Wow Nearly Just Died Due to a Faulty Mobile Charger Port or Cable

AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:05
Last edited 22/05/2022 - 09:12 by 1 other user

Wow so I was playing Apex legends while having my ZTE Nubia Red Magic 6s pro plugged into my charger and it wasn't even the high speed charger I think my multi port charger can only do maybe 20-25 watts max.. Anyways the drain from gaming and charging in must have done something because next thing I knew I could smell melted plastic and at first I thought maybe I forgot to turn off the stove or oven but then I felt the cable at the port and it was hot then I felt the phone area and yeah it was super hot so I quickly pulled it off getting a slight burn in the process and looked at my cable and mobile and both end parts have been burnt.

So this is a PSA to anyone gaming or doing high temperature activities with your phone while plugged in to be careful.

Still no idea what caused this maybe a piece of dirt got lodged in and heated up the port but half of both ends are melted so now I need to find a mobile phone repair shop asap.

TL;DR ZTE NUBIA RED MAGIC 6S PRO charging port and cable got melted while playing Apex Legends and plugged in at same time

Fwiw I have done lots of stuff while phone is plugged in games, videos, binge marathons so not sure if this was specifically because the game was intensive like apex legends or just wear and tear

Be cautious y'all

Edit: if anyone knows of any good mobile phone charger replacement stores in NSW let me know I have a few I have sent messages to but in case they fall through always looking for more

Edit 2: I feel like this was caused by lint at first but because the cable itself felt hot I think it was a cable fault which I should have noticed and caught sooner because my cable kept turning on and off during charging

So if your phone keeps charging on and off while the cable is plugged in it might be a sign the cable is damaged and you should throw.

Mobile Mobile Phone ZTE Android

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2022 - 20:06

    plugged directly into wall or powerboard?

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:07
      +1

      Powerboard

      • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2022 - 20:10
        -2

        what else was plugged in? most people don't know / care but you aren't supposed to plug certain things into power boards, mainly high powered things like TVs, computers, heaters etc.

        • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:21

          The powerboard is fine I think something like dust or linen got trapped Between the port and cable and heated up and caused the two parts to melt.

          • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2022 - 20:34

            @AlienC: is the board old? does the charger fit tightly in to the powerboard or is it loose and could easily fall out of it ?

            • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:37

              @[Deactivated]: The power board is not the culprit.. It's a multi port charger and I have 2 other devices not damaged right now just the usb c cable so if it could anything it might be the usb c port but I think the cable was faulty and overheated due to too much bend and wear and tear.

              That or something got lodged in between the cable and port and heated up enough to melt part of the connectors as the other half of the connectors is fine.

              Only half of the connector ports got melted.

        • ESEMCE on 21/05/2022 - 20:56
          +1

          The only high power thing you've listed is the heater… The others are fine unless you're running the highest end gaming PC and even then you're probably fine

          • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2022 - 21:45
            -1

            @ESEMCE: i meant gaming PCs. wrong about TVs being high power but the manufacturers still recommend against plugging them into power boards, they want you to plug directly into the wall outlet.

            • trongy on 22/05/2022 - 11:11
              +1

              @[Deactivated]: A power board has a 2400 Watt capacity. Gaming PCs are generally below 1000W

              • [Deactivated] on 22/05/2022 - 11:40

                @trongy: yes, but you don't just plug 1 thing into a powerboard

  • rektrading on 21/05/2022 - 20:14
    +5

    Wow nearly just died to a faulty mobile charger port or cable

    Phones chargers don't have enough juice to kill.

    Source: been shocked with mains and can still type this post.

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:18

      Not the shock I was mostly worried about but the potential fire.

      When I smelled something burning I thought something around the house read on fire not my cable and charging port which I need to replace now.

    • ESEMCE on 21/05/2022 - 20:57
      +2

      Cheap shitty chargers certainly do if the 240V side is not properly separated from the low Voltage side.

    • Thrawn on 21/05/2022 - 21:00
      +1

      https://www.9news.com.au/national/company-fined-after-nsw-mo…

      A Sydney mobile phone store has been fined after it sold a faulty USB phone charger to a young nurse who was later electrocuted.
      Sheryl Anne Aldeguer purchased a $5 phone charger that malfunctioned and sent a high-voltage electrical pulse into her

      • rektrading on 21/05/2022 - 21:05
        +2

        phone charger that malfunctioned and sent a high-voltage electrical pulse into her earphones

        Bull.

