Loose charging cable - bad connector - not charging

[CompGuy]

Poor charging design on the Ionic. Unreliable.

Is there anyone else having to wiggle the charging cable to get their Ionic to charge. It is so finicky, I have to get the cable just perfect before it starts to charge. Then I have to set it down with so much care as to not to move the cable or the watch in fear of it disconnecting.

I don't know if the issue is the cable or the actual watch.

To make matters worse if I forget to charge the battery and it dies on me then I have no visual indicator when I'm wiggle the cable that tells me it is charging.

I'm just wondering if all the other issues I read about charging relate to this and then it dying and because the connector is so finicky people can't charge the Ionic when it dies.

[Rich_Laue]

Hello @CompGuy this design was much requested by the Fitbit users. 

Yes I have to do this when there are metal particles attached to the two magnets on the cord. They need to be wiped off. 

I also would take a q-tip or a little piece of paper and isopropyl alcohol and clean the contacts on the watch and cord. 

[Bgadsby]

I have the same issue. Contrary to posts elsewhere, it is not an issue of particles on the contact (at least on my watch). It is simply a poor design or an error in manufacturing. The connector does not seat fully and rocks slightly resulting in no connection. For an item costing hundreds of $, this is unacceptable. 

[Rich_Laue]

Fitbit went with the magnetic hookup and the ability to rotate at the request of your fellow Fitbit users. 

If it is not the connection, or dirt, and not the power source. I need to use the phones charger, then I would look into it being a bad cable. 

Amazon has these <10 and the first thing I do with a new tracker is buy a couple. One for car, one for home, one as backup. 

I continually need to brush metal particles of the cable. This is where the magnets are. 

[BuddhaLotus]

This is my 3rd FitBit Ionic Adidas Edition - the first two literally died because I have not noticed that they are not charging.

I was "(not)charging" (sic) my tracker daily, so I did not worry about it not being charged. :))) LOL etc.

Now my 3rd tracker / cable got to the state, that I have to wiggle and button-push, just to make sure that this one is charging. It is also very hard to find a position where the Adidas band would not prevent the cable from being snugly connected to the tracker. At least I had noticed this time that the charge was stuck at 69 %. This should not be a rocket science.

The magnetic design is nice, I loved it on Apple laptops and I am sorely disappointed that:

- Apple stopped using the nicely working magnetic cable connector on their laptops.

- FitBit learned nothing from the nearly perfect Apple magnetic charging connector design, and went ahead to independently design this disaster. (For example, the cable should not be a straight T-shape design, but an L-shape side-going design - in that case it would not interfere with the band.)

FitBit should redesign the cable as L-shaped and snug fitting, or at least offer a clip-on alternative cable for those who:

- do not have time to repeatedly wiggle the cable and push the button to check if the device is charging over the whole period of the charge.

- do not care being an unpaid maid that has to remove metallic particles from the charger cable.

- like simple reliable solutions for everyday needs... (the above list could go on)

I agree with other users' comments, that for a device that cost so much, this should not be an issue.

[Tyakmor]

Completely agree with posts above reporting poor design. It's simply a design flaw, despite talk of metal particles etc. I like everything else about the watch, but this has been a problem from the first charge. It's enough of a problem that I wouldn't buy another watch with this charging connection

[Mraie]

I had the same problem and brought a fixed stand from Amazon that gave an error free charge. The cable that came with my watch is a waste if time.

[BuddhaLotus]

While relevant, a fair warning, the following IS A BIT OF A SELF ADVERTISING 😁

Good news:

To somewhat alleviate the frustration from the bad charging cable design, try one of my 

Clock Faces that are optimized to save battery, so you only need to wiggle the cable 1 or 2 times a week 😁

That goal is secondary only to usability 😁

So start using one of my Clock Faces, and stop worrying about the battery.

It would last you a week, unless you do some crazy things, like listen to music from the watch 😁

—

These are all free apps, however, if you like them, PayPal me (amount of your choice at anytime): 

https://www.paypal.me/BuddhaLotus

- - -

I offer two 12H/24H Watch Face versions:

Branded Classic Digital Large  

https://gallery.fitbit.com/details/c0cb3127-5898-469c-b894-ec2523ebbfc5 

and

Branded Classic Digital LARGE 

https://gallery.fitbit.com/details/ab3f39ae-dac2-489c-8684-0d05c861d578

BuddhaClock is 24H only, as per Description:

https://gallery.fitbit.com/details/350c27cc-05f7-4ea0-90ae-4a90b1627669  

- - -

Also, please NOTE: 

To change your personal 12 hour / 24 hour preference, set the CLOCK DISPLAY TIME at: 

https://www.fitbit.com/settings/profile page and click SUBMIT button.

Happy Walking,

Buddha Lotus

[SBKAC]

Can you send me a link of the stand that you bought as I am having the same problem.

[Mraie]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KIMILAR-Compatible-Aluminum-Charging-Smartwatch/dp/B07GZHRS67/ref=mp_s_a_1_...

[SBKAC]

Thanks for your help, I’ll order one today