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Unable to charge via usb wall charger

scottj2
over 9 years ago
I'm sorry if this has already been covered. Search didn't come up with anything.

I'm unable to charge my 235 via a USB wall charger. I've tried several, and I've even tried a USB block, which has different ports for varying voltages. My 220 and 620 never had an issue doing this. Is it a voltage thing? It would really suck if I had to charge via a laptop every time, especially when I have to travel and don't bring a laptop.

Anyone else experiencing this, or have a solution?
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    I use the charger for my iPhone without any problems.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    When you use a charger, you won't see the charging screen like you do with a PC with the fr x3x devices.

    The reason for this is you can charge this device while it's recording something like a run. The watch looks the same, but if you have some kind of a display of battery level on a watchface for example, you'll see it going up.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Your device might be charging without you noticing. In contrast to charging through a computer USB port, charging via a wall charger does not make any visual changes to the watch display (at least not to the custom watch face I am using). The idea is that you can continue using your device during the charging process. When you install an app or watch face that shows battery percentage, you should see the percentage going up.

    I admit it is confusing, it also confused me at first. it doesn't even beep or vibrate to indicate that it is connected to a power source, but it works.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Good explanations, thanks.

    Seems easy enough to test. Connect watch to USB charger while you're busy on the computer or something for a couple hours. Take it off the charger and observe the battery status. If it's higher than it was, the charger worked. :)

    Still, it's kinda dumb for Garmin not to give any sort of indication of charging. How difficult would it be to put a lightning bolt graphic on the screen or something?
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Thanks guys.. I'm going to test this out tonight.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Still, it's kinda dumb for Garmin not to give any sort of indication of charging. How difficult would it be to put a lightning bolt graphic on the screen or something?


    Actually, it wouldn't be that easy, as things like all the CIQ watchfaces would have to show battery level the same way or reserve part of the screen for the FW to show it.

    In a couple of my CIQ apps for the vivoactive (it too can be charged while in use), I make an attempt to note charging by watching the battery level and if it's going up, I can change the battery icon, but it's only a guess and can take a long time to detect that it's NOT charging. (it's a bit odd and nothing I have in the app store ties to do it),

    I have suggested that the charging status be exposed in Connect IQ so watchfaces/apps could use that for just this reason.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Well it seems they've figured it out.

    Put my watch on a wall charger today and it displays both battery % charge and a charging-indicator over the battery icon.

    Maybe this was added with 3.2? Thats what mine arrived with so I haven't seen the prior firmware.

  • 0 over 9 years ago
    Actually I coul use a wall charger with 3.13 but now with 3.20 it doesn't work anymore...
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    12100

    philippe.berini, are you sure it's not working, or is it just not showing that it's charging? Mine no longer shows that it is charging when I have it on a wall charger, but when I leave it long enough, it does get charged.
  • 0 over 9 years ago
    philippe.berini, are you sure it's not working, or is it just not showing that it's charging? Mine no longer shows that it is charging when I have it on a wall charger, but when I leave it long enough, it does get charged.


    Hmm I don't know... It didn't show the charging screen so I hooked it up to the PC to charge. Can try that next time. Maybe it's a feature then instead of a bug? Allowing you to use (click around on) the watch while charging?