        The writer has seen too many Hollywood movies.

        • ESEMCE on 23/05/2022 - 09:20

          Easily done if the charger is designed and/or manufactured poorly.
          There's "high" (240V high) voltage in there.
          Big Clive on Youtube has reviewed a number of devices that are carrying mains voltage on the "low voltage" output.

          • rektrading on 23/05/2022 - 10:33

            @ESEMCE: There is no such thing as high voltage from residential main sockets unless the wiring has been modified.

            The charger also doesn't have the components to transform 240V to high voltage.

            • ESEMCE on 23/05/2022 - 11:08

              @rektrading: You're pulling hairs
              240V is the "High Voltage" in this scenario.
              It may not meet the Industry definition, but where you expect 5V DC and get 240V AC, it's a reasonable layman's definition to say you're getting High Voltage.

              • rektrading on 23/05/2022 - 11:14

                @ESEMCE:

                240V is the "High Voltage" in this scenario.
                It may not meet the Industry definition

                🙇 for acknowledging that 240V mains isn't high voltage.

                • ESEMCE on 23/05/2022 - 11:17
                  +1

                  @rektrading: I did so in my original reply.

                  There's "high" (240V high) voltage in there.

      • Ramrunner on 22/05/2022 - 19:18
        +3

        I actually preferred the FULL quote:

        "Sheryl Anne Aldeguer purchased a $5 phone charger that malfunctioned and sent a high-voltage electrical pulse into her earphones from a store in Campsie."

        Imagine if I could buy a $5 charger that would send a high-voltage charge to Putin's earphones form a small study in Oakford! Winning!

        • rektrading on 23/05/2022 - 10:37
          +1

          Imagine if I could buy a $5 charger that would send a high-voltage charge

          Q needs to get on this ASAP.

          It's amazing that people believe all this 💩 that journalists write without knowing a lick of how stuff work.

  • foxmulder on 21/05/2022 - 20:18
    +1

    One you said charger and the other you said powerboard. Which is it? Either way what model of your charger or powerboard specifically?

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:20

      Everything is fine. Powerboard is fine.

      The charging cable and the phones charging connector are both half melted.

      That's where the smell of burning plastic came from.

      The charger and power board is fine.

      Source of the burnt plastic smell is the charging port and cable connected to it but only at the charging port end.

  • deme on 21/05/2022 - 20:21
    +2

    Photo?

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:23
      -2

      No good camera around.

      Tried a few shots with some of my tablets but they were not any good.

      Basically it's just inside the port that got melted the actual case around the port is still fine no damage.

      Same with the cable only the end part inside the metal part of the cable got half of the connector melted the actual cable and even plastic part before the metal is undamaged.

      I caught it quick.

  • websterp on 21/05/2022 - 20:26

    Most likely a pin on the USB-C connector came loose or bent and shorted out the charging circuitry. If the fault was at the HV side the damage would most likely be limited to the adapter or the breaker being tripped. In your case the arcing was around the connector so this is a clear indication of a short inside or around the charge port.

    Charge rate does not have anything to do with the activity on the phone, battery drain does.

    First thing I'd do is to test the charging of the phone using a different charger(make sure you disconnect within seconds if no charging happens). The likelihood is it wont as the USB-C connector pins and the charge controller could have been damaged.

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 21:01

      I'm not brave enough to test it.. The port looks pretty melted and (profanity). There would definitely be arcing if I tried another cable now and lose another cable they ain't cheap.

      I'm gonna be trying to go to screen fixed at Sydney cbd asap to get a charging port replaced for $149 as I don't trust myself to do it blind plus no time due to work.

      Going to have to see if I can sneak a day off work or have a very lunch break.

  • Muzeeb on 21/05/2022 - 20:29
    +3

    Glad you're still alive

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:34

      Thanks same.. If it had gone into fire mode with exposed cable this could have been a very different scenario..

      • brendanm on 21/05/2022 - 20:40
        +2

        Yep, I've heard phone charging cable fires have a 98% chance of death. Very very lucky.

        • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:58

          Lucky for me or lucky for the other guy

    • solidussnake on 22/05/2022 - 13:16
      +2

      Haha the sarcasm went straight over their head 😅

  • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:40
    Merged from Any mobile phone repair shops that can replace the charger port on a red magic 6s pro

    Both the charging port and cable have both melted off randomly during a session of Apex legends mobile.

      • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 21:06
        -2

        Yes but no one there was giving charger replacement shop recommendations so this thread was made

        • Mechz on 21/05/2022 - 21:40
          +2

          You make out like you've never heard of JB HiFi or Officeworks.

    • brendanm on 21/05/2022 - 21:10

      I'd recommend screen fixed at Sydney cbd, I reckon they'd do it for $149.

      • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 21:10
        -1

        Oh man thanks so much that sounds great I'll check them out!

        • brendanm on 21/05/2022 - 21:49

          Is this some sort of elaborate ruse?

          • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 22:22
            -1

            @brendanm: No just looking for charging port replacement companies or flexible mobile phone repair services in Sydney.

            I'll be out of a phone for few days while a replacement phone arrives so just fielding the forums for any recommendations and help.

            Tempted to see if another higher rated cable will work on the half melted cable now but also not strong enough right not to withstand more potential fire hazards or potential shock.

            I'm tired going to bed now. Good night.

    • sajidmib on 21/05/2022 - 21:32
      -1

      Can someone help with screen replacement and sim reader of the phone. Huawei p30 pro

      Local repairers still charge $450 for replacing screens… the phone is old and yet the screens cost almost new phone

      • GordonD on 22/05/2022 - 12:38

        So buy a new phone.

  • AustriaBargain on 21/05/2022 - 20:45

    Quick, buy a lottery ticket. Or bet on Labor to win the election.

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:58

      I have my ozlotterries set to auto play powerball over $40M

  • Jugganautx on 21/05/2022 - 20:52

    Cool story bro.

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:57
      -1

      More hot and shocking but yeah I get you.

  • randomusername2017 on 21/05/2022 - 20:54

    Wouldn't you just respawn?

    • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 20:57

      Only one way to find out.

      Aha I get it because apex legends respawn entertainment.

  • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 21:03

    This whole debacle makes think I should move to wireless charging for my phone at least but then introduces a whole another set of risks and consequences.

    • brendanm on 21/05/2022 - 21:05

      The magnetic field from the wireless charging may mess up your brain, or your compass. If your compass is affected you could get lost in the jungle.

      • AlienC on 21/05/2022 - 21:11

        So what your saying is I don't have to come into work on Monday I could be kicking it with monkey pox and Tarzan

        Also if my brain is already messed up will this fix it.

        • brendanm on 21/05/2022 - 21:50
          +2

          Also if my brain is already messed up will this fix it.

          I'm not sure of the wireless charger has enough power for that task.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/05/2022 - 21:46
      +1

      wireless charging generates heat and lowers the lifespan of battery

      • Ramrunner on 23/05/2022 - 11:16
        -2

        You're kidding right?

        That's a total myth that's been debunked thousands of times.

        I really hope you're being sarcastic otherwise suggest you Google "does wireless charging ruin battery" and learn something before spouting rubbish.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 11:39

          no, i'm not kidding, though it appears you are.

          https://warwick.ac.uk/newsandevents/pressreleases/how_you_ch…

          In conclusion, the research team found that inductive charging, whilst convenient, will likely lead to a reduction in the life of the mobile phone battery. For many users, this degradation may be an acceptable price for the convenience of charging, but for those wishing to eke out the longest life from their phone, cable charging is still recommended.

          a lot of the "tech" websites seemed incapable of making the connection that wireless charging causing the phone to heat up could degrade the batteries, but then went on to say that heat would degrade them in one form or another. i suppose that is the problem with getting journalists to write about things they don't understand.

          perhaps you should google it and learn something before you start spouting rubbish.

          • Ramrunner on 23/05/2022 - 13:13

            @[Deactivated]: Mate did you search and read before sending me ONE article from 2019? And then and even they said "The researchers do note that future approaches to inductive charging design can diminish these transfer losses"

            https://www.google.com/search?q=does+wireless+charging+ruin+…

            There's like 6 or 7 articles saying the complete opposite just in that search alone. The more search terms I try the more articles I find that says there's no more damage done to the battey wired vs wireless.

