_Now_ I'm pissed -- Omnia battery died while charging via USB (?!?!)

[Guest FlorianO]

Hello all,

I've seen this issue mentioned in different forms in different places but with no good explanation / resolution.

The issue:

Omnia warned on low batt. I plugged it in an USB2 slot (via the supplied cable; I tried w/ another USB cable but same prblm) and assumed it will charge that way -- the red LED, batti and S2U2 showed that at least.

However, the phone died on me instead, and refuses to start (on low batt reasons I guess) -- no charging LED light, nothing. So now I'm left stranded with a dead battery away from the wall charger.

Excuse my french, but .... WTF is _that_ about ?!?

ROM is DXHH1 as per this forum.

TIA for prompt help, suggestions

Florian

Edited September 23, 2008 by FlorianO

[Guest Ingvarr]

That because it didn't actually charge from USB port, but just falsely indicated that it did.

This is known issue, not sure if it was fixed with latest firmware. I was never able to actually obtain the green light (the only true sign of charged battery) while charging from USB port.

[Guest omnia newbie]

when you have active sync connected.. it doesnt charge...... try Connection settings/Allow USB connections Untick.. it will charge............. when it is active sync or it sucks battery ...NOT charging..FYI not fixed with the lastest firmware either DXHI1

Edited September 23, 2008 by omnia newbie

[Guest FlorianO]

That because it didn't actually charge from USB port, but just falsely indicated that it did.

This is known issue, not sure if it was fixed with latest firmware. I was never able to actually obtain the green light (the only true sign of charged battery) while charging from USB port.

Thanks for that.

Can someone confirm if any of the newer ROM version address that -- e.g. DXHI1 ? Thx.

[Guest lentini]

when you have active sync connected.. it doesnt charge...... try Connection settings/Allow USB connections Untick.. it will charge............. when it is active sync or it sucks battery ...NOT charging..FYI not fixed with the lastest firmware either DXHI1

it DOES charge via USB when connected via ActiveSync, albeit very slowly

[Guest Ingvarr]

Were you actually able to obtain a steady green light while "charging" via ActiveSync?

Because it will even update battery indicator numbers up, when actual (and not visible) battery charge will go down until phone will just die from lack of juice.

[Guest pidsw]

Mine did not work, but now it does. I am not sure what specifically fixed it, but here are some settings/changes:

- Installed DXHI1 ROM (was on DXHH3)

- USB to PC Advanced connections (RNDIS) On

- Using Windows Vista with mobility center installed from the Samsung Disk

- It says updated drivers when I look at programs/features

My device does not get as Hot as it used to when pluged in

When it goes into standby when connected, the vista mobile device windows goes away

[Guest Ingvarr]

Mine did not work, but now it does. I am not sure what specifically fixed it, but here are some settings/changes:

Same question:

Were you actually able to obtain a steady green light?

[Guest FlorianO]

it DOES charge via USB when connected via ActiveSync, albeit very slowly

That doesn't make sense: I had some battery left when I plugged it (though very little) but soon after it died. If what you state is true, the USB connection should at least have kept the device alive... Now the device dead (and not starting or charging) disregarding if ActiveSync is enabled on USB or not

Edited September 23, 2008 by FlorianO

[Guest WearTheFoxHat]

I guess, what it may do is trickle charge, but if you are running things like wifi/bluetooth/3g etc, then it may use more battery than is actually being charged!

[Guest Ingvarr]

Nobody yet actually reported to obtain a solid green light after USB "charging".

I myself has left my i900 on USB charge overnight, and still no luck. It wasnt doing anything, so argument with "too much load" does not stand. Also I was able to charge different 1600Mah PDA from the same port in couple hours, so it defenitely has enough power.

The solid green light shows when the battery reports that its actually 100% charged. This is hardware-based and only reliable indication that it was actually charging the battery.

The battery percentage and charging indicator on Omnia seem to be completely software-based and buggy, so it can report apparent charge increase without actual battery charging (just because buggy indicator monitor thinks that battery is charging now, so it thinks, it must be increasing).

Edited September 23, 2008 by Ingvarr

[Guest FlorianO]

Nobody yet actually reported to obtain a solid green light after USB "charging" [...] Also I was able to charge different 1600Mah PDA from the same port in couple hours, so it defenitely has enough power.

The battery percentage and charging indicator on Omnia seem to be completely software-based and buggy, so it can report apparent charge increase without actual battery charging (just because buggy indicator monitor thinks that battery is charging now, so it thinks, it must be increasing).

OK, I'm still confused: While the buggy battery indicator might get fixed by firmware, why the hell has charging to do with it ? Again, not only charging, but _discharing_ while USB connected -- again, I was not doing _anything_ with the device while it was USB connected, so it should _at_least_ kept it alive....

Grmble, grmble.

[Guest Ingvarr]

Actually it looks almost like that indicator *assumption* is correct (assuming that it should charge with USB connected).

But the actual charge gate is not opening on USB connection, so device is not actually getting juice and not charging (not even uses external power to run). I hope this can be fixed via software fix and not actual charging circuit hardware problem.

Edited September 23, 2008 by Ingvarr

[Guest Massive Attack]

Hello all,

I've seen this issue mentioned in different forms in different places but with no good explanation / resolution.

The issue:

Omnia warned on low batt. I plugged it in an USB2 slot (via the supplied cable; I tried w/ another USB cable but same prblm) and assumed it will charge that way -- the red LED, batti and S2U2 showed that at least.

