Laptop charge suddenly stopped working

[k1k1]

Hi all,

I use these cheap 88Vape pens, and I normally charge them using the USB port on my laptop. I've been doing this for a year or so with no problems, but over the last couple of days, my laptop has been having trouble with charging. The battery will appear to be fully charged (ie, the light on the charger turns green), but if I take the battery off the charger and immediately put it back on again, the battery continues to charge (ie., the light on the charger turns red), seemingly indicating that it wasn't actually fully charged before. I've charged the same 'full' battery three times, after which I stop trying to charge it as I'm afraid of overcharging it.

I have confirmed that this happens with a brand new battery and charger, so it must be the laptop's USB port that's the problem. (There have been no major changes to the laptop as far as I know.) Anyone know what's going on, and how I can fix it?

 

[Baditude]

Sounds like the micro USB port on your laptop is the culprit. You'd probably have to take your laptop to a computer repair shop, which might be expensive.

Why not just get a wall wort aka AC/DC wall adaptor? Should be under $10.

 

[My Batt Hurts]

Until your charger arrives, try cleaning out the connections where the adapter screws onto the battery.

I used to have problems getting the adapter to recognise the battery but cotton buds/q-tips usually saved the day.

Can you charge your phone off your laptop? Testing for a couple of minutes shouldn't do any harm.

Good luck.

 

[k1k1]

Why not just get a wall wort aka AC/DC wall adaptor? Should be under $10.

I'm in the UK so I can't use that. I've only been able to find one similar device available in the UK (ie., a wall charger that claims to be safe for eGo batteries), but some of the reviews say that it blew their fuses and left scorch marks on the outlet, so I think I'll pass! I've got some standard USB wall converters but I've read that you're not supposed to use those for e-cigs because they overcharge the battery.

 

[k1k1]

Until your charger arrives, try cleaning out the connections where the adapter screws onto the battery.

I used to have problems getting the adapter to recognise the battery but cotton buds/q-tips usually saved the day.

As I said in the original post, this is happening with a brand new battery and charger, so it has nothing to do with how clean the threads are.

My phone will charge off the laptop, but I'm not sure what that proves or how it helps...

 

[smacuser]

Nvm...

 

[wackygt]

If your phone charges off the laptop then I would say its more likely the micro usb port on your device. I used to work for a mobile phone repair company and you wouldn't believe how easy it is to slightly damage a micro usb port.

Also your device will only draw the current it needs to charge - you just need to not leave it charging over night as cheaper devices don't generally have the best over charging protection.

If you have an Android phone try plugging your device into the phone charger and see if you get a similar issue - if you do it will be the micro usb device

 

[Baditude]

I'm in the UK so I can't use that. I've only been able to find one similar device available in the UK (ie., a wall charger that claims to be safe for eGo batteries), but some of the reviews say that it blew their fuses and left scorch marks on the outlet, so I think I'll pass! I've got some standard USB wall converters but I've read that you're not supposed to use those for e-cigs because they overcharge the battery.

An eGo battery charger is supposed to limit the amps being delivered to the battery and deliver the appropriate power to charge the battery safely. The USB wall converters simply convert the AC current to DC current for the charger.

USB BATTERY CHARGER FOR EGO CE4 CE5 CE6 EGO-C EGO-W EGO-T 510 E-CIG E CIGARETTE

2A UK/USB Plug

Enerpower (Flypower) USB - AC adapter (10W) - black

 

[chellie]

Could the vape pens be dying? I assume you are using a USB ego type charger so maybe that charger is bad. If the USB port is charging your phone normally then it seems that the USB port is working.

And in the past did you put your vape pen on the charger and then immediately take it off and try again or are you just doing that now?

Does the pen work after charging? Or is it dead?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/BATTERY-CHARGER-EGO-C-EGO-W-CIGARETTE-Black/dp/B00IUCFTH4

Ego Charger | eBay

Halo Tank / eGo Battery Charger

 

[k1k1]

UPDATE:

First off, thanks to everyone who took the time to reply. I think I've fixed the problem; here is an update for anyone who's interested or having the same issue.

It occurred to me that a few days ago (about the same time I started having trouble charging my e-cigs) I had a portable hard drive plugged into the USB slot, and I had unplugged it without using the 'Safely remove hardware' function in the taskbar. I thought this might have something to do with the problem, so I've just tried plugging the hard drive back in and then unplugging it using the proper procedure, in the hope that this might 'reset' the USB port. Much to my surprise, this seems to have worked, and my batteries are now charging correctly from the port.

 

[United States]

Perhaps a battery pack is in order. I