My cordless vacuum won't charge - help!

Hey all, I've got a 20V cordless shop vac that I've had for about a year. It worked fine until a few days ago. Now when I plug it in, the charger light stays red (charging) but after a full night, it's still not charged. When I try to use it, it runs for about 2 seconds then dies. Anyone else had this issue? Battery or charger problem?

Sounds like the battery might be shot. I've seen it a lot with cheap batteries. If you have a multimeter, check the voltage at the terminals when it's supposed to be charged. If it's below like 18V, it's probably not holding a charge. Also, check the charger - are there any signs of overheating? Sometimes the charger goes bad. But my money is on the battery, especially if you use it heavily.

Before you buy a new battery, try cleaning the contacts. I had a similar issue once - dirt and dust got in the terminal, causing a poor connection. Clean with a little rubbing alcohol and a qtip. Also, some batteries have a reset button - check for that. If it still doesn't work, search for a replacement battery online. Don't buy OEM, get aftermarket, they're cheaper.

I've been through a few cordless vacs in my time. If it's only a year old, check the warranty. Many brands have 2-3 year warranties on batteries. But if you're out of luck, it's often cheaper to just buy a new vacuum than a replacement battery, especially if it's a budget brand. Also, some batteries have a 'memory' effect - if you plug it in when it's not fully dead, it might not charge fully. Try draining it completely then charging overnight. Sometimes that helps.

Thanks for the tips, guys. I'll try cleaning the contacts and let it run completely dead before charging. If that doesn't work, I'll check the voltage with my multimeter. I might just get a replacement battery if it's not too pricey. Will update!