            Believe what you will I guess but yeah just throwing in a comment like you did and claiming it as absolute fact I don't think shows a receptive mind.

            • [Deactivated] on 23/05/2022 - 14:21

              @Ramrunner: yes, they can diminish, not remove. i have a recent phone, and i notice it gets rather hot when wireless charging, it's just not good for the battery.

              are you seriously comparing articles to actual research? oh lordy

              believe what you want, doesn't change the facts. heat is not good for batteries.

              just throwing in a comment like you did and claiming it as absolute fact I don't think shows a receptive mind.

              oh the irony.

              • Ramrunner on 23/05/2022 - 15:27

                @[Deactivated]: Absolutely true - heat is NOT good for batteries - we agree there.

                Charging my phone by cable (30W Google charger) or by wireless (Pixel Stand 2) give no discernable difference in heat. I measured both for about 30 minutes when I first got my Pixel stand 2, and if anything the cable is about a degree higher (tried it second).

                But I grant that is not a fair test the cable will charge much faster on my Pixel Pro 6 than the stand does as was pretty evident when you look at how fast percentages go up. And yes fully aware that varies depending on how much it's charged so generally I'm talking about the speed between 20-80% full.

                I just don't think in this modern time with fast cable charging these days my phone will be any hotter charging it wirelessly. To be fair the circuitry these days adjust charging speed on the fly (wired or wireless) to prevent heat build up also, it's the only way Xiaomi can charge at 120W without melting the phone.

                In short all reading suggests charging speeds are regulated to prevent premature battery wear.

                The science in your article is actually very interesting to read, but unfortunately they don't mention at all what devices they are using to measure their temps etc, so make it hard for me to latch on to or verify.

                • websterp on 24/05/2022 - 10:20

                  @Ramrunner: I think you forgot to mention the cooling fan inside the Pixel 2 stand. It is there for a reason don't you think?

                  If that fan wasn't there I'm sure your observations with the Pixel Stand would be very different.

                  • Ramrunner on 24/05/2022 - 14:03

                    @websterp: Didn't forget, no, I know it's got one, although I have never heard it. My original pixel stand never had one but then again probably didn't need one due to the slower charging speeds.

                    • websterp on 24/05/2022 - 14:16
                      +1

                      @Ramrunner: The reason that the 1st Gen stand didn't have a fan is due to being a low power (10W for Pixel and 5W for other Qi phones) wireless charger. Therefore it didn't generate much heat. Gen2 can do up to 23W so it needed a fan to control the heat it would generate. Google used a super silent fan design so it definitely is doing its job even though you can hardly hear it.

  • Peter Enis on 21/05/2022 - 21:32

    You still rocking the Strasbourg logs?

    • AlienC on 24/05/2022 - 00:18

      Not for awhile no i have been trying pasta and hargow recently.. might go back to strasburg maybe this winter after I go through all my pasta and pasta simmer sauces.. coles bolognese sauce is pretty nice.. just add shredded or grated parmesan while heating it up in the microwave while your choice of pasta cooks.. been doing fettuccine and spaghetti yum.

      Thanks for the reminder.

  • Mechz on 21/05/2022 - 21:35
    -2

    Maybe use a laptop charger that can keep up with whatever the phone is trying to draw.

    • AlienC on 24/05/2022 - 00:17

      different inputs.. it is usb type c also the port is pretty badly melted I don't want to risk further damage

      • Mechz on 24/05/2022 - 06:58
        +1

        Yes, a USB-C laptop charger typically outputs 50-100w maximum.

        You sound pretty clueless with technology so I wouldn't rule out user error here…

        • AlienC on 26/05/2022 - 02:29
          -1

          Quite the opposite i am just a bit risky and lax when it comes to stress testing equipment.

          I had a feeling that the cable was near the end of its life cycle and even had replacements but you know it's hard to resist squeezing out every last inch of an item and 99.99% i get away with it but not this time.

          Good lesson for me to learn good mistake for me to make.

          For what it's worth i have 100w rated usb c cables now but still this usb c cable should be able to handle the lower powered charging but it got stepped on a lot and bent in weird ways plus the build quality i think was not the greatest not the worst but could be better..

          I feel as we reach higher charging wattages this cable fire and electrocution hazard will be more prominent so i hope cable standards go way up sooner rather and later before it's too late but as we all know we need some examples and guinea pigs first before they fully realise this danger.

