack and reinstall it.
- If the same state repeats, try a different battery.
- If the different battery charges normally, dispose of the pack that showed the problem.
- If the different battery also shows Error (P118B) or Evaluate for more than 30 minutes (P119), the charger may be defective. The P118B manual says the charger should be replaced.
Cold and hot packs
The P118B manual says not to use, store or charge packs where the temperature is below 50°F or above 100°F, and that it works best at normal room temperature. A cold pack left on the charger starts charging once it warms. The P119 manual gives no numeric temperature range.
Pack not holding a charge after it shows full
If the charger shows fully charged but the pack runs tools for only a few seconds, the pack may have lost capacity. The charger manuals do not cover this case, so use the cross-test below and our repair or replace calculator.
18V and 40V batteries are not interchangeable
Ryobi treats 18V ONE+ and 40V as separate battery platforms. Don't force a pack into a charger for the other platform. Use our battery compatibility checker if you are unsure.
Isolating charger fault vs pack fault
When you cannot tell whether the charger or the pack is bad, use the cross-test:
- Pack is bad if: the same pack faults on two different chargers, and a second known-good pack works on your original charger
- Charger is bad if: multiple different packs all fault on the same charger, but those same packs work fine on another charger
If it still isn't working
Check Ryobi's current warranty terms at ryobitools.com; the P118B manual lists a 3-year limited warranty (page 16). If a pack is swollen, cracked or leaking, stop using it.
For a replacement 18V ONE+ pack, see our Ryobi 18V replacement battery guide. For a 40V pack, see the Ryobi 40V guide.
For a replacement 18V ONE+ pack: View Ryobi 18V ONE+ HP 4.0Ah Battery (PBP004) on Amazon (paid link)
For a replacement 40V HP pack: View Ryobi 40V 4.0Ah HP Battery (OP40404) on Amazon (paid link)
FAQ
What does a blinking red light mean on my Ryobi charger?
On a P118B, red flashing with the green off is Evaluate: the pack is hot, cold or deeply discharged, and charging begins automatically. Red and green flashing together is Error. On a P119, Evaluate is two quick pulses and a pause, and the manual says the pack may be defective if it lasts longer than 30 minutes at room temperature.
Can I charge my Ryobi battery in cold weather?
The P118B manual says not to use, store or charge packs below 50°F or above 100°F. A cold pack on the charger starts charging once it warms.
Where are the light codes for my Ryobi 40V charger?
We don't have a 40V charger manual, so we can't list them. Check the manual for your charger model.
Do Ryobi 18V batteries work in Ryobi 40V chargers?
Ryobi treats them as separate battery platforms. Use our battery compatibility checker.
Is the P119 the same as the P118?
No. The P119 is a single-LED, dual-chemistry charger that slides onto the pack. The P118B has a red and a green LED and charges Ryobi 18V lithium-ion packs one at a time.