My circular saw won't charge - any ideas?

Hey all, I've got a DeWalt 20V circular saw that's been great for a couple years now, but the battery won't charge anymore. I plug it in and the charger just blinks red. I've tried cleaning the contacts with a pencil eraser, but no luck. Any thoughts? Should I just get a new battery or is it the tool?

Hey Bob, that blinking red usually means a bad cell or a short. If you've got another battery, try charging that one. If it charges fine, it's the battery. If not, the charger might be the culprit. Also, check the battery voltage with a multimeter if you have one - anything below 10V on a 20V max pack is probably toast.

I've had that happen. Sometimes it's just a cell going bad. You can try reviving it by tapping it on a hard surface - just a gentle tap - sometimes they get stuck. But honestly, batteries are consumables. If it's more than 2 years old, I'd just replace it. Home Depot usually has deals on combo sets.

Thanks guys! I tried the multimeter and it's showing 11V, so I guess it's the battery. I'll try tapping it, but I'll probably just order a new one. Appreciate the help!

No problem, Bob! If you do get a new battery, just make sure it's compatible with your saw. And if you want to save the old one, there are places that rebuild batteries, but it's usually not worth it for a saw. Good luck!