Pin on Sense charging cable is pushed in

[sueloe]

Ever since my Sense did the update it no longer will charge.  I have cleaned the sensors, uninstalled and reinstalled my sense and everything else I could.  My Fitbit is only 7 months old and really does not hold a charge for more than 24-36hours.  

It looks like one of my prongs on the charger is pushed in a little bit.  Not sure how that even happened 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[almoore8]

@Kayla1 No, 2.1A is a high charge current.

More info. 

[Guy_]

@almoore8- a Sense won't accept more than about 340ma regardless of what the power source can provide. So basically any USB with a decently regulated 5V supply will work.

[CraigHansen]

"Wiggling the charge cable while charging can be another issue and is not advisable."

What utter nonsense. Wiggling the charge cable is the only way to get a decent power connection. The issue is that the power connector is designed to only last about a month, having the lower left pin fail to be forced outward by a spring, and the contacts on the back of the watch only have metal in a little annular ring, so the charger has to be wiggled to make contact.

[almoore8]

@Guy_ 

it's interesting to note that I don't have an issue with the low power chargers that I use no matter how I connect/disconnect but did with a higher power charger connecting carefully.

[jontym]

Charger number four has now stopped working for the same reason of a broken pin. Was very gentle when attaching the Fitbit and it still broke in less than three months.

[Guy_]

Hi @jontym - are you sure the watch contact holes are properly cleaned to avoid sparking and over heating?

[Cnim]

On my fourth cable in less than a year.  One POGO pin spring breaks and the pin pushes in so that it doesn't contact the charging point on the watch. Given the number of failures just reported in this forum, I'd say it is an obvious, MAJOR design flaw.  I imagine I'll soon relegate this watch to the scrap pile and buy an Apple watch.

[ammarwasim]

You must be lucky though. I just requested and the support centre declined my request straightforwardly. There is a definite issue with their charger and the upper left pin got stuck inside.

[ammarwasim]

 Fitbit Sense 2 charger

[Cnim]

Trial and error (and a few cables) have led me to a series of steps that appears to work.

1. Gently clean each of the sockets on watch with a wood toothpick in a somewhat circular motion to remove any accumulated lint, etc.

2. unplug charging cable from power supply.

3. Gently attach cable to watch magnetically as intended.

4. Gently wiggle to make sure all four pins are seated completely.

5. Plug cable back into power supply.

The above appears to prevent the POGO pins from breaking AND eliminates the "SLOW CHARGING" prompt during charge cycle.

Apply for a neuro surgeons medical license, you deserve one 🙂

[Kidam]

Same thing for me. Very very hard to get it charge. Quite desapointed.

[almoore8]

@Guy_ For the 340mA rating that you're citing, I assume that you're just considering normal charge current but not conditions like inrush current, or the inevitable direct short of the power and ground pins to the metal, conductive, case.

[Kidam]

Yes, regular charge through USB cable

Stéphane

[Kidam]

Use aluminum foil

[Guy_]

@almoore8  - yes that is maximum current needed when the WiFi is turned on (automatically) during charging , otherwise it is less.

To avoid any short circuit always attach the cable to the watch before plugging in the USB cable, and unplug before detaching.

@Kidam - it is not advisable to use aluminium foil, unless you want to damage watch and charge cable.

[Kidam]

You can use aluminium foil to make contact between the pin and the watch. Worked for me.

[Kidam]

yes real lucky. Me, After less then a year didn't work.

They told me to buy an other one

[jontym]

Now on my fifth replacement charger due to one of pins being pushed in. For the first time I got an acknowledgement from customer support that it is an ongoing problem and that management is aware of the issue.

[Kidam]

Let’s hope they will provide FOC a new one for customer having this issue.

Stéphane

[bigguyfh1]

I have 2 cables that have the pins or pin pushed in on the connector. I know why this happens and I can give them a solution of wanted. I was a molding engineer for 20 years and I know a lot about these issues and it is either a molding or potting issue (depending on how they do the connector.) the pins have to be made to not move once they are molded or potted. Not hard by very specific.

let me know fitbit/