Charging Cable Problem or Tablet Battery?

[monicakm]

I'm getting the red lighting bolt when I plug in my tablet but it still charges, just a lot slower. I used another charger and it worked but then it too showed the red charging symbol. Sometimes the Galaxy charger works as it should and sometimes it doesn't. Seems like the more time that goes by, the more often I get the red lightning bolt. Sounds like it's a problem tablet???

 

[Dale_M]

I would try different cable.... Samsung charger has the two data leads shorted together in charge so tablet knows its on a 2 amp charger.... Lesser chargers (1 amp) takes a lot longer....

Possible cable is going bad (plug ends) or also possible jack in tablet is wearing out or distorted...

Or battery is coming to end of its life...

Dale

 

[monicakm]

I did try a different cable. I said "charger" so maybe that threw you. I've used the charger/cable that goes with my husband's Kindle. The first time I used it the charging indicator was black. Next time it was red. I've used my computer to charge it. The charge indicator was red but it was charging. That's when I discovered that altho the indicator showed red, it could still charge...just a lot slower. I've thought for a long time it was the jack in the tablet. The connection isn't as tight as it used to be. It would be interesting to know if anyone else is having this problem. I'm the only one that plugs and unplugs the thing and I know to be careful with it.

 

[Moshe Barash]

Occasionally when I plug in my tablet I get the red battery sign, after getting the sign I just unplug the cable from my tablet's port wait a few seconds and then put it back in. When I plug it back in the sign is gone and it is charging normally one again. If the red sign does not go away (only happened once so far) I just repeat said process and then the sign goes away. I only use the stock cable and and the stock wall outlet adapter, I also have a portable charger which I use if I am not near a wall outlet, in that case I still use the stock cable. I have also had the red sign issue with the portable charger so I doubt that the issue is with the wall plug. My phone never has the issue with the portable charger (I use the stock lg cable for my phone) so I think that the issue is with the stock cable or the port on the tablet.

 

[Moshe Barash]

Or battery is coming to end of its life...

Dale

I have had the issue since I first got the tablet (new not refurbished(from amazon)) so said issue is probably not with the battery.

 

[Moshe Barash]

I have the SM-p600 WiFi only by the way.

 

[sure why not]

You get the red sign if the tablet is charging at a diminished rate.
The OEM charger for my tablet says 2.1A, 5,3V.

I've gone round and round pointing out the diminished capacity of USB 2.0, 3.0 and OTG charging.
(0.5, 0.9 & 1.5A respectively)

Use a dedicated wall charger with 2A charging and you will not get the slash, if your cable is good and the port not littered with debris.
Chargers wear out.
Cables do too, from the constant flexing.
If you have tried both, get a magnifying glass and a strong light and look in the charging port.
Phones get pocket lint and 'stuff' packed in there all the time.

Given that Monica has battery problems already from running her tablet down until it shuts off, I would agree with Dale that it is a battery issue more than a charging issue.

 

[Dale_M]

Dont want to be alarmist, and cant find (again) to verify source, but when I was investigating tablets, I seem to remember something of a statement as to "battery in tablet was good for 400 charges"...

Hmmm........ One has to wonder if 400 charges means battery is only good for about a year or so?

Dale

 

[sure why not]

I doubt it is as low as 400 charge cycles.
The tablet does not load a lithium battery like a power tool does.

"Charge cycles" are a 100% charge.
If you charge from 60% to 100%, that is 4/10 of a charge cycle.

Individual cells in the battery will be damaged if they are allowed to drop below 3v.
This is what charge balancing and threshold cutoffs are about.

 

[Moshe Barash]

I heard 1000 charges.

 

[Astronomer cykiller]

Are you talking about 'Red X' on the battery sign? If you are refering to that, then i've had the same problem. So, what i did was I went to Samsung Service Centre and tell them the matter. They found out that the problem was the charging 'port' of the tablet. Luckly, i still have that 1 year warranty, and i got that port replaced for FREE. just go to the samsung service centre near you! i hope you got your device fix!

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[monicakm]

I do have an extended warranty. Wonder if they'd fix it under that? Are you talking about the service booth they have a Best Buy? I've not seen a dedicated service center in the nearest city. Thanks for the tip!
edited to say: I just remembered that I exchanged the 16GB for the 32GB (and paid $10 LESS). The original was purchased on Dec 8. The 32GB was shipped on Jan 10 so I'm still within the first year's warranty
I feel like it's the port. I've put 3 or 4 usb plugs in it and some are tight, some are loose but the one that came with it is definitely looser than it used to be.

 

[Astronomer cykiller]

Oh! That's unfortunate that you dont have samsung service near you. If you bought your tablet at bestbuy and didnt get their extended warranty, they will just send it back to samsung - shipping takes time. Usually, bestbuy will not fix your tablet if you only have that 1 year warranty because that is samsung's wareanty, not bestbuy. You have 2 choices: 1) go to bestbuy->BESTBUY will ship it to samsung->samsung may or may not fix it, depending on the damage-> samsung send it back to bestbuy or to your own home. 2) just go to the best repair shop near you. Since you dont have samsung service centre in you are, i suggest that you pick option #2 because it saves you time. Although, you will have to pay.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[Moshe Barash]

I do have an extended warranty. Wonder if they'd fix it under that? Are you talking about the service booth they have a Best Buy? I've not seen a dedicated service center in the nearest city. Thanks for the tip!
edited to say: I just remembered that I exchanged the 16GB for the 32GB (and paid $10 LESS). The original was purchased on Dec 8. The 32GB was shipped on Jan 10 so I'm still within the first year's warranty
I feel like it's the port. I've put 3 or 4 usb plugs in it and some are tight, some are loose but the one that came with it is definitely looser than it used to be.

I just had another run in with the charging issue. This time the issue was with the port that goes into the charger (large end) at first I thought the issue was with the port that goes into the tablet. I unplugged then replugged it 4 times without any luck. I then unpluged the other end of the cable and replugged it into the charger, the red icon on the battery disappeared on that first attempt, and then it was charging.