Dropped phone, won't charge
0Samsung Galaxy S4 has been charging with no "gotta hold the cables just right" issues. I dropped it yesterday, and now it won't charge, and I am in another state. I have tried different cables and wall warts - when I plug it into a smart wart, the wart shuts itself off entirely, so something is not right.
Until I get home in two days and put the wireless charging back on again, any suggestions on temporary fixes so I can be reachable? It was at 10% last night (something was sucking power quickly). I am upgrade eligible as of Labor Day.
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If it supports wireless Qi charging, you could try that. Also, you can get an external battery charger and another battery. Then swap batteries periodically.
Yeah, I have the Qi back at home. I just hope that will charge it - something seems to be shorted
@Pamtha Open circuit. A short would result in fire. Most likely a break where the micro USB meets the circuit board. Reflow the junction with a soldering iron. I know, I know, most people don't do that. I support the hacker space idea. You might also get a universal li-ion charger and charge outside the phone while you sleep.
Have you tried just removing the battery and putting it back in? (I have no idea if that will help, but it's worth a shot.)
(if its not under warranty) find a local hackerspace, pop the phone open, and inspect. Might get lucky and find the problem.
Any additional circumstances when you dropped it? Sounds similar to when I dropped my phone while it was plugged in and the USB port got dislodged.
Have you tried dropping it again to un-break it? Probably not advisable but perhaps as a last ditch?
@connorbush @Pamtha I'll second this. I've found percussive maintenance to be the best kind of maintenance.
@connorbush
https://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Samsung+Galaxy+S4+Teardown/13947
Wow, it has a removable battery. A universal lithium battery charger will be able to charge it, if you can find one that will open up large enough to hold it. These chargers were more common back in the day, when every digital camera had its own unique battery shape.
The spring loaded electrodes can be slid along a track to line up with the battery terminals. The electronics in the charger figure out which terminal is which. They charge so slowly, that they don't need to do thermal management. It also often takes some tinkering to get the electrodes to line up just right.
You don't have time to get one shipped, so I took the first URL that I found to show you what they look like. Do not buy this one, it is wired for Australian power. http://www.dx.com/p/universal-cell-phone-lithium-battery-charger-with-usb-power-port-black-flat-plug-220v-55626#.VdNzz_E5pxA
I've also seen them shaped like penguins and teddy bears.
These charge at about 100mA, so charging your 2,600 mAh battery completely will take on the order of 26 hours. This is obviously only useful for emergencies.
These chargers can be found at places that sell gadgets, like truck stops, and in tourist areas. On the internet, they are often available for less than $2 each.
If there is a Qi charger for sale, buy that instead.
Although I wouldn't expect a broken USB port on a name brand cell phone, it may be worth checking.
Shine a flashlight into the charging port, and see if anything came loose in the fall. I've seen USB ports shear off on cheaper electronics (MetaWatch charger for example). Part of the port may have come loose, and is touching something, causing your extra current draw. Another way to check for this is to plug in the cable, and see if it wiggles now.
If that is the issue, slide it around until it isn't draining your battery (which is hard), or stick an insulator between the circuit board and the metal USB port parts.
I suggest using something insulating and wimpy, so you don't break more stuff. I would make a tool out of a drinking straw. Use most of the straw as a handle. Cut away the other end of the straw so that the business end is a curved piece of thin plastic somewhat wider than a microUSB connector. Stick the plastic between what's left of the USB connector, and the circuit board. Cut it off, and leave it in there as an insulator.
Ooh I have not tried secondary percussive maintenance, @daveinsocal and @connorbush. Broke is broke, right? Can't make it much worse unless I also break the screen. @hamjudo - the cable does not seem to seat now. Not loose, just won't go in. I'm going home in 24 hours and will see if I can charge the damn thing with Qi. I just took the Qi back off it a month ago as I wanted to use a cool case.
@Pamtha okay so tldr the thread til now. Don't percuss it again. The cable not seating means something about the USB port is bent. Inspect it and bend it back as necessary. Use a small jeweller's screwdriver or hobby knife to get in there. You may need to use another phone's USB port for reference.
@Pamtha Also, depending upon your phone model, there may be a 3rd party Qi insert that doesn't add bulk; I got one on (the A-word) that goes underneath the standard back on my Galaxy S5.
Darn those "cool" looking phone cases! Why can't someone make a protective case that doesn't just make your phone look like a hunk of rubber?
@emt305
@communist Still not Pretty!
@emt305 Here are a couple of protection options: SL1500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/139734598/LifeProof_LifeJacket_Float_iPhone_Packaging.html&h=1286&w=1500&tbnid=XO6rVRfLtvRXhM:&docid=6WORW_Rbw71O3M&itg=1&ei=VPvVVafMAofZ-gHdvbvIDQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CGMQMyg8MDxqFQoTCKfG3NGFuMcCFYesPgod3d4O2Q">http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/81ZTkwxSq4L.SL1500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.bidorbuy.co.za/item/139734598/LifeProof_LifeJacket_Float_iPhone_Packaging.html&h=1286&w=1500&tbnid=XO6rVRfLtvRXhM:&docid=6WORW_Rbw71O3M&itg=1&ei=VPvVVafMAofZ-gHdvbvIDQ&tbm=isch&ved=0CGMQMyg8MDxqFQoTCKfG3NGFuMcCFYesPgod3d4O2Q
or
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CAcQjRxqFQoTCNLyxeaFuMcCFYuRDQodIw4HyA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsciencetech%2Farticle-2518898%2FHonda-creates-Case-N-device-gives-phone-soft-landing-dropped.html&ei=f_vVVZK3K4ujNqOcnMAM&psig=AFQjCNEuEVSLiAy383QugFI-OgwMm9_Bnw&ust=1440173268506440
@emt305 The big trade off form vs function. I use a Spigen Neo Hybrid Aluminum on my S6. Its pretty slim but just enough to hopefully absorb small-medium falls.
I'm currently using an Impact Gel case, see link: http://shop.impactgel.com/Impact-Gel-iPhone-5-Camo-Case-i5-08-499.htm;jsessionid=F9E52E16A74F43A3B1D816293BFB25C1.m1plqscsfapp05
Got it for a deal @ Wally world when I traded up on phones but couldn't make myself fork out the $ for an Otterbox again. Seems to do pretty good, although I had a heck of a time getting it on the phone.
Yay it will Qi charge! I put the OEM Qi back on again, and we have POWER! So something is horribly wrong in the USB area. Meh, I will Qi for a while.