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Gardena 25.2V 500mA charger flashing red and green, not charging

User question

I have a Gardena D-8909 Ulm 25.2V 500mA charger it is flashing red and green every 2 seconds and not charging?

Artificial Intelligence ResponseLABEL_AI_GENERATED

Direct answer to the question

A red/green flash every ~2 seconds on your GARDENA 25.2 V / 500 mA charger normally means the charger is not entering a valid charging state. The most likely causes are:

  • Battery pack is deeply discharged or its internal protection circuit has locked out
  • Poor contact between charger plug and battery socket
  • Battery is faulty or at end of life
  • Charger output is unstable or the charger has failed

Also note: “D-8909 Ulm” is not the charger model number. It is related to GARDENA’s company address/location marking. The useful information is the charger’s output voltage, current, polarity, and model number printed on the label.


Detailed problem analysis

Your charger is most likely a Li-ion battery charger, not a simple DC power supply. A Li-ion charger checks battery voltage before applying charge current. If the battery voltage, temperature sensor, or terminal connection is outside the expected range, the charger may repeatedly try to start, detect a fault, stop, and try again. This can appear as red/green flashing every few seconds.

Likely meaning of the flashing

Typical LED behaviour on many GARDENA-style chargers is approximately:

LED state Likely meaning
Green steady Standby, no battery, or battery full
Red steady Charging
Red/green alternating or flashing Fault, bad contact, battery protection trip, or charger error

The exact code can vary by model, but alternating red and green while not charging should be treated as a fault condition.


Most likely causes

1. Dirty or loose charging contacts

This is the easiest and most common thing to check.

If the charger starts to deliver current but the contact resistance is high, the charger may see an abnormal voltage and stop immediately. It then retries, causing the red/green cycle.

Check:

  • Charger plug
  • Battery charging socket
  • Any visible corrosion, dirt, bent contacts, looseness, or moisture

Clean with:

  • Isopropyl alcohol
  • Cotton bud or contact cleaner
  • Charger unplugged from mains while cleaning

Do not scrape aggressively, because the contacts may be plated.


2. Battery pack deeply discharged

If the battery has been stored flat for a long time, the individual Li-ion cells may have dropped below their safe voltage threshold.

For Li-ion packs:

  • A 6-cell series pack has a full-charge voltage of approximately 25.2 V
  • A 7-cell series pack has a full-charge voltage of approximately 29.4 V

This distinction matters. If your charger label says Output: 25.2 V DC, it is probably intended for a 6S Li-ion pack. If the battery is marketed as 25 V or 25.2 V nominal, the correct charger may instead output around 29.4 V. So check the label carefully.

A deeply discharged pack may cause the charger to refuse charging for safety reasons.

Approximate guide:

Battery voltage reading Likely condition
Near full charger voltage Battery may be full or charger not detecting load
Normal mid-range voltage Battery probably electrically alive
Very low voltage Deep discharge or failed cell group
0 V or near 0 V Battery protection circuit/BMS has opened, fuse failed, or pack is dead

For a 25.2 V maximum 6S pack, anything much below about 15–18 V is suspicious.
For a 29.4 V maximum 7S pack, anything much below about 17.5–21 V is suspicious.


3. Battery management system lockout

The battery pack may contain a protection circuit, sometimes called a BMS. It monitors:

  • Cell undervoltage
  • Cell overvoltage
  • Overcurrent
  • Temperature
  • Sometimes cell imbalance

If one cell group is too low or faulty, the BMS may disconnect the pack internally. From the charger’s perspective, the battery may appear open-circuit or abnormal. The charger then tries, stops, and flashes.

If the battery reads 0 V at the output terminals, the BMS may have shut down or the pack may have an internal fault.


4. Charger failure

The charger itself may be failing. Common faults include:

  • Dried-out electrolytic capacitors
  • Failed feedback circuit
  • Broken output cable
  • Damaged plug
  • Internal switch-mode power supply fault

A failing switch-mode charger can enter hiccup mode, where it repeatedly starts and shuts down. This may also produce rhythmic LED flashing.


Practical diagnostic steps

Step 1: Try a reset

  1. Unplug the charger from the battery.
  2. Unplug the charger from the mains.
  3. Wait at least 60 seconds.
  4. Plug the charger into the mains first.
  5. Then connect the battery.

If the charger still flashes red/green, continue below.


Step 2: Observe the charger with no battery connected

With the charger plugged into the wall but not connected to the battery:

  • If the LED is steady green, the charger may be basically alive.
  • If it still flashes red/green with no battery connected, the charger is likely faulty.

