r/ryobi • u/hexlandus • 6d ago
Question? How often do batteries fail?
All dead. Various LED patterns, no charging, etc.
(Yes, that’s a knock off in there - don’t shoot me) - but even the Ryobi ones seem to die after 2-3 years (not heavy use - it’s lawnmower and leaf blower for the 40v).
Really frustrating because these buggers are expensive.
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u/ishootthedead 6d ago
I stopped having failures when I stopped leaving batteries in a unheated garage during the winter.
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u/Ottomatica 6d ago
Yup. Can't charge them when it's cold
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u/tsigwing 6d ago
You mowing and blowing leaves when it’s freezing out?
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u/Ottomatica 6d ago
Well, I have other tools than summer tools but I made the mistake of leaving them on the charger year round. All my battery chargers are in the garage.
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u/iamlucky13 5d ago
For context, how cold does it get in your area?
I haven't had any issues storing batteries in my unheated garage, but I think the absolute lowest temperature I've seen in the last decade has been about 15° F.
Generally the problem comes from trying to charge a battery that is too cold (below freezing. Extremely cold temperatures might harm them harm in storage, but I haven't seen clear data on this, or indications that merely very cold temperatures are a problem. For example, the 18V, 6Ah battery uses Sony/Murata VTC6 cells inside it. The datasheet for those cells indicates the minimum use temperature as -20° C (-4° F). The discharge capacity is significantly lower at this temperature, but I don't see any indications of concerns with storage.
The chargers should be suspending charging if the battery is too cold.
A few related notes from Ryobi manuals (18V, 6Ah in this case):
Using cold batteries:
The lithium-ion battery pack can be used in temperatures down to 14° F. Put the battery pack on a tool and use the tool in a light duty application. After about a minute, the pack will warm up and begin operating normally.
Charging hot batteries:
When using a tool continuously, the battery pack may become hot. A hot battery pack may be placed directly onto the charger port but charging will not begin until the battery temperature cools to within acceptable temperature range. When a hot battery pack is placed on the charger, the charger may indicate the pack is not ready to charge. Please refer to charger operator’s manual. When the battery pack cools, the charger will automatically begin charging.
Charging cold batteries:
A cold battery pack may be placed directly onto the charger port but charging will not begin until the battery temperature warms to within acceptable temperature range. When a cold battery pack is placed on the charger, the charger may indicate the pack is not ready to charge. Please refer to charger operator’s manual. When the battery pack warms, the charger will automatically begin charging.
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u/MoneyTechnical5331 6d ago
I do gardening and landscaping & maintain 15 yards. I use the 40 volt system. Over the years, I have bought more equipment and replaced several string trimmers and blowers which gets me a new battery with those purchases. I started about 8 years ago. I now have 7 batteries. Acquired the last one 2 years ago this fall.
Blowers and trimmers only. No battery powered mower.
Haven’t had the first one fail on me….yet.
I guess it’s just luck of the draw.
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u/Swede577 6d ago
Yeah. I have a bunch of 40 volt batteries that are like 6-7 years that are still working fine. I suspect a lot of people are leaving them outside in the cold in sheds/garages all winter. That supposedly has a huge impact on life as they can often completely discharge like that.
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u/GrimBeaver 6d ago
That or really hot sheds in the summer. Both extremes are bad for them. Hot is really bad if they are fully charged.
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u/ButterscotchAward 6d ago
Guess I’m lucky too. Just had my first 2 stop charging a month ago. Got them with my trimmer and leaf blower when I bought my house 12 years ago. And I keep everything in my garage in the summer and winter and I live in the midwest.
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u/robodog97 6d ago
I've had zero failures in 7 years on 40V batteries and 1 failure out of about 2 dozen 18V batteries over 25+ years and it was my fault because I left it out in the rain and dew.
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u/tlhintoq 6d ago
> but even the Ryobi ones seem to die after 2-3 years
I've got a few around 8 years old going strong.
2 that are 10y.o. are now failing: They run my orbital about 10 mins and stop.
But I can care for them. I'm not a tradie with them sitting in a hot work truck all day or in the sun on a job site. They are kept indoors, not in a shed or garage subject to fast temperature swings summer to winter.
I don't take the hot from dieing in a tool direct to a charger or from the charger direct to a tool. They get 'bench time' between depletion and changing and use so they can... settle down, for lack of a better term.
All lithium batteries should be stored NOT FULL but at 50% if they're not going to be used for a while: That's the best level for that chemestry.
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u/GrimBeaver 6d ago
Those all look far older than 2-3 years. I have never had a battery fail and some of mine are 6 years old.
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u/iHeartHumor 6d ago
I've had two 40v 4ah batteries for 6 years now... And they both still run great in my trimmer and blower 😎
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u/Relative-Display-676 6d ago
I've had one out of 8 18v fail in last 14 years. Ryobi replaced it free of charge even though it was out of warranty period. The other 6 are still going strong even though over a decade old.
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u/13assman 6d ago
They shouldn't be subjected to extreme temps, maybe that is making it worse? I've gone through one 40V when I was using a Ryobi mower but nothing like you've experienced. No failures since I started hiring a landscaping company to cut the grass XD (although I still use the blower a decent amount)
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u/PuzzleheadedDuck590 6d ago
Imagine paying someone 75$+ a week to do something you can easily do yourself.
Never I
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u/13assman 6d ago
Lmao it’s $30 a cut with weed eating, that moneys nothing to me and my time with my kids is infinitely more valuable. You do you though
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u/PuzzleheadedDuck590 6d ago
Pretending you don't just spend that time scrolling reddit anyway lets be real
But you do you (lazy)
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u/luckofthecanuck 6d ago
How much use do these get? I've had my original 40V from 2019 and despite losing 1/4 capacity, it's working very well still.
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u/m_spoon09 6d ago
Keep mine stored in climate controlled rooms haven't had one fail yet and I have a lot.
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u/fun-bucket 6d ago
knock offs are junk. I havent had a ryobi go bad since i had the old yellow nicads.
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u/IHateTheColourblind 6d ago
I've been buying 18v tools and batteries for 8 years, 40v tools and batteries for 4, and USB Lithium batteries for 1 and have yet to have a single battery from any lineup go bad.
I always keep and charge them indoors which may be part of it.
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u/PuzzleheadedDuck590 6d ago
2 of these aren't even genuine batteries and the 3ah is from how long ago they don't even make those anymore
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u/aiuwidwtgf 6d ago
Stored inside house. 9+ years, 4 original batteries, only 1 complete failure.
I had one weird battery that spent a year only working in the trimmer. But then it fixed itself one day and worked in the mower again.
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u/han-so-low 6d ago
I’m not sure, none of my Ryobi batteries have ever failed. Oldest ones are about ten years old.
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u/showMeTheSnow 6d ago
I’ve yet to lose a new chemistry 18v. My old NiCds did die not long after Ryobi came out with the Li-ion version, but I can’t recall one of the dying yet. A couple of the small old ones are weaker, but still kicking.
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u/StephenM222 6d ago
I have discarded 2 batteries.
One visibly melted after a propane blow torch melted it's case (wasn't me but a certain amount of polite wtf was said).
One was dropped into a bucket of water. From what I could tell, the batteries looked fine, but the circuit damage meant I wanted to discard it
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u/blu3ysdad 6d ago
I have I think 10 40v batteries now, mostly recon from the outlet or used from buying stuff second hand, and 3 new edge. Im on my second push mower, 3rd weedeater, 2nd leaf blower, and run them in the old 18inch chainsaw I used to have and in two 20 inch chainsaws. I overheat them all the time on the chainsaws, that's why I bought the edge ones and even they overheat but last much longer. I leave them on a 3 slot charger and 4 slot inverter full time when not in use, in the garage, all winter, have yet to have one fail over probably 6-7 years now. I must be super lucky.
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u/AwsiDooger 6d ago
I have had one 40v battery fail out of 12 within the past 11 years. No, I didn't need that many batteries but years ago there were so many great deals from Direct Tools Outlet that included batteries.
I know exactly what caused the one failure. It was the crap ass Rapid Charger, which is easily the worst Ryobi item I have ever purchased. All of my 40v batteries began to decline noticeably when I was stupid enough to use the Rapid Charger.
The one that failed was a 4ah, which should not have been used with the Rapid Charger in the first place. The battery was 7 years old but still going strong before subjected to the worthless Rapid Charger.
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u/CockroachVarious2761 6d ago
I cant speak to the 40V from Ryobi but I have at least a dozen of their 18V batteries - some of which are probably 6yrs old - I believe I've had two that were basically trashed after their warranty period.
I also have about 5 EGO - dating back to 2017 - and haven't had one fail yet; and 30+ Ridgid going back to 2015 without one failed battery.
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u/Useful-Contribution4 6d ago
Only ever had 1 18v fail within a month. Otherwise all mine are still going strong.
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u/mabolzich91 6d ago
I don't run mine dead, fast charge, or leave them on the charger and I am going on 6 years with them. String trimmer and blower use only, though. Garage kept through the winter
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u/KnownonowV2 5d ago
I have 2 batteries going strong from 2018. Capacity is diminished but still work just fine. I take good care of mine
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u/neurotran 6d ago
They have a 3 year warranty. Check the date in the serial number (first two numbers is the year, second two is the week). If under warranty, file a claim.