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Fenix 5, corrosion on charge port pins

Former Member over 6 years ago

Hi, I have a Fenix 5 (slate grey) from September 2018, so just around six months old.

It has become a bit fiddly with regards to getting a good connection on the port. Took a peek and it seemed like there was some dirt on the connector. Wiped it down, still there. So grabbed a macro camera and took a closer look.

Seems like my connector is quite corroded! Have any of you had the same issue? ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1465898.jpg ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1465899.jpg

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0 castensson over 6 years ago

So, I've had my new device for about two weeks now and due to the corrosion issues on the last one I've been keeping a close eye on the new one.
As per advice from another thread (can't exactly remember which forum, possibly reddit) I've been rinsing the device after each use and making sure to dry it properly afterwards. The charging pins looks good so far but, and it's a big but, I've already noticed some corrosion on two occasion and that has been after two long runs (30k+) when I've been wearing the device for 3-5 hours while sweating.

After both those runs, there have been a small amount of corrosion around the two upper pins and mostly on the second one which everyone in this thread seems to have the major issues. Didn't get the best picture but you can see a colour change on the upper pins on the photo I took after today's 35k run that with some stops here and there and walking home from the store afterwards gave the pins about 5 hours of sweaty conditions. Was, at least yet, no problem getting it off with a quick rinse and wipe with some paper and after that the pins looks shiny and good again.

Ordered some of those charge port protectors and will use them during workouts but it feels like there is a serious material/design flaw on the new charging port, at least on this generation of watches, where it corrodes thanks to the sweat and salt. The sweat must cause some form of circuit between the two upper pins, my guess is that those two are used for the charging and the bottom two for data transfer and that's why those are less affected. No idea if they've updated anything on the Plus models or the Instincts and others.

Have to say it feels kinds sucky to have this kinda problem on a watch that cost me roughly 3.5 times the price of my Tomtom Spark and that was only due to me buying the F5 on Black Friday last year otherwise it would have been 5-6 times the price...

Buuut beside that it's a great watch. Will do some serious info digging before buying another one with this charging port though.

Unable to upload image, available here https://photos.app.goo.gl/3Jf6PHfxxEyBoSGH8

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I have the same issue. I wondered what the brown gunk was forming around the connector. It turns out that it's rust and my pin 2 is almost worn away. It looks just like some of the pics posted on this thread. So has anyone had any luck getting it repaired or replaced by garmin? I bought mine in August of last year so it's less than a year old.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

I would be willing to bet there is a static voltage present on that pin in contrast to the adjacent pins. For USB it is common to have a voltage present on the data lines to help the host identify what is getting plugged into it. It may be only a couple of volts (harmless) but if there is a little current flowing through salty sweat and the pins, you will get corrosion and/or battery action. It doesn't take much.

My F5 is NOT doing this at all. If you have a multi-meter handy, measure the voltage from that pin to adjacent ones. You will likely see a volt or two present.

So how to remedy? Before using one of those protective caps, make sure not to trap moisture and sweat inside if it! That will be worse. Wash and dry it first, then put the cap on. always keep the cap on until you are ready to charge.

There is also a gel that is used in telecommunications on switch boards that protects contacts from weather. I don't know how safe that is on skin through. Someone with better knowledge of that material would have to speak up. It is highly insulative, and completely moisture blocking. A small blop inside of the protective cap would be the ultimate protection.

0 Esteve over 6 years ago

Esteve Thank you for reaching out to your local support team. I can't lie, I wish you were here in the US so I could bring your device to look at it.

When you interact with my peers in Spain, can you give them the following questions and answers?
How do you clean the device?
How often is it cleaned?
How long was it before the issue started?
What lotions or skin products do you?
Do you shower with the device?
Do you swim in the ocean? If so, how often?
Do you swim in a pool? If so, how often?
Does the device get hot while charging?

Plus if you have any extra information like if you started a new type of activity around that time or anything else that you could think of that could have changed when it started.

This information would allow us to find out why it is happening to some of you but not everyone.

So if anyone else would like to help out, feel free to reach out to your local Support Team too.

I've already reached Spanish support, and they ask me the same questions...

They told me I've to send them the device but don't know if they will fix it or replace it.

0 Esteve over 6 years ago

I would be willing to bet there is a static voltage present on that pin in contrast to the adjacent pins. For USB it is common to have a voltage present on the data lines to help the host identify what is getting plugged into it. It may be only a couple of volts (harmless) but if there is a little current flowing through salty sweat and the pins, you will get corrosion and/or battery action. It doesn't take much.

