Charging Issues

[Phillip Doede]

Ok, so I'm having some odd issues here....

About a month a my N5 fell out of my pocket while biking home from work. Almost no physical damage occurred (just some slight scuffing on the bottom right corner where it hit the pavement) but immediately after event the vibration stopped and the wireless charging became a bit flaky. I had to vigorously tap the back of the phone to get it to work which happened to cure the vibration motor but the wireless charging has gotten worse and worse. I've taken the back off twice to try to see what the issue could be and tried prying the contact pins up a bit to make better contact with the back but now after the 2nd attempt there is no wireless charging at all.

More alarming though now that I rely on wired charging I've noticed that it stops at around 90% where as wireless charging would take it to 100% just a few days prior. A new back might fix the wireless charging but I'm not sure what to make of 90% top off issue. I'm thinking about just getting a new N5 and passing this one off to someone that doesn't mind messing with this kind of thing which I honestly do not.

Any thoughts?

 

[Phillip Doede]

Just checked in on my charging N5. Its been charging off of a 1.2A for over 4 hours and been stuck at 90% for about one of those hours and just now made it to 92% with 1 hour 53 mins till full charge...., not sure whats going on here.

 

[B. Diddy]

Welcome to Android Central! Let it charge up on a wall outlet overnight and see if it gets to 100%. Also, when you go to Settings>Battery, does it say Charging (AC) or Charging (USB)? If it's the latter (and you're plugged into a wall outlet), then something in the charging circuits may have been damaged, if it no longer can figure out that it's charging on a wall outlet.

 

[Phillip Doede]

So I left it overnight plugged into one of those mini Belkin powerstrips with built in (1A I think) USB ports and it only made it to 94% and it says charging via "USB" not "AC" so I assume something was damaged within the charging system when the phone was dropped?

I've done it before with varied results but I really don't like working on phones so unless this is an easy fix I think I'm gona get a new N5 and pass this one off on eBay.

 

[B. Diddy]

Was it plugged into the USB port on the power strip? Plug it directly into a wall outlet and see if the same thing happens.

 

[Phillip Doede]

Was it plugged into the USB port on the power strip? Plug it directly into a wall outlet and see if the same thing happens.

Ok, had to find it as I never use it. It does say charhing via AC when plugged into the wall adapter. How does it know and what does that mean?

 

[B. Diddy]

I think it has to do with the circuitry in the charging plug. USB charging uses a much lower current, so charging rates will always be slower that way.

 

[Phillip Doede]

The wall adapter I plugged it into was a older 750mA Samsung unit and that showed charger via AC (I could not find my LG charger). The Belkin powerstrip with USB ports is rated at 1A and the D-Link USB hub off my desktop PC is rated at 1.2A both of those show as charging via USB. When my phone was working properly the fastest way to get it charged was actually wirelessly from the Nexus charger which was powered from prior mentioned D-Link hub.

Anyway..... is this something I can easily fix or am I looking for a new phone?

 

[B. Diddy]

Can you try a 2 amp charger?

 

[Phillip Doede]

To what end? Clearly there is something wrong with the phone if 1.2A won't get it full charge, 500mA should be enough to charge it. And what I really want working is the wireless charging.

 

[Jonneh]

I'm not sure how to get your wireless working again, but if you have a normal AC wall charger (not USB cord by itself), charge with that and see if it reaches 100. USB and wireless charging are slower than normal wall outlet charging, as they don't output the same amount.

If you're interested in selling the phone, let me know which color it is and capacity. I might be interested.

Posted via Android Central App

 

[B. Diddy]

To what end? Clearly there is something wrong with the phone if 1.2A won't get it full charge, 500mA should be enough to charge it. And what I really want working is the wireless charging.

Just trying to explore all options. You could try calibrating the battery software by charging up as much as possible, then using it until it drains to zero, and charging up again, repeating the cycle about 3 times. But you're probably right--it's likely a hardware issue.

 

[Phillip Doede]

I'm not sure how to get your wireless working again, but if you have a normal AC wall charger (not USB cord by itself), charge with that and see if it reaches 100. USB and wireless charging are slower than normal wall outlet charging, as they don't output the same amount.

If you're interested in selling the phone, let me know which color it is and capacity. I might be interested.

Posted via Android Central App

I found the stock LG Nexus charger and its only 850mA; the Belkin powerstrip puts out 1A and the D-Link USB hub is 1.2A so both have far more power than the AC wall adapter.

The phone is a black 32GB N5. Small scuff on the bottom right corner where I dropped it and the small hairline cracks by the volume rocker and SIM slot that every N5 seems to have. I would be interested in selling it once I get a replacement lined up.

Just trying to explore all options. You could try calibrating the battery software by charging up as much as possible, then using it until it drains to zero, and charging up again, repeating the cycle about 3 times. But you're probably right--it's likely a hardware issue.

Yeah, idk either. Battery life seems like it may have taken a hit as well even considering it only gets to 90% now but I'll find out more tomorrow as I have a full day lined up. But like I said not having wireless charging is driving me a bit nuts now that I'm so used to having it so I'm most likely going to be getting another N5.