          Thoughts and prayers to those that will be the example first.

          Pe ce be withou friend

          • Ramrunner on 26/05/2022 - 07:59

            @AlienC: "but it got stepped on a lot and bent in weird ways plus the build quality i think was not the greatest not the worst but could be better.."

            Cables aren't indestructable. Maybe in future don't step on it or bend it in weird ways? Just a suggestion.

            Cable standards may g upo but I doubt they'll be titanium or carbon fibre sleeved it's not practical and no matter how good they get, they don't like that kind of treatment.

          • Mechz on 26/05/2022 - 11:48

            @AlienC: You've just proved my point. No need to reply further.

            • AlienC on 28/05/2022 - 02:37

              @Mechz: No worries have a nice day.

  • bobbified on 21/05/2022 - 22:30
    +1

    if anyone knows of any good mobile phone charger replacement stores in nsw let me know

    You really can't find a store that sells a decent replacement phone charger?

    • AlienC on 24/05/2022 - 00:16

      lol sorry i worded that wrong i should have asked.. if anyone knows of any good mobile repair shops that do charging port replacement services in nsw

      yeah sorry that was just worded bad

  • Axelstrife on 21/05/2022 - 22:51

    Does the port still work?

    Years ago with an LG G3 did what sounds like an identical thing cable melted and rear of the phone at the charging port area was slightly melted.
    phone charging port still worked though so i threw the cable out and bought a new one and also replace the back panel of the phone (back when phones had backs that where removeable)

    • AlienC on 24/05/2022 - 00:15

      I mean I don't want to risk a $1100 phone or worse risk fire or electrical shock.

      The port looks really bad I mean I could maybe force the cable onto it but seems pretty risky.

      Also I am going to replace the charging port anyways because I need to charge it at work and there is no way I am blowing the electrical circuits at work or worse burning the building down.

      I will be paying about $170 for it to get the charging port replaced and to me that is a price I am ok to pay.

      TL;DR no idea if port works but too scared to try it looks pretty melted

  • Rescue 26 on 22/05/2022 - 10:10
    +3

    Wow nearly just had a heart attack when I read how you nearly just died.

  • RebelOrlan on 26/05/2022 - 10:08

    Personally I would never use a the onboard powerboard USB ports to charge devices because the voltage is usually not clean, or is not in a tight enough range. The quality controls are very poor.

    I doubt your cable does anything. It is merely a piece of wire that delivers the current from one place to another. If the cable fails it usually means it stops charging and if the circuit is incomplete, then nothing happens.

    What is more likely is that the powerboard shot out more voltage than your cable could handle and melted it.

    Furthermore, look out to see if your phone's battery starts to bloat soon. If so, then that might also have been damaged… Sadly, I've been through similar circumstances, but albeit I was not holding the phone at the time.

    • rektrading on 27/05/2022 - 07:40

      What is more likely is that the powerboard shot out more voltage than your cable could handle and melted it.

      😦?

    • AlienC on 15/07/2022 - 20:41

      Oh yeah I don't own any power boards with usb ports and am a little scared of this chance occurrence also. But yeah this was not the cause in this case I use a multi hub charger connected to a power board connected to the socket.

      The multi port charger so far seems good even though it is from aliexpress or banggood I think their quality is getting better but always gotta be cautious.

  • asrey1975 on 15/07/2022 - 16:55

    I had a USB cable with a new Wacom tablet from Amazon.
    Had the USB cable just plugged into a charger and could smell smoke, the end of the USB (micro plug) was starting to smoulder on its own!
    I dont think these cables are totally safe and I suspect thats where the problem started IMO.

    • AlienC on 15/07/2022 - 20:46

      Might be. I think it maybe wasn't not properly rated for high wattage as I had used it a few months already before and on other various usb c devices but all very low wattage devices.. This was probably the first time it had to charge something a bit extra intensive and well it didn't pass the test.

      Yeah I felt a hot burning sensation on my finger while gaming in landscape mode then a smell that's when I put two and two together.. And quickly took it out.. Both the phone and cable parts melted..

      I just cut off the end part of the cable and use it as rope since it's nylon braided it's pretty good for tying stuff up and holding things together.

      Yeah I learnt not to throw away my cables I just terminate/cut off both ends and put them in a box now.

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