Samsung Galaxy S7's Moisture Warning Prevents Charging When Wet (hothardware.com) 74
MojoKid writes: The Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge don't officially launch for a few more days, but some carriers appear to have shipped pre-orders early and some phones are already in consumers' hands. One early Galaxy S7 Edge owner appears to have tested his phones' water-resistance already and uncovered another new feature in the process. The user submerged his Galaxy S7 Edge in water and snapped a photo, then about four hours later plugged the phone into its fast charger and a warning popped-up on screen that stated, "Moisture detected in charging port", and the phone wouldn't charge. The user dried the phone and let it sit for a while, and it eventually started to charge again, but it wouldn't quick charge any longer. Frustrated, the user RMA'd the phone and plans to send it back to T-Mobile. The Galaxy S7 is IP68 rated, which means it is sealed against dust and can handle continuous submersion in up to 1 meter of water. However, the water detection feature that's apparently built into the Galaxy S7 is a good idea. Though the devices are IP68 rated, a few drops of water in the charging port could easily cause a short when the phone is plugged in.
Re: (Score:1)
wireless? (Score:3)
One of the most compelling reasons I bought an S7 (don't have it yet... Verizon says by the 10th of March) is the wireless charging.
I'm having trouble understanding why you would plug a cable into the phone unless you had no other choice. Wireless is slower, but... so many advantages. So convenient. So easy to pick up and walk away with wireless charging, or conversely, to sit down and place on the charger. So much less wear on the device:
I have a Canon 6D... USB port now unreliable; a transcend card reader
Re: (Score:3)
The wired fast charging is MUCH faster than wireless. If your phone is low and you don't have a lot of time before going out for the night, plugging it in for 15-20 minutes can really help.
That said, I use the wireless charging on my S6 almost exclusively. I rarely HAVE TO use quick charge, but it's nice to have the option.
And I never dunked my S5 in water either, even though it was similarly waterproof. Just because it's "safe" doesn't mean I want to risk a ~$600 piece of hardware as a stunt.
Re: (Score:2)
The other great thing about wireless charging is that the slower charge rate makes your battery last longer. Lithium batteries like being charged slowly. It's worth keeping a 500mA wired charger around for overnight use, when time isn't an issue.
The lack of wireless charging on the latest Nexus devices is a huge, huge loss. I would probably have pre-ordered a 6P at launch if it had come with wireless charging. Take note Google.
Re: (Score:2)
Agreed. Google is missing the boat by not including wireless charging. I was also disappointed that they still don't have memory slots on their devices, this is a feature that would be nice on a phone, but is a must on a tablet. Being able to bring movies on the tablet for the kids to watch on long drives or flights is a must, and when camping it is nice for after dark.
Re: (Score:2)
"Never" being any period of time > 10 minutes for the latest smartphone entitlement generation.
Re:lol (Score:4, Insightful)
Indeed.
He could have asked technical support "Hey guys, everything is cool, but can you take a look if you can make the quick charge work again? It's just a nice feature to have and the phone happens to still be under warranty. Thanks!"
Instead, he got frustrated and returned the phone and plan.
First world problems...
Re: (Score:2)
Indeed.
He could have asked technical support "Hey guys, everything is cool, but can you take a look if you can make the quick charge work again? It's just a nice feature to have and the phone happens to still be under warranty. Thanks!"
Instead, he got frustrated and returned the phone and plan.
First world problems...
Samsung has drop-in support centers where you can talk to a technician and ask them to look at a phone while you wait?
Re: (Score:2, Funny)
Samsung has drop-in support centers where you can talk to a technician and ask them to look at a phone while you wait?
Why not, they copy Apple in every other way.
Re: (Score:2)
"Samsung Experience Centers" at Worst Buy. Calling them technicians is a bit of a stretch though...
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
http://www.verizonwireless.com... [verizonwireless.com]
Oh? Though I had poor luck with the screen, this phone has held up very well to being wet, getting dirty, and many other abuses.
Missing Information (Score:5, Interesting)
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
For starters, I think you're mistaking water-resistant with water-proof. They are not synonyms. As for the time with regards to resistant, I believe it is cumulative.
Re:Missing Information (Score:4, Informative)
Original source here: http://forum.xda-developers.co... [xda-developers.com]
Long story short, others have not had this problem after submersion and others claim to have had it with cheap cables. The OP seems fairly clueless and didn't do any proper testing.
Re: (Score:3)
Devices that rely on covers to be waterproof don't work too well when the covers get dust in them and the seal doesn't work, or the cover gets knocked loose while submerged.
Like the micro usb and 3.5mm jack sockets on Kyocera phones, with their rubber covers. Don't drop your DuraForce phone in water if you have your headphones plugged in. It's not waterproof unless all covers are properly sealed.
To ensure that your phone maintains waterproof capability, the following precautions must be observed.
Make sure the charger/USB port and headset jack covers and battery door are properly seated, with no foreign objects obstructing the seals
Your phone is inoperable under water and should be dried as quickly as possible when wet.
Do not use the charger/USB port for charging, data transmission, etc. until the phone is completely dry.
Do not use the headset jack to plug in an accessory until the phone is completely dry.
Re: (Score:2)
Your phone is inoperable under water and should be dried as quickly as possible when wet.
I'm not so sure about this, the Brigadier at least has video of people using the touchscreen to take pictures while submerged.
Re: (Score:2)
That was a quote from the Kyocera DuraForce user manual.
Re: (Score:1)
If this happens (Score:2)
Your USB plug and socket have both gotten wet.
