toolboy's Corner: Ryobi 18v Chargers

Model	Chemistry Supported	Appearance	Charge Time	Features	Comments
P110	Nickel Cadmium		1 Hour	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	Lithium Ion batteries cannot be charged on the P110 charger P110 Manual (238 KB)
P111	Nickel Cadmium		Overnight	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad packs overnight	This is NOT a 1-hour charger! Lithium Ion batteries cannot be charged on the P111 charger P111 Manual (611 KB)
P112	Nickel Cadmium		Slow	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad packs in 3-6 hours	This is NOT a 1-hour charger! P112 Manual (1,907 KB)
P113	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) Update 12-Jul-2010: In May 2010 Ryobi started distributing new P113 chargers WITHOUT the built-in strain relief boot on the power cord (shown in photo). NOT cool, Ryobi! Update 14-Aug-2010: It seems that the newer chargers will charge ALL Ryobi batteries, but that the older chargers might not. See the "Why won't my charger charge my battery?" section below for details. This is really sad, it's no longer true that a P113 will charge any 18v battery. P113 Manual (1,522 KB)
P114	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	IntelliPort design won't overcharge a pack and saves energy, like the P125 P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) P114 Manual (2,292KB)
P115	Nickel Cadmium		1 Hour	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	IntelliPort design won't overcharge a pack and saves energy, like the P125 Lithium Ion batteries cannot be charged on the P115 charger P115 Manual (2,194 KB)
P116	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		Overnight	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs overnight	This is NOT a 1-hour charger! IntelliPort design won't overcharge a pack and saves energy, like the P125 P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) P116 Manual (1,672 KB)
P117	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack LED to indicate if battery is too hot or too cold to be charged	IntelliPort design won't overcharge a pack and saves energy, like the P114 and P125 P113, P114, P117, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P103, P104) P117 Manual (1,063 KB)
P118	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	IntelliPort design won't overcharge a pack and saves energy, like the P114 and P125 P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) P118 Manual (2,450 KB)
P119	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		Overnight	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs overnight Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the charge status of the battery pack	P113, P114, P117, P118, P119, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) P119 Manual (900 KB)
P120	Nickel Cadmium		1 Hour	Dual Bay charger -- charges two battery packs at once! 6 foot power cord Charges NiCad packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	Lithium Ion batteries cannot be charged on the P120 charger P120 Manual (457 KB)
P125	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	Power On-Demand, Up to six charged - 18V ONE+ batteries available on-demand. Maximizes Battery Life - Charges stored batteries only as needed, which protects the batteries’ cells and maximizes life. Conserves Energy - EnergyStar® qualified system enters Energy Save Mode to conserve energy when not charging or maintaining batteries. Indicator lights show battery and port status as batteries are charged and maintained or when status button is pressed during Energy Save Mode. 6 Port Supercharger - reduces workspace clutter. Quick-release wall mount bracket (included) securely mounts to wall, organizing and maximizing work space. Batteries lock securely into place for easy transport. 1 HR CHARGE - Charges each 18V ONE+ battery, one at a time, in one hour or less. Maintenance Mode - Batteries stored on charger are conditioned for peak performance. Energy Save Mode - EnergyStar® qualified system saves energy, protects battery cells, and maximizes life 6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) Charges ONE BATTERY AT A TIME. So if you plug in six depleted batteries at once it will charge the first in under an hour, then charge the second, and so on. It would take up to 6 hours to finish charging six completely drained batteries. Not at all bad, just don't think that it will fully charge six depleted batteries in one hour, 'cause it won't. P125 Manual (2,057 KB)
P130	Nickel Cadmium		1 Hour	In-Vehicle charger Plugs into vehicle's 12V DC outlet for flexibility to charge batteries when power is limited Charges NiCad packs in 1 hour or less Protective circuitry audibly warns you and shuts down charger if vehicle's battery is too low Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	Lithium Ion batteries cannot be charged on the P130 charger This charger is actually rated for battery packs 7.2v to 18v, so it can be used to charge packs at other voltages. (I once owned a P130 and used it to charge both 12v and 18v packs.) P130 Manual (873 KB)
P131	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	In-Vehicle charger Plugs into vehicle's 12V DC outlet, giving you the flexibility to charge batteries while driving or when access to power is limited Compatible with all Ryobi 18v One+ batteries Charges battery packs in 1 hour or less Protective circuitry gives audible warning and shuts down to prevent draining your vehicle's battery ChargePlus technology provides battery and charging status feedback using LEDs	P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) P131 Manual (1,532 KB)
P135	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	Power On-Demand, Up to six charged - 18V ONE+ batteries available on-demand. Maximizes Battery Life - Charges stored batteries only as needed, which protects the batteries’ cells and maximizes life. Conserves Energy - EnergyStar® qualified system enters Energy Save Mode to conserve energy when not charging or maintaining batteries. Indicator lights show battery and port status as batteries are charged and maintained or when status button is pressed during Energy Save Mode. 6 Port Supercharger - reduces workspace clutter. 2 Amp USB output for charging phones and tablets Batteries lock securely into place for easy transport. 1 HR CHARGE - Charges each 18V ONE+ battery, one at a time, in one hour or less. Maintenance Mode - Batteries stored on charger are conditioned for peak performance. Energy Save Mode - EnergyStar® qualified system saves energy, protects battery cells, and maximizes life 6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery pack	P113, P114, P117, P118, P125, P131, and P135 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) Charges ONE BATTERY AT A TIME. So if you plug in six depleted batteries at once it will charge the first in under an hour, then charge the second, and so on. It would take up to 6 hours to finish charging six completely drained batteries. Not at all bad, just don't think that it will fully charge six depleted batteries in one hour, 'cause it won't. P135 Manual (2,227 KB)
P137	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		1 Hour	Dual Compatibility: Works with all RYOBI 18-Volt ONE+ and 40-Volt Batteries Charges 18v NiCad or Lithium Ion packs in 1 hour or less Parallel Charging: This unit charges both batteries simultaneously Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the status of the battery packs	P137 Manual unavailable
P180	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		Overnight	6 foot power cord Charges NiCad or Lithium Ion packs overnight Diagnostic LED lights help indicate the charge status of the battery pack	P113, P114, P117, P118, P119, P125, and P131 are the only chargers that can charge Lithium Ion battery packs (P102, P103, P104, P105, P107, P108) P180 Manual (1,251 KB)
RC1815U	Nickel Cadmium, Lithium Ion		<30 Minute	Target charge times are: 20 minutes for a 1.3Ah battery (P102) 25 minutes for a 1.5Ah battery (P105, P189) 30 minutes for a 2.0Ah battery (P190) 40 minutes for a 2.6Ah battery (P104, P105) 50 minutes for a 4.0Ah battery (P108, P192, P197) 60 minutes for a 5.0Ah battery (not in USA)	Not available in the USA. Click here The target charge times listed are straight from the manual, page 6. RC1815U Manual (3,226 KB)

