Why won't my Galaxy S3 charge with some chargers?

[AC Question]

Galaxy S3 won't Charge with some chargers

We have three Samsung Galaxy S3's, for the sake of this discussion, I will refer to them as W (wife's phone), M (my phone), and G (gift). Up until about three weeks ago W and M would charge with any of the many wall and car chargers we have, buth off brand and Samsung brand, they would also charge from our computers. About three weeks ago W stopped charging on all but one wall charger (has in integrated cable so can't swap out to test). M still charges with all cables / chargers as before. Today someone gave us their old S3, and it exhibits the same behavior as W (i.e. it only charges on the one charger that works with W). We have tried:
* Powering off / on W
* Removing and reinstalling battery on W
* Swapping batteries between W and M.
* Cleaning W's usb socket with compressed air and toothpick (with battery out)
* Removing W's battery, plugging in charger, reinstalling battery, powering on (recommended on some forum).
* Factory reset of W
* Comparing USB connector dimensions between working and not working chargers with micrometer (they are the same within 1/64 of an inch).
* Buying new Samsung branded chargers (didn't work)
* Buying a second wall charger of the same make and model as the one that works (new one does not work).

Finally we found a cable, that when mated with any wall charger, would charge W. However, I am concerned that as W once worked with all chargers, and now does not, it will some day even stop working with the new cable. It is obvious that something in the W phone changed as it worked before, and all of the chargers / cables continue to work with M.

Any idea what is going on?

 

[itguyjax8430]

Re: Galaxy S3 won't Charge with some chargers

We have three Samsung Galaxy S3's, for the sake of this discussion, I will refer to them as W (wife's phone), M (my phone), and G (gift). Up until about three weeks ago W and M would charge with any of the many wall and car chargers we have, buth off brand and Samsung brand, they would also charge from our computers. About three weeks ago W stopped charging on all but one wall charger (has in integrated cable so can't swap out to test). M still charges with all cables / chargers as before. Today someone gave us their old S3, and it exhibits the same behavior as W (i.e. it only charges on the one charger that works with W). We have tried:
* Powering off / on W
* Removing and reinstalling battery on W
* Swapping batteries between W and M.
* Cleaning W's usb socket with compressed air and toothpick (with battery out)
* Removing W's battery, plugging in charger, reinstalling battery, powering on (recommended on some forum).
* Factory reset of W
* Comparing USB connector dimensions between working and not working chargers with micrometer (they are the same within 1/64 of an inch).
* Buying new Samsung branded chargers (didn't work)
* Buying a second wall charger of the same make and model as the one that works (new one does not work).

Finally we found a cable, that when mated with any wall charger, would charge W. However, I am concerned that as W once worked with all chargers, and now does not, it will some day even stop working with the new cable. It is obvious that something in the W phone changed as it worked before, and all of the chargers / cables continue to work with M.

Any idea what is going on?

Welcome to Android Central!

Maybe your wife's phone charging port is going bad? Does the one that works for her phone fit in there more snug than the others?

 

[Rukbat]

Install Ampere so you can see the charging current when the phone isn't charging and when it is charging. The net charge current has to be more than the phone is using, or it's going to show a discharge during charging. But at least you'll have numbers to work with. (A rogue app can draw so much current that you can't get a charge.)

"Swapping batteries between W and M." But what happened. Did the problem follow the battery or stay with the phone?