However, the phone died on me instead, and refuses to start (on low batt reasons I guess) -- no charging LED light, nothing. So now I'm left stranded with a dead battery away from the wall charger.

Excuse my french, but .... WTF is _that_ about ?!?

ROM is DXHH1 as per this forum.

TIA for prompt help, suggestions

Florian

check you USB port if its 500 mah or 200 mah, some pc with USB port have lower ampere in front.

your phone can be using more energy that it can actually get from the USB port, hence it runs out of juice.

[Guest Ingvarr]

Read the thread, my usb port is 500Mah, and it still doesn't help (and only for Omnia, other no less powerful device was charged just ok).

[Guest FlorianO]

But the actual charge gate is not opening on USB connection, so device is not actually getting juice and not charging (not even uses external power to run). I hope this can be fixed via software fix and not actual charging circuit hardware problem.

Is there any way to decide one or the other ? If it's a issue fixable in firmware I can (sort of) live with until it's fixed, but if it's a hw issue then it's really inexcusable and we're SOL (s*t out of luck)

Can someone please confirm if this is specific to Omnia or are there out there other Samsung devices (F480 ? D900 ?) with same/similar issue ?

Edited September 23, 2008 by FlorianO

[Guest Pyranwolf]

Not having used it on the Omnia (but on the Kaiser and Hermes before I had it) I wonder if BatteryStatus might give you an indication - should be able to show the drain. If the figure is not positive when tethered then the USB charging isn't working or not supplying enough juice (which an untethered figure should give a comparison against).

And before anyone says anything about today screens it would just be a test right?

[Guest Ingvarr]

I guess most proper way will be using monitor *#0228# menu

It reports the current battery voltage. So if voltage not raised after "usb charge" - it did not charge. Well, as long as this voltage is reported correctly and bug is not actually at this part ;)

Edited September 23, 2008 by Ingvarr

[Guest Ratbat]

I guess most proper way will be using monitor *#0228# menu

It reports the current battery voltage. So if voltage not raised after "usb charge" - it did not charge. Well, as long as this voltage is reported correctly and bug is not actually at this part ;)

i'm on hh3, using usb with active sync, 0228 menu shows the voltage hovering between 4.147-4.162, on the charger is goes upto 4.2, i think usb does charge it (at least on hh3) but doesnt quite top off the charge like the charger does

[Guest Ingvarr]

i'm on hh3, using usb with active sync, 0228 menu shows the voltage hovering between 4.147-4.162, on the charger is goes upto 4.2, i think usb does charge it (at least on hh3) but doesnt quite top off the charge like the charger does

Checking voltage while charger connected is useless, it wont report correct one (it's not the battery voltage in any case, as battery voltage should be about 3.8)

Voltage should be checked before charger was connected and then after charger was disconnected. If it will go up, the battery received some charge.

[Guest Ratbat]

Checking voltage while charger connected is useless, it wont report correct one (it's not the battery voltage in any case, as battery voltage should be about 3.8)

Voltage should be checked before charger was connected and then after charger was disconnected. If it will go up, the battery received some charge.

well it slowly dropped when i unplugged it and rose when i plugged it back into the usb, so there was more v in it after it was plugged into the usb

[Guest Massive Attack]

i'm on hh3, using usb with active sync, 0228 menu shows the voltage hovering between 4.147-4.162, on the charger is goes upto 4.2, i think usb does charge it (at least on hh3) but doesnt quite top off the charge like the charger does

because most charger is 1000mah and above, unlike USB which is only 500mah, ive experienced this with a phone connected via USB too and 3G, the USB does charge my phone but the 3G power being used is more than what the USB can supply, now if you look at the ActiveSync while the phone is connected, it once in a while syncs, that might be one of the reason.

[Guest DaZelator]

Does anyone know where to buy a "USB Y-cable" with double USB (male) at the computer end, one for additional power connected to the other, and single USB (female) at the device end? Then we could charge our Omnia over USB at 1000+ mAh... These cables are used to provide additonal power to e.g. USB hard disk drives, but I am only able to find them with MiniUSB (male) at the device end; check http://www.bixnet.com/5vps2powercord.html to get the idea.

Thanks,

DaZelator.

[Guest Street northeast]

I dont think the the onmia can be charged properly with the supplied usb data cable, look at the end that you plug in to the omnia and compare it with the mains charger, the pins are different. From my experance The data cable doesn't charge from protable usb chargers and is very slow via activesync, I've have have had to make my own, I haven't been able to test it yet on my Omnia has gone back for repairs but there is a thread around about a homemade usb charger(no data)

[Guest Ingvarr]

I dont think the the onmia can be charged properly with the supplied usb data cable, look at the end that you plug in to the omnia and compare it with the mains charger, the pins are different. From my experance The data cable doesn't charge from protable usb chargers and is very slow via activesync, I've have have had to make my own, I haven't been able to test it yet on my Omnia has gone back for repairs but there is a thread around about a homemade usb charger(no data)

Hmm, I wonder if we can just split power pins from USB connector to supply both "usual" USB and "charger" power pins, to make proper sync-and-charge cable...

Hmm, I wounder if this cable is made in such a way: http://www.thepocketsolution.com/PSI-46064...arge+Cable.html

They specifically claim it will both sync and charge (and with separate wall-usb plugs too).

Edited September 24, 2008 by Ingvarr