[Tdustin]

The pins on my G watch are also starting to corrode

[iborguk]

So bought a NATO strap and put some insulation tape on it to cover the pins when on my wrist. Let's see how that goes.

[DavidLanz]

I have the same problem with my LG G watch: DavidLanz:[Android Wear] LG G Watch落漆?? - 樂多日誌

[Small_law]

Where did you buy the watch? I had a good experience returning a peeling Nexus 5 bumper case via the Play Store's costumer service (they sent me a new one, actually). I would cut out LG altogether and try the seller if you're within the return period. If it was Google, I'd even try if you're outside of it.

Thankfully, I'm not seeing corrosion on my G Watch. The middle pogo pin looks a tiny bit scratched, but that's likely from normal wear with the charging dock. I do wipe the pins with lens cleaning wipes regularly.

It sucks that's happened to you. I have definitely worn the watch when my wrist was sweaty and nothing like that has happened to me. I don't believe I have any sort of allergy to metals either. Get that thing RMA'ed.

[Jlav78]

I've had mine for 3 days and had no signs of corrosion or pain-It's a colder country here so less sweat. It seems likely it's that. To be safe I put a spare dbrand skin I had left over from my N4 (they sent me two because my original didn't get delivered in the Christmas Rush) just beside the pins to keep it lifted up. If it starts corroding I might put it over and try to get a NATO strap. Fairly cheap on ebay

I'm usually oddly lucky with these things, never get any of the 'common bugs' always reported

[zavandiver]

LG has released a software update to address this issue. It cuts power to the contacts when the watch is removed from the charger. The current software number ends in V, the new in Y.

[Ribs85]

LG has released a software update to address this issue. It cuts power to the contacts when the watch is removed from the charger. The current software number end in V, the new in Y

Wow. Don't think anyone saw that coming!

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[zavandiver]

The story is on Android Police dated today.

[JimSmith94]

LG has released a software update to address this issue. It cuts power to the contacts when the watch is removed from the charger. The current software number ends in V, the new in Y.

Wow, how did that flaw ever make it through QA in the first place?!?

[Aglet]

Disappointing that LG told iborguk it wasn't a problem when he approached them. LG = lying good, perhaps.

This was post #22 in this thread, I'll quote it here to save anyone interested from scrolling back.

OK LG said not our problem. You are allergic.
They stated that the metals in use are copper and stainless steel, no heavy metals which should cause an allergy. I said could it be a voltage discharge then and they said no.
Basically it was go away.

[zavandiver]

This comment was posted by Jack on the Android Police story reporting the update:
Just spoke to LG live chat and got the following statement out of them

LG TV, Monitors, AV and IT Support
Recently it has come to our attention that a small number of G Watch devices have been reported to have developed discoloration and residue buildup on the terminal pins located on the back. While completely safe and unlikely to affect charging, LG will be rolling out a maintenance release over the next few days that will disable the current when the G Watch is not in the charging dock. The maintenance release will be rolled out automatically over-the-air to all G Watch owners. We thank G Watch users for their patience and apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused.

This could be what's in the update

[iborguk]

Yes they have had an email from me today ! I look forward to their response !

[iborguk]

Ok so just reset my watch and got the KMV78Y firmware which is supposed to fix the issue after doing a check for system update following that reset. Let's see how it goes. I also called LG today and was promised a call back before 20:00 today ... That will be in 9 mins then. Not holding my breath.....

[iborguk]

Ok so just reset my watch and got the KMV78Y firmware which is supposed to fix the issue after doing a check for system update following that reset. Let's see how it goes. I also called LG today and was promised a call back before 20:00 today ... That will be in 9 mins then. Not holding my breath.....

OK in fairness they did call. I have demanded a replacement watch and an explanation as to why I was told it couldn't possibly be a discharge issue, after they had spoken to the factory......

[Tyrbiter]

I received the KMV78Y update this morning, and finally got round to checking the contact voltages after applying it.

The centre contact is now at 0V as it should be, the one next to the ground contact (reset switch end) is showing 1.755V and I can feel a tingle with my tongue across those contacts. That doesn't seem right to me. Originally both these contacts measured 1.7-1.8V, so the centre one is definitely powered off now.

I will be interested to hear what you get from them about a replacement, the 2 contacts on mine, especially the centre one, are pitted and missing not just the gold plating but also noticeable amounts of the base metal.

