[Solved] Samsung Tab 10.1 Charging Problem

[jolyonh]

Hi All,

I too am having a problem charging my tab.

I am running it off the OEM wall unit and when the tab is plugged in to it a white lightning bolt over the battery is displayed. Also, the screen reports that tab is charging.If I plug the tab into my PC's USB port the lightning bolt is replaced with a red cross and no charging message is displayed. Using the wall unit and despite the "charging (AC)..." message the unit does not charge.

Based on the UI I am assuming that the cable and the wall unit are functioning correctly which leaves me thinking it is the battery. Is that reasonable?

I have done a factory reset but that did not help. Any thoughts, helpful suggestions gratefully received.

 

[leeshor]

Welcome to the forum

If you leave it on the PC for an extended period, say 4-5 hours, in the powered off state, does it indicate that is charged at all?

 

[jolyonh]

Thanks.

I have left the tab overnight turned off and plugged in to the wall unit. The screen displays a charging battery when you briefly press the on button i.e. not enough to turn the unit on, but the battery does not charge.

The curious thing is that I started on this a couple of days ago and the tab was completely out of battery. On turning it on the Samsung logo displayed briefly and then stopped. I can't remember what I plugged the tab into (I presume I used the wall unit) but it reached 22% battery. I unplugged it to take into work to continue the charge however since then the battery has been slowly falling and no amount of charging will increase it.

I am currently running down the unit so it is out of all battery so I can repeat.

 

[Jeffrey]

I wouldn't run the unit down. I would charge it via your PC for 5 hours. This type of trickle charge could solve your issue.

 

[jolyonh]

OK, thanks.

I have noticed quite a few threads about a tab not charging. Has anyone actually replaced the battery? And did it solve the problem?

 

[leeshor]

I don't think the problem is the battery but we/you won't know until you try that trickle charge Jeffrey and I mentioned. It's a process of elimination. It could be the charger, the cable or the port.

 

[jolyonh]

I trickle charged overnight. I used the wall unit but with the red cross showing, which it does sometimes. Getting the lightning bolt can require some fiddling. The unit charged to 12%, so that was an improvement.

What does this mean?

 

[Jeffrey]

As Leeshor mentioned, it could be the cable, charger or the port. If you are fiddling to get the lightning bolt, my guess, it's the port.

 

[jolyonh]

Thanks for your help. I will source another charger and see if that makes a difference.

 

[jolyonh]

Oops I misread the message.

If it is the port then I presume I have to send it to Samsung. Looking online for a service centre you have to select your device and a tab is not an option that can be selected which is rather annoying.

At least the unit is under 2 years old so should be within warranty.

 

[leeshor]

I'm fairly certain Samsung's warranty is only 1 year but have you isolated it to the port?

 

[jolyonh]

I've spoken to Samsung support and they say 2 years on the unit but there are exceptions for example 6 months on the battery and 1 year on the charger.

I don't know if I have isolated it to the port; but to be certain I would need to have an alterntive cable, plug and tablet. So I'm not sure how to proceed other than via Samsung.

 

[leeshor]

The way to isolate it is to check the rate of charging when connected to a running PC. That would potentially eliminate the port as the problem, (and also the cable).

Glad to hear about the 2 year Warranty.

 

[jolyonh]

What sort of rate is OK and what rate suggests a proplem with the port and/or the cable?

 

[leeshor]

It may be slower than a properly working charger but try it and let us know.