Why won't my charger charge my battery?

Sometimes a perfectly good battery won't charge in a perfectly good charger. Here are some tips:

Make sure the battery and charger are at an appropriate temperature.

Sounds easy, but you'd be surprised how often folks are caught by this one. Remember, each battery contains some sort of temperature sensor, that's what the third lead is on the "neck" of the battery. There's also some other sort of two-contact sensor near the base of the Lithium Ion cells. These are safeguards that help make it safe for consumers to charge highly dangerous cell technologies in their own homes.

If a battery is TOO HOT, the charger will continue to blink RED and refuse to charge until the battery cools down. Ryobi manuals indicate that a battery must be below 122 deg F before a charger will charge it, and they further recommend that the charger be operated at a maximum ambient temperature of 100 deg F.

If a battery is TOO COLD, the charger will also refuse to charge the battery until it's been warmed up. Ryobi manuals recommend that the charger be operated at a minimum ambient temperature of 50 deg F. If you keep your charger in your garage, you may find that during the winter months it gets too cold to charge a battery!
Make sure your Lithium Ion battery is seated firmly and "clicked" in!

Remember the sensor connections near the base of the battery's neck. If the battery is not seated firmly on the charger these contacts may not be making a solid connection, and the charger will refuse to charge the battery.
Is your battery already fully charged?