Step 3: Clean and inspect the connector

With the charger unplugged:

  • Clean the charger plug and battery socket.
  • Inspect for:
    • Bent pins
    • Loose socket
    • Corrosion
    • Burn marks
    • Water ingress

Then retry charging.


Step 4: Measure charger output voltage

If you have a digital multimeter:

  1. Set it to DC volts.
  2. Measure the voltage at the charger output plug.
  3. Observe whether the voltage is stable.

Compare with the label:

  • If the label says Output: 25.2 V DC, you should see roughly that value, possibly slightly higher with no load.
  • If the charger is intended for a 25.2 V nominal 7S Li-ion battery, the output may be around 29.4 V DC.
  • If the voltage is pulsing, very low, or unstable, the charger is suspect.

Important: check polarity. Many barrel chargers are centre-positive, but do not assume.


Step 5: Measure battery voltage

Measure the voltage across the battery’s main positive and negative terminals.

Possible interpretations:

Reading Interpretation
Normal voltage range Battery is probably not deeply discharged; suspect contact or charger
Very low voltage Battery is deeply discharged or has a bad cell group
0 V BMS lockout, blown internal fuse, broken connection, or failed pack
Voltage rises briefly then collapses Battery may have high internal resistance or failed cells

If the battery is old, has been unused for months/years, or was stored discharged, the battery is more likely to be the problem than the charger.


Important safety note

Do not try to “boost” or jump-start a Li-ion battery with another battery or an uncontrolled power supply. A deeply discharged Li-ion cell can become unsafe if forced to charge.

A controlled recovery charge is sometimes possible using a bench power supply with strict current limiting, but I would only recommend that if you are experienced with Li-ion battery repair. For most users, if the pack is deeply discharged or reads 0 V, the safer answer is:

  • Replace the battery pack, or
  • Have it tested by a battery repair specialist.

Stop immediately if the battery:

  • Gets warm while not charging normally
  • Swells
  • Smells unusual
  • Leaks
  • Shows corrosion or water damage

Recycle damaged Li-ion batteries properly.


Practical conclusion

Most probable fault order:

  1. Bad/dirty contact
  2. Battery deeply discharged or BMS locked out
  3. Battery failed
  4. Charger failed

The quickest test is this:

  • If the charger flashes red/green even with no battery attached, replace the charger.
  • If the charger is steady green with no battery but flashes when connected, suspect the battery or battery connection.
  • If possible, test with a known-good GARDENA battery or known-good compatible charger.

When replacing the charger, use only a proper Li-ion CC/CV charger with:

  • Correct output voltage
  • Correct polarity
  • Correct plug
  • Suitable charge current, preferably the original 500 mA or manufacturer-approved equivalent

Do not substitute a generic DC power adapter unless it is specifically a Li-ion charger with the correct voltage profile.

User question

I have a Gardena 25.2V charger Model 04025-25.640.00 240VAC input. Normally 28.7 fully charged 500mA it flashes red, green and double red cyclically and does not charge the battery which is at 24V state of charge.

Follow-up question was generated by AI

Artificial Intelligence Response

Direct answer to the question

Your Gardena 25.2 V charger Model 04025-25.640.00 is not entering normal charge mode. A battery voltage of 24 V is not too low for this system; it should normally begin charging.

The repeating red → green → double-red sequence is best treated as a fault/retry indication. The most likely causes are:

  1. Bad battery temperature-sensor / NTC connection
  2. Dirty or oxidized charger/battery contacts
  3. Battery BMS fault or cell imbalance
  4. Charger internal failure, especially if the LED sequence occurs even with no battery connected
  5. Less commonly, a broken wire in the charger lead or connector

Do not try to force-charge the battery directly unless you have proper lithium-ion charging equipment and experience.


Detailed problem analysis

1. Your voltage readings are consistent with a 7-series Li-ion pack

A Gardena “25.2 V” lithium pack is very likely a 7S lithium-ion battery, meaning seven cell groups in series.

Your stated full-charge voltage:

[ 28.7\text{ V} / 7 = 4.10\text{ V per cell} ]

That is reasonable for a conservative Li-ion charger. Many 7S Li-ion packs charge to 29.4 V if charged to 4.20 V/cell, but some garden-tool packs deliberately stop around 28.7 V to improve battery life.

Your present battery voltage:

[ 24.0\text{ V} / 7 \approx 3.43\text{ V per cell} ]

That is a normal partially discharged state. It is not deeply discharged. A healthy charger and healthy battery should normally accept charge from this voltage.

So the problem is probably not simply low battery voltage.