My F5 is NOT doing this at all. If you have a multi-meter handy, measure the voltage from that pin to adjacent ones. You will likely see a volt or two present.

So how to remedy? Before using one of those protective caps, make sure not to trap moisture and sweat inside if it! That will be worse. Wash and dry it first, then put the cap on. always keep the cap on until you are ready to charge.

There is also a gel that is used in telecommunications on switch boards that protects contacts from weather. I don't know how safe that is on skin through. Someone with better knowledge of that material would have to speak up. It is highly insulative, and completely moisture blocking. A small blop inside of the protective cap would be the ultimate protection.

I've got an Android smartwatch with that issue, and they fix it with a Firmware update... it's strange that it only happens on some devices...

0 Ocean5 over 6 years ago

Now I can say that I have only 3 charging pins, as that second from the top has completely disintegrated and it looks like a hole.
On the positive side, Garmin Australia has agreed to replace it, but I hope this software problem with voltage on this pin (if it is software) will be solved soon, otherwise it will be troublesome to raise the case every half a year.
Mine has been purchased around September 2018, serial number 53*.

0 danlorek over 6 years ago

I, too, observe the same issue on my F5... I've owned several devices from Garmin over the years with exposed pins and have never seen this issue on any of those devices. Usually, the pins were gold plated as well.

I measured from pin 2 to the other pins and can see about 0.32V, so perhaps there is a leaky ESD diode or something compounded by the material the pin is plated with? It's just another thing to add to the list of disappointments with this "premium" watch.

0 Former Member over 6 years ago

Hi, I also own a Garmin Fenix 5 since December 2018. And I also see that corrosion at Pin 2.

The problem is that Garmin Fenix 5 has electromigration on Pin 2. Pin 2 is used as a data line and it seems that it is sniffing if communication is taking place. I recorded the voltage of Pin 2 with an oscilloscope.
Pin 2 has voltage peaks up to 3 Volt with a frequency of 65 Hz. 24 hours, 7 days, 365 days.... till Pin 2 is broken. Electromigration caused by humidity, moisture, sweatiness... (all normal things, a sport watch should withstand)
Electromigration -> google -> knowledge.

Solution 1: Garmin change plating of the USB port of Fenix 5. E.g. Gold. On every Fenix 5. Also the ones already sold.

Solution 2: Garmin engineers think about electromigration and come to the solution that it is not necessary to sniff 24/7/365...
May be only a short burst of 50 ms every 2 seconds is sufficient to sniff. This reduces electromigration by 40. Instead of 1/2 year Pin 2 is broken, it will take 20 years.

Solution 3: Something else.

This is a design failure from Garmin. Wiki says that electromigration has been known for over 100 years. Unfortunately not by Garmin.

The biggest problem is to give this information to Garmin engineers.

May be someone of this board has contact?

Thanks a lot

ChrisW
ciq.forums.garmin.com/.../1478410.jpg

0 Matthew1985 over 6 years ago

I had the exact same thing happen with my recently purchased Fenix 5 after only two months or so of use. I wanted to share my experience on here as coming to this forum helped me understand what was going on with my watch. Hopefully it will help others.

Immediately upon wearing the watch on sweaty runs, I noticed afterwards a heavy orange corrosion on my wrist and accumulating around the second charging pin. I thought it odd but wiped it clean like I usually do after a run, running the unit under fresh water. As the weeks went by, the amount of corrosion did lessen but it still continued.

Eventually, the ongoing corrosion reached a point where I could see the pin itself was being damaged. I had small holes opening up on the surface.

The watch was about two months old so this was unacceptable and I could only see the problem worsening. I am fastidious about caring for my devices because they cost a lot and I really enjoy using them, so I knew this issue was not through neglect. I also never charged the watch while wet.

I contacted Garmin and made a warranty claim. They supplied me with a case number in exchange for proof of purchase, the watch's serial number and photos and a description of the problem.

I sent the watch back and about a week later, I had a new unit returned to me. The turnaround was very fast.

Garmin is extremely efficient with their warranty process so if you have a problem, reach out. Their communication is superb.

I have the new watch now so will keep an eye on it. Hopefully the issue does not repeat. Perhaps a handful of earlier models had something go wrong with the second charging pin making them susceptible to corrosion. It is curious many people on this forum report the same issue with the same charging pin.

Definitely reach out if you have a problem sooner rather than later. A new watch should not have this happen when you are using it correctly.

0 Ocean5 over 5 years ago

Same as others, have received replacement a few days back, no signs of corrosion after contact with sweat but it is probably to early to say as previously it took a few months to develop.