Ryobi P411 Won’t Power On

When you flick the switch on your Ryobi P411, is the sander not turning on? Use this troubleshooting guide to help diagnose why.

Make sure battery is fully charged and is able to hold charge. If the battery is damaged or old, it could need to be replaced as it will not store energy as effectively.

Check that battery is well connected to sander. Sometimes the batter connection point inside the sander and/or on the pins of the battery may be obstructed or damaged and lead to a poor connection. If so, inspect the battery contact plate assembly for any damage or dirt.

Check sander for any visible obstructions. See if there are any nails, or objects that are blocking the pad from rotating on the workspace. Sometimes, the sanding pad can be obstructed on the tool side, so inspect the tool carefully before use.

If the tool is not starting, the problem could be attributed to a faulty or damaged switch trigger. The plastic switch trigger could be damaged due to repeated use or rough treatment, and no longer properly activate the switch. With the battery removed, try flipping the switch trigger several times. If the switch trigger does not move, try opening the device and seeing if the switch trigger has any visible damage. For help on replacing the switch trigger, follow this guide.

If the switch trigger is not damaged and is properly switching the switch, the problem may lie within the switch itself. Inspect the switch for any visible damage. You may need to replace the switch using this guide. If no damage is seen, the problem may lie in the wiring of the switch to the motor.

If the switch is not faulty, the issue could lie in the motor itself. Through repeated, strenuous use of the device, the motor could have possibly burned out. For a quick diagnosis, try to see if you can hear the motor making a whining noise, not like that of the standard usage noise. If not working properly, the motor should be replaced by following this guide.