2. Meaning of the red / green / double-red cycling

Without the exact Gardena service manual for that charger, I would not claim the LED code with absolute certainty. However, electrically, that cyclic behavior usually means:

  • The charger detects the battery.
  • It attempts to start charging.
  • It performs a safety check.
  • A fault is detected.
  • The charger shuts down and retries.

For lithium-ion chargers, the usual safety checks include:

  • Battery voltage within allowed range
  • Correct polarity
  • Temperature-sensor / NTC present
  • Battery not over-temperature or under-temperature
  • Output current not excessive
  • BMS not disconnecting
  • Internal charger supply stable

Because your battery is at 24 V, the charger should not be rejecting it for undervoltage. That points more toward temperature-sense, BMS, connector, or charger failure.


Practical diagnostic procedure

Step 1: Check LED behavior with no battery connected

Disconnect the battery completely and power the charger from the mains.

Observe the LED.

Result Interpretation
Normal standby indication, usually green or off depending on design Charger may be basically alive; battery or connection may be suspect
Same red → green → double-red cycling with no battery Charger electronics are probably faulty
No LED at all Charger internal PSU or mains-side failure
Output pulses on/off with the LED Charger is likely in hiccup/fault mode

If the charger faults even with no battery, the battery is probably not the primary problem.


Step 2: Measure charger output voltage with no battery

Using a multimeter set to DC volts, measure the charger output connector carefully.

Expected approximate value:

  • Around 28.5 to 29 V DC for your charger, assuming it is a 7S Li-ion charger limited around 28.7 V.

Possible results:

Measurement Likely meaning
Stable around 28.5–29 V Charger output stage may be working
Very low voltage Charger failure or charger waiting for battery detection
Voltage rises and collapses repeatedly Charger internal fault or protection hiccup
No voltage Charger failure, blown fuse, broken cable, or charger requires battery handshake

Some smart chargers do not output full voltage until they detect a battery, so this test is useful but not always conclusive.


Step 3: Inspect and clean the contacts

This is one of the most common faults in garden equipment because of moisture, grass residue, fertilizer dust, and corrosion.

With the charger unplugged from the mains:

  • Inspect the charger plug contacts.
  • Inspect the battery socket contacts.
  • Look for:
    • Green or white corrosion
    • Blackened/burned contacts
    • Loose spring contacts
    • Bent pins
    • Dirt or grass residue

Clean using:

  • Electronic contact cleaner, or
  • High-purity isopropyl alcohol

Do not use WD-40 as a primary contact cleaner for this application.

After cleaning, reconnect the battery firmly and test again.


Step 4: Check the battery temperature-sensor path

Many lithium tool batteries have at least three connections:

  • Positive
  • Negative
  • Temperature / NTC / sense terminal

The charger may refuse to charge if it cannot see the battery temperature sensor.

A common NTC thermistor value is:

  • 10 kΩ at 25 °C, or
  • Sometimes 47 kΩ at 25 °C

The exact value depends on Gardena’s design, but the key point is this:

  • A normal thermistor reading should be finite and stable
  • It should not be open-circuit
  • It should not be short-circuit

With the battery disconnected from the charger, measure resistance between the likely T/NTC terminal and battery negative.

Possible results:

Reading Interpretation
Around 10 kΩ or 47 kΩ at room temperature Temperature sensor path probably OK
Infinite resistance / OL Broken NTC wire, bad connector, failed thermistor, or open BMS path
Near 0 Ω Shorted thermistor line or internal fault
Reading changes when you warm the battery slightly with your hand Confirms NTC-type behavior

For an NTC sensor, resistance normally decreases as temperature rises.

If the charger cannot read the NTC correctly, it may interpret the battery as too cold, too hot, or unsafe, and refuse to charge.


Step 5: Measure battery voltage while connected to the charger

Connect the battery to the charger and place the multimeter across the battery positive and negative terminals.

Watch the voltage during the LED sequence.

Observation Likely cause
Voltage stays fixed around 24 V No real charging current is flowing
Voltage briefly jumps, then drops when LEDs fault Charger starts, detects fault, then shuts down
Voltage collapses significantly Battery/BMS or bad cells may be pulling charger into protection
Voltage slowly rises Charger is charging, but LED indication may be misleading

If voltage does not rise after several minutes, it is not charging.


Most likely faults, ranked

1. Dirty or poor connector contact

This is the first thing to eliminate.

A poor contact on the main positive/negative terminals may cause voltage drop. A poor contact on the temperature-sense terminal may make the charger reject the battery.