Drying the phone is of course needed, but you also need to unplug from the charger, and leave the cord to dry, or it will be damaged and corrode.
Re:If this happens (Score:4, Informative)
Passing a current through water, even when current limited (quick charging can deliver 12V and 1.5A I think, so that's 18W you want to dissipate as heat in the connector?) is going to split the water in to hydrogen and oxygen, quickly oxidating your connectors in the process.
Why is wetness even a problem? (Score:2)
Re: (Score:1)
False. [ubergizmo.com]
Re: (Score:2)
If the linked article can't even get basic math right -- 12V * 3A = 36W, not 60W -- I'm not sure how much I should trust the rest of its unsourced numbers.
It looks like QuickCharge 3.0 will support voltages up to 20V [qualcomm.com], but I don't know when that'll become available in commercial products.
I think there may be more concern about electrolytically-accellerated corrosion. That can happen even at very low voltages and leakage currents.
Re:Why is wetness even a problem? (Score:4, Interesting)
Indeed. Ever read the fine print on a radiator core replacement warranty? It's usually something about "warranty doesn't apply to electrolytic corrosion in the presence of 50 milliamps or greater".
That's right. Try this test - unscrew the radiator cap, start the car, get out your multimeter, set it to a milliamp range up to 200 mA, put one probe in the coolant, and the other on the engine block. I had a warranty knockback on a replacement core because it developed pinholes within 6 months. I researched it, tested the amount of current, and went back to the installer. He got the deer-in-the-headlights look when I asked him if he had tested the current. It took a bit of arguing, but I got it all sorted.
Re: (Score:1)
I think there's a different profile that supports 20V @ 3A (60W), probably a copy and paste issue.
Here's a press release straight from QC [qualcomm.com]
Re: (Score:2, Interesting)
The USB charging port is only 5V, and the resistance of water, even salt water, is high enough that it shouldn't disturb the charging process.
It's less than 0.3 ohms per metre for salt water. How far apart are the +5V and GND pins on a micro USB socket ?
Re: (Score:2)
0.0032 meters
Re: (Score:2)
The unit for specific resistance is ohm m, not ohm/m. For conduction paths that have more complicated shapes than wires, it's difficult to tell the resistance without extended calculations, but generally, smaller systems will have higher, not lower, resistances. Moreover, the metal/water interfaces don't behave like simple resistances due to the electrochemical processes there.
Re: (Score:2)
It's less than 0.3 ohms per metre for salt water. How far apart are the +5V and GND pins on a micro USB socket ?
Nope it's less than 0.3 ohm-meters which is 30ohm-centmeters. This is a measure of volume resistance. If you want the resistance between the two pins you're going to need a lot more than the distance between them to come up with the answer. Bust out your integrals and logarithms boys.
Re: (Score:3)
False, plus there is nothing that Samsung can do to prevent electrolysis. This (letting the ports dry before connecting headphones or charger) is probably addressed in the documentation that comes with the phone - I'll find out on Tuesday. If it isn't mentioned in a quick start guide, it sure as hell should be.
Re: (Score:3)
Electrolysis. Admittedly it would be a small effect at 5V but it wouldn't take long to damage the insides of something as small as a USB connector. Also remember that the distance between pins on the USB cable is 0.25mm meaning you don't need very many ohm meters of liquid resistance to have almost a short circuit given the tight distances and size of conductors.
But it's the electrochemical process which will kill it. Within a USB connector the phone should have no problem accepting a short between the 5V,
Magsafe (Score:2)
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Came here to read/make this comment. Apparantly Sony are dropping the mag port. USB sockets are fragile as fuck, and anyone who puts a mag port or some other alternative method of charging that obviates the need to use the usb port a few thousand times over the life of the device (when they only last a few hundred) gets my money.
Re: (Score:2)
Companies are dropping those ports because of EU regulations requiring phones to use micro-USB compatible chargers.
Re: (Score:2)
This isn't quite true. The EU regulations require the phones to be able to charge off a universal charger, in this case a USB slot. The wire that runs from the USB slot to the phone can be what ever you want. Otherwise Apple would have issues.
Re: (Score:2)
Probably because people are complaining about a "proprietary" USB port on those phones incompatible with any cable you can buy cheaply.
We hear it all the time with Apple - despite A
Re: (Score:1)
> How do you think people react when Sony, who ships far less units than Apple will react?
Why are you speculating about some possible future event? We're talking about the exact opposite; Sony abandoning the proprietary sockets they're already using. I doubt sony cares about people whining on the internet. Anyone remotely involved with the internet in any capacity will be well aware that along with a handful of people writing apps, designing sites and making products there are millions of people who
Re: (Score:2)
Not polarized.
Be careful about dropping it into a base while half asleep. Putting it in backwards will shut down the phone and throw an overcurrent on the USB port.
Did in once on my Z1, they might have fixed it. Bridge rectifiers aren't expensive.
Re: (Score:2)
MagSafe isn't polarized, either. A clever arrangement of 6 pins (2 for power, 2 for ground), and an offset set of pins for data will ensure it is possible to charge either orientation, though data will only work one way. If you go with 7 pins, you can make data wor
Re: (Score:2)
The Sony magnetic connector design is brain dead fucked.
They could have offset the pins to one side, or used a rectifier circuit. Instead they made it easy to reverse the voltage and tied a power pin direct to the main power of the phone. Why else would it shut the phone down?
Just stick with wireless charging (Score:2)
Shock horror! (Score:2)
A water resistant phone stops you charging it when it's wet.
All other water resistant phones only tell you not to charge when wet. They all let you do it anyway, corroding the USB connector.
How is this a bad thing?