[George H Martin]

Its only a thought but could this issue have something to with people who hairy wrists? I've seen plenty of pics of peoples wrists who have this problem and in every single one of them, the wearer has hairy wrists. I don't have hairy wrists and don't suffer from this issue.
Just a thought......

[zavandiver]

Its only a thought but could this issue have something to with people who hairy wrists? I've seen plenty of pics of peoples wrists who have this problem and in every single one of them, the wearer has hairy wrists. I don't have hairy wrists and don't suffer from this issue.
Just a thought......

I would think that the hair would insulate the contacts from the skin. My wrists are hairy, but I haven't noticed the issue yet.

[editorkid]

I think it had more to do with sweat having enough ions to serve as the electrolyte needed to conduct the charge. It took quite a while for my watch to update, but now that it has, I'm glad to say that my wrist is healing and the watch charges every time I put it into the cradle. I haven't gone hiking since then, but I plan to do a little this weekend, so we'll see what happens afterward.

[Jlav78]

Ow. Rash on my wrist now even after fix. Contacted support again, would not be surprised if I end up returning my watch and buying a 360 or G Watch R instead (I'm sure they'll be more willing to refund if I state that I'm purchasing the G Watch R lol)

[Aglet]

I was assuming the 'R' stood for 'round'. Maybe it means rash-free? We can only hope.

[Jlav78]

Replacement is then the other title XD

This is considering that they actually give me a refund and that the g watch r comes out in the uk at a reasonable price AND the g watch r doesn't have the stupid charging placement. If it isn't released in a reasonable time but the 360 is, then I might get it despite it not being a perfect circle

UPDATE: Google Play is issuing a refund. G Watch R seems too expensive and the Moto 360 seems a little fancier now that proper photos were released...now shut up and take my money moto

UPDATE 2: No further response from Google..sent another email

[Tyrbiter]

I received the KMV78Y update this morning, and finally got round to checking the contact voltages after applying it.

The centre contact is now at 0V as it should be, the one next to the ground contact (reset switch end) is showing 1.755V and I can feel a tingle with my tongue across those contacts. That doesn't seem right to me. Originally both these contacts measured 1.7-1.8V, so the centre one is definitely powered off now.

I will be interested to hear what you get from them about a replacement, the 2 contacts on mine, especially the centre one, are pitted and missing not just the gold plating but also noticeable amounts of the base metal.

I have been provided with a replacement by the Google Play store, and have been using it for about a 10 days, unfortunately the replacement is behaving the same way as the original. I applied the KMV78Y firmware update as soon as I received the new watch, I did not wear it at all without the data pin voltage 'fix'.

The contact next to the ground (nearest the reset button) is still showing 1.755V on a high impedance voltmeter and I can see today that the gold on this contact is partially gone and the metal below is starting to pit and corrode away. This is really very disappointing.

Some more investigation reveals that the contact next to the ground is the spare contact on a micro USB connector, sometimes known as 'ID' and used for various purposes. In this case, a similar Qualcomm design I found on the web has the signal connected to this line called FORCE_USB_BOOT, so it's used to put the SoC chip inside into a mode where it boots differently. I suspect that means that there is no way to turn off this voltage without a hardware change inside the watch.

Checking the charging dock reveals that it is a simple straight through design, the matching pogo pin is not connected to either ground or apparently anything else. Shorting the ground contact on the watch to this adjacent contact via an ammeter reveals a current of 8.8uA flowing, so shorting the pins together would reduce battery life by a bit less than 0.1%. A better solution is to carefully cover the ID contact with something non conductive, glue or paint, and prevent it from touching the skin.

This means there is a simple fix if people are prepared to make this small modification; in my case the contact is being corroded away so it is worth doing it.

[MC_A_DOT]

I have been provided with a replacement by the Google Play store, and have been using it for about a 10 days, unfortunately the replacement is behaving the same way as the original. I applied the KMV78Y firmware update as soon as I received the new watch, I did not wear it at all without the data pin voltage 'fix'.

The contact next to the ground (nearest the reset button) is still showing 1.755V on a high impedance voltmeter and I can see today that the gold on this contact is partially gone and the metal below is starting to pit and corrode away. This is really very disappointing.

Looks like I will have to get back on the phone and try to resolve this, unless Google can really turn off this voltage with a new firmware update then the whole concept of pogo pins and contacts on the watch is flawed.

Hmm weird..I've had mine for a while now and I still don't see this problem...

Good luck.