Recommended action:

  • Clean contacts.
  • Check that the connector fits tightly.
  • Look for spread female terminals or bent male pins.

2. Open or incorrect NTC temperature-sensor signal

This is a very plausible cause for a charger that detects the battery voltage but refuses to charge.

Symptoms:

  • Battery voltage appears normal.
  • Charger starts its sequence.
  • Charger stops with fault flashing.
  • No charge current flows.

Recommended test:

  • Measure resistance from NTC/sense terminal to battery negative.
  • Look for approximately 10 kΩ or 47 kΩ at room temperature, depending on pack design.

If the reading is open-circuit, the battery pack likely has an internal sensor or wiring fault.


3. Battery BMS protection or cell imbalance

Even if the whole battery measures 24 V, one internal cell group could be much lower than the others.

For a 7S pack, a healthy pack near 24 V should have roughly:

[ 3.4\text{ V per cell group} ]

If one group is, for example, 2.0 V, while others are higher, the total pack voltage may still look acceptable, but the BMS may prevent charging.

Only check individual cell groups if you are competent working on lithium-ion packs. There is fire and short-circuit risk.

Typical cell-group checks:

Cell-group voltage Meaning
3.2–3.7 V Generally plausible depending on state of charge
Below 2.5 V Serious problem; cell group may be damaged
Large imbalance, e.g. more than 0.15–0.20 V difference BMS may reject charging or pack may be degraded
One group at 0 V Broken connection, failed cell group, or BMS issue

4. Charger cable or connector wire fracture

If the charger cable has been bent repeatedly, one conductor may be broken internally.

This is especially relevant if the charger uses a three-wire output: positive, negative, and sense/NTC.

Test:

  • Connect the battery.
  • Observe the LEDs.
  • Gently flex the cable near:
    • The charger body
    • The output plug
    • Any strain relief

If the LED behavior changes when flexing the cable, suspect a broken conductor.


5. Internal charger failure

The charger may have an internal switch-mode power supply fault. Common causes include:

  • Dried electrolytic capacitors
  • Failed optocoupler feedback circuit
  • Cracked solder joints
  • Damaged output rectifier
  • Faulty microcontroller supply rail
  • Surge damage

Typical symptoms:

  • LED fault pattern with no battery connected
  • Output voltage pulsing
  • Correct no-load voltage but collapse under load
  • Charger works briefly then resets
  • Audible ticking or chirping from charger

If the charger is faulty, replacement is usually more practical than repair unless you are comfortable repairing mains-powered SMPS circuits.


Safety notes

This is a lithium-ion system. Avoid the following:

  • Do not connect the battery directly to a DC power supply without current and voltage limits.
  • Do not use a generic 24 V lead-acid charger.
  • Do not use a 29.4 V 7S charger unless you are certain the Gardena battery and BMS are compatible with 4.20 V/cell charging.
  • Do not bypass the battery temperature sensor for normal use.
  • Do not short any battery terminals; a 7S Li-ion pack can deliver very high fault current.

If replacing the charger, match:

  • Chemistry: Li-ion
  • Series count: 7S
  • Final voltage: ideally same as original, about 28.7 V
  • Charge current: 500 mA or manufacturer-approved equivalent
  • Connector polarity
  • Sense/temperature pin arrangement, if present

Practical guidelines

I would diagnose it in this order:

  1. Unplug charger and clean all contacts.
  2. Check charger LED behavior with no battery.
  3. Measure charger open-circuit output voltage.
  4. Measure battery voltage during attempted charge.
  5. Check NTC/sense resistance if the battery has a third terminal.
  6. Try another compatible Gardena battery or charger if available.

The fastest way to separate the fault is:

Test Conclusion
Your battery charges on another compatible charger Original charger is faulty
Your charger gives same fault on another compatible battery Charger is faulty
Your charger works with another battery Your battery/BMS/NTC is faulty
Fault occurs even with no battery Charger is very likely faulty

Brief summary

Your battery at 24 V is not too flat; it should charge. The red/green/double-red repeating pattern indicates the charger is detecting a fault and restarting. The most likely causes are a bad contact, failed NTC temperature-sensor circuit, battery BMS/cell imbalance, or charger internal failure.

Start with contact cleaning and simple multimeter tests. If the charger shows the same fault pattern with no battery or has unstable output voltage, replace or repair the charger. If the charger looks normal with no load but faults only with this battery, investigate the battery’s NTC/sense line and internal cell balance.

Disclaimer: The responses provided by artificial intelligence (language model) may be inaccurate and misleading. Elektroda is not responsible for the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of the presented information. All responses should be verified by the user.

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