Fitbit Ionic dead and will not charge - fixed

[David_A]

Another faulty Fitbit product. This time it's my second Fitbit Ionic Adidas, out running using GPS with 30% just died. Then would not tcharge, tried all suggestions from the internet but no luck. So thinking about it, lithium batteries and in particular the charging circuit stop when the battery voltage drops too low. So what I did was to place the Ionic in the airing cupboard to elevate the ambient temperature and left it over night. Then I plugged in the charger and the tracker is back working again, albeit with all the software bugs and poor battery life.

NOTE: Do NOT heat the watch up it will not work and could be dangerous. I just rested the back on the hot water cylinder and left for 24 hrs, then it charged ok.

Fitbit fix these duff products!

[RicardoFitbit]

Hi @David_A, welcome to the Community Forums!

Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts and personal experience with your Fitbit device, I understand your situation and how frustrating this matter can be for you. I'd like to let you know that we are always striving to improve the Fitbit experience with our products and services, therefore, the feedback that's shared here in the Community Forums is always appreciated and really helpful for us to evaluate our procedures and make sure that we are delivering what our users want and need.

Let me know if you need anything else, I'll be around.

[PaulMe]

Hi @David_A,

You are correct regarding Lithium batteries failing when the voltage drops too low. Although worse with Ni-Cd batteries.

Heating the watch is a good point. Desperate times call for... etc.

Another option would be to heat the device to no more than 40 degrees Celsius (whatever than is in F. 100?) in an oven for15 or 20 minutes, and no more!

I've been recommending users with non-charging Ionics to source a higher current charger - fast charger, to try and kickstart their device.

Gently heating the device so as not to stress/cook the electronics is another option. 

Unfortunately Fitbit don't have a viable solution, so many of us are quite desperate.

I'm thinking the device depletes the battery to a voltage that sometimes the battery can't recover from?

The Ionic probably should shutdown when the battery voltage a few hundred millivolts higher?

I try not to let the device go below 4 or 5 % before charging. Although some have has issues with the device showing a lot more charge percentage. Who knows?

We need some Fitbit hardware engineers/developers on this site. Not going to happen unfortunately.

Zip!

🤐

[David_A]

I wouldn't recommend heating in the oven, the key is heating the lithium battery slowly to give it a chance to recover, so I found leaving it for 24 hrs on the hot water tank or pipe the best solution for me. A general note to all, doing anything with Lithium batteries outside of their specification can be dangerous!