Sense won't charge anymore

[TheDJ85]

Hi! I have a fitbit sense and it's been struggling to charge. Now it won't charge at all and my fitbit is dead. Taking a look at my charger, one of the pins is recessed. I have gone a whole day now without my fitbit because it won't charge. I have now had it past the warranty. Anyone have any luck getting a pin to come out of the shell? 

Moderator Edit: Clarified subject

[Guy_]

Hi @AuntBamm - using tinfoil is a very bad idea, not only can you damage the watch but also the power source and charge cable too.

As the cables can be bought for as little as $3, it seems like a poor road to choose.

Fitbit use the same charge cable design on the new Sense 2 so haven't considered improving it.

[AuntBamm]

Thank you for the info. I will keep that in mind.

Sent from my T-Mobile 5G Device
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[kellygoforth]

Wow, I can't believe fitbit hasn't fixed this yet.

[Kaw390]

Nope, alas. There’s no fix for the broken pin. This LONG TERM, universally and wildly accepted, manufacturer defect is designed to fail because it ensures a customer service encounter with (2) possible outcomes: 1. The purchase of a replacement cable, or hopefully (after warranty), 2. The purchase of an upgraded unit. Both equate to more revenue for the company, and zero satisfaction for their customer. It’s not supposed to last, you see. It’s not American made, and the perception is we’re uneducated consumers willing to repeatedly purchase this companies useless chargers bc we’re committed to tracking our meaningful health data. SOLUTION: for $9.99 buy several, 2-pk, disposable, but remarkably durable knock offs and keep going, 

[kevintvine]

I'm on my FIFTH FirBit Sense charger in a little over a year. Every single time it's the same thing: a recessed pin on the charger. It's a faulty product.

[IrishPhenix]

I don't think that's it at all, if I tap mine that pin will come back out, I think it's a flaw of the magnet I think the magnet is drawing it back in because the magnets only in one corner that corner because all of my charger has the exact same pin that withdraws that can't be a pressure thing. I'm telling you it's the magnet and they know it's the magnet. Really bad design.

[Rwheeler]

I keep a couple spare charging cables. I buy them on Amazon. I tried the more expensive ones and they have the same "life span". 

I think the term is "Designed Obsolescence" another way to pick our pockets. 

I am trying a new tracker the problem is the fitbit software is the best and it isn't compatible with any other device ☹️

[CocoGil]

Exactly what I was going to suggest. Tapping it to knock the pin out. Good call!

[Guy_]

It is a bad idea to try and use a faulty charge cable (with sunken pin).

It may be possible to get some sort of charging but without the spring to hold it firmly in place there can be sparking which can cause overheating and contact burn meaning you may have to buy a new watch as well instead of just a new cable.

[VladimirN]

In theory yes, there can be sparking and contact burn. In practice, did anyone get any damage to the watch using the poorly designed Fitbit cables? I did not, and I have been using my first cable for a few weeks before noticing the pin is broken. That cable failed after just a couple of months of use, and was replaced under warranty.

Now, my second Fitbit cable is having the same problem for the last couple of weeks. I've been very careful not to short this cable and tried to attach it carefully. It still failed, so this is clearly a design issue.

In the unlikely case this can cause the watches to fail too, then Fitbit should resolve the design issue with the cables and start a recall program for them. Otherwise they will have to send new watches as well under warranty, not just cables.

Anyway, when the second cable completely stops working, I'll just buy a third party one. Fitbit cables are clearly not fit for purpose, if you would pardon the pun. And the rhyme. But seriously, life is too short to waste it discussing cables with Fitbit support. Sigh. A rhyme again.

[bjmantis]

I'm sick of buying new chargers. Since 2 OEM chargers failed in the last few months (sunken pins), I ordered 2 cheaper ones on Amazon. I will monitor them while I use them to be sure they don't overheat.

I'm SICK of Fitbit not doing anything about this problem. I'll probably buy a different brand tracker next time. I'm considering Apple Watch, Garmin or another tracker.

[OldeTymr]

Ditto. Have only had my FB Sense for 6-weeks. Already totally dead, & with 1 pin stuck down on the charger as well. Contacted Cust Svc, sending me a "Replacement, to arrive in 3-5 business days."  We'll see.  I'll believe it when it arrives; then we'll see how long the replacement lasts . . . . Will report back. I like the Sense, but will remain a FitBut user only as long as I can keep it charged.  Duh.

[Jro1219]

Same issue with not being able to charge. Mine has just passed warranty (of course). My only resolution was to get a "discount " on a new product. Think it's time to switch. It's always something and customer service/warranty is the worst!

[IrishPhenix]

This is a charger issue, it is not a watch warranty issue, it is a design flaw and they know it. They took four metal pins, made that your connector to your charger, and magnetized one corner.... You need all four pins to charge, and since they magnetized one corner to make it stick, that magnet pulls the pin inside the charger so now it doesn't work.... Your only option is just continue buying new chargers every time the pin disappears. I think it's time to switch!

[Rjbbbbb]

There are 4 magnets in the charger. One in each corner. I'm on my second charger with the same pin that is stuck. As somebody else mentioned, it is the internal spring of the pin is broken. I can pull end of the spring out but nothing is keeping tension on keeping it out. The pins are magnetic or the mechanism inside the pin is magnetic.  

[Guy_]

Hi @Rjbbbbb - thanks for the photo, are you able to see why the spring broke, could it be melted or snapped? It may be acting as a fuse wire.

[xenaFB]

My charger lasted 6 months. They are sending me a new one. One pin is recessed inside the charger 

[Synthespian]

About to get my third.  It's such a poor design.

[jdgRunner]

I am on my on my fourth and fifth chargers.  There are signs of problems, mostly slow charging messages, but I have learned to be careful with the charger heads.  Note that while they might not be quite as good, you can get packages of 2-3 chargers for not too much.  Keep and extra always available so when you have a failure you are not stuck without your device and you have time to avoid having to pay a high price.

[Sysop408]

After burning through 7 chargers in 2 years, I think I finally figured out how to stop this from happening. My shortest lived charger only lasted 2 weeks and in that 2 weeks, I accidentally left it on the charger for a full 24 hours. I'm sure that entire time it was vibrating at least several dozen times an hour with the "Slow Charging" message.

This got me thinking that maybe something that happens when the Sense vibrates puts stress on the charger so I started turning off my Sense when it's charging. I've now been on the same charger for five months and that one troublesome lower left pin hasn't shown any signs of falling into the housing. 

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Try turning off your Sense when it's charging. I think all the slow charging vibrations are damaging the charger. I was burning through my chargers constantly until I started charging shutting down my Sense while charging.