Over the years I've had a few buyers complain that the batteries I just sold them glowed red on their charger and wouldn't accept a charge. I typically ship batteries fully charged and ready for use, so it's no surprise that they won't take a charge. But why would the charger show them as faulty with a glowing red LED? The anwer is that there's a little bit of variation in the factory setting for "full charge" (i.e., voltage level). One safety feature of the Ryobi chargers is over-voltage detection. What this means is that the charger will refuse to charge a battery pack if it thinks voltage is too high. The factory adjustment for this overvoltage setting may be slightly lower than the top charge level setting on another charger. The solution? Discharge the battery a little bit! Plug it into your drill and run the drill for 30 seconds or so. This will lower the pack's voltage. Now plug the battery into your charger you'll find that it charges it for a few moments then considers it fully charged, or perhaps it will immediately consider it fully charged.
14-Aug-2010 Update: Some new P104 batteries show as DEFECTIVE in older P113 chargers!

I've now encountered two new and good P104 batteries that report as DEFECTIVE in a P113 charger. I plug one of these batteries into a P113 and the red light flashes ("Testing"). Then the red light goes solid and the green light flashes ("Charging"). Then after a few seconds, both lights flash ("Defective").

I tried using my P125 SuperCharger and the batteries take a charge just fine! So I whipped out a new P113 charger and tried again. Voila! No problem. The new P113 charger works like a charm! I've never had a problem with my trusty old P113 before. For fun, I tried my oldest P113 with date code BD0745, and it reported the P104 as defective,

So I gather that "older" P113 chargers may incorrectly report some newer P104 batteries as DEFECTIVE. My older P113 charger has date code CS0850 (50th week 2008, or December 2008) and the newer P113 that I tried has date code EA 1011 (11th week of 2010, or March 2010). I've observed that all of the P113 chargers with an "EA" date code are missing the strain relief boot on the power cord, and the red and green lights on top are obnoxiously bright.

After further investigation I have determined that I can only charge one of the new and "defective" P104 batteries on a P113 charger with a date code that begins with "EA". Older P113 chargers beginning with a "BD", "CS" or "AX" date code will not work. The newest "AX" P113 charger I've tried had a date code beginning with AX1010, and the oldest "EA" P113 charger I've tried had a date code of EA 1011. Interestingly, my P125 SuperCharger has date code of CS0917 and it will charge a "defective" P104 just fine,

I do not know how to identify a "newer" P104 battery that will show as defective on an old P113 charger other than to stumble across one when trying to charge it. The two P104 batteries that have shown this behavior have date codes CS1021 and CS1022, but this isn't enought to identify a "defective" P104 as I've successfully charged several other P104 batteries with these date codes on an old P113 charger.

How long will it take my charger to charge my battery?

Well, that's a difficult question to answer. Recharge time depends on the charger, the model of battery, how far the battery has been discharged, the age of the battery, the ambient temperature, and other factors. Let's assume that we're talking about a best case scenario -- brand new batteries which have been fully and gently cycled 3-5 times. (Side note: The transit time from Ryobi's factory in China into your hands in the USA is likely to be 2-3 months. So a truly "new" Ryobi battery means it was manufactured no more than 3 months prior.) Let's further assume that our new batteries have been fully discharged, and that they and the charger have been at rest just long enough to reach the ambient temperature of 75degF.

Under the above conditions, recharge time should be proportional to the charge rate of the charger. So to perform a calculation we just need to know the charge rate for each model of charger. My testing indicates that the P113, P114, P117, P125, and P131 chargers have a charge rate of about 2.1A and that the charge rate of the P118 is about 1.4A. So one could say that the P118 is only 2/3 as fast as the other "one hour" chargers, or that most of the "one hour" chargers are 50% faster than the P118.

UPDATE March 2020: Over the last few months I've delved into how Ryobi battery chargers operate with an emphasis on quantitating charge times. Please click here for an in-depth analysis. The bottom line is that most Ryobi chargers are 2-stage chargers and for these it is inappropriate to describe them as having a constant charge rate. A 2-stage charger delivers a constant current until the battery reaches a certain setpoint, then the charger switches to a constant voltage mode until the battery reaches a full charge. The constant current or CC mode operates at a certain charge current or "bulk rate", which differs a little for each Ryobi charger. During the constant voltage or CV mode the charge current decreases as the battery voltage increases until the current reaches 0 at the full charge. The 2.1A and 1.4A charge rate estimates made in the preceding paragraph were made by dividing measured charge delivered by observed charge time.

Let's equate this into actual clock times for different Ryobi batteries. A P102 battery contains 1300mAh cells, but my testing shows that they behave as if they were 1200mAh. Using a P118 charger, the recharge time would be 1200mAh/1400mAh = 0.857 hours = 51 minutes. With a P117 charger, the time would be 1200mAh/2100mAh = 0.571 hours = 34 minutes. Following this logic, here's a table of theoretical recharge times for various Ryobi batteries on P117 and P118 chargers:

Battery	Capacity (mAh)	Recharge Time P118 (mins)	Recharge Time P117 (mins)
P100	1.7	73	49
P102	1.2	51	34
P103 (old)	1.3	56	37
P103 (new)	1.5	64	43
P104 (old)	2.4	103	69
P104 (new)	2.6	111	74
P105	2.4	103	69
P107	1.5	64	43
P108	4.0	171	114
P189	1.5	64	43
P190	2.0	86	57
P191	3.0	129	86
P192	4.0	171	114
P193	6.0	257	171
P194	9.0	386	257
P195	3.0	129	86
P197	4.0	171	114

Yes, you're reading the chart above correctly if you're realizing that it takes 171 minutes to recharge a fully depleted P108 battery on a P118 charger, or just shy of 3 hours! On a P117 charger, it would take just short of 2 hours to recharge a P108. It would take 386 minutes to recharge a fully depleted P194 battery on a P118 charger, or about 6 1/2 hours. That same P194 would recharge in about 4 1/4 hours on a P117 charger.

UPDATE March 2020: The above table incorrectly assumes a constant current charge rate of 1.4A for the P118 and 2.1A for the P117. I've now determined that these CC/CV chargers have a "bulk" charge rate of 1.8A for the P118 and 2.9A for the P117. Therefore the actual recharge times are SHORTER than as shown above. The numbers above are reasonable for batteries whose capacity is under 3Ah, but the greater the capacity the more askew these numbers are. I've marked the suspect numbers in yellow above. I've measured the actual recharge time of a P194 on a P117 at 168.8 minutes, whereas the table above shows 257 mins. (I measured the ACTUAL capacity of this particular P194 at 8.38Ah, or 93.1% of its rated capacity of 9Ah. Both the battery and charger were at ambient temperature prior to the test, or about 70 DegF.)

Remember, as the above "ideal" conditions change, the recharge times actually get SHORTER, not longer. Why? It's because virtually every change one could make to the "ideal" conditions will mean a DECREASE to battery capacity. And if the battery's capacity is decreased, then so is the rechange time. Think about it -- how often does a consumer hit the above "ideal" conditions? Most of the time a battery won't be fully depleted before it's put back on the charger to "top it off". If it's only been used half way, then the charger only has to deliver half a full charge, and the recharge time is cut in half. Or an older battery may only operate at just 80% of is rated capacity, and if so the full recharge will decrease by 20%. Pair these factors together and the recharge time is even less. For example, let say we have an older P102 battery operating at 80% capacity (1200mAh * .8 = 960mAh) and we discharge it half way (960mAh / 2 = 480mAh). Recharge time on a P117 is 480mAh/2100mAh = 0.229 hours or 14 minutes, and recharge time on a P118 is 480mAh/1400mAh = 0.343 hours or 21 minutes.

Some words about the P117 charger

The P117 charger was originally marketed as a "one hour" charger, but later Ryobi changed the claim to a "30 minute" charger. From the above information it could be argued that both claims are correct. When the P117 charger was released, Ryobi only had the P100, P103, and P104 batteries, for which the full recharge times are 49, 37, and 69 minutes, respectively. So the "one hour or less" claim makes sense.

Later, Ryobi released the P102 and now this battery is being marketed as Ryobi's "standard" battery. The recharge time for a P102 on a P117 is only 34 minutes, so the "30 minute" claim seems reasonable also.

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