Hey folks,
I've got a DeWalt 20V battery that seems to have a charging issue. It's a standard pack with 10x 18650 cells, and I'm using the original DeWalt charger. The problem is that it only charges up to **2 out of 3 bars** on the battery indicator, so it never reaches a full charge. Even when I leave it on the charger for a long time, the charger keeps blinking as if it's still charging, but it never stops.
I've already tried cleaning the contacts on both the battery and the charger, leaving it charging for extended periods, and switching outlets. I also measured the voltages across the cell groups, which are showing:
* **4.2V**
* **8.4V**
* **12.6V**
* **16.8V**
* **21V**
The voltages look balanced, so I'm unsure if it's a **BMS issue** or a charger problem. Has anyone experienced this before? I'm looking for troubleshooting tips before I consider opening up the battery pack.
Thanks a lot!
2 Answers
It sounds like your battery indicator might be faulty. If it's showing 21V, that could indicate a misread, as 21V is generally considered to be a fully charged state for those cells. What model battery and charger do you have? Have you checked how old the battery is? You might want to verify if any other DeWalt chargers work with it, just to rule out charger issues.
If your battery was purchased less than three years ago and you have proof of purchase, I’d recommend reaching out to DeWalt support. They’re typically pretty good with warranty claims. Just so you know, the proof of date is usually on the battery itself, and it doesn’t really matter where you bought it from, as long as it’s from a recognized retailer. If it is under warranty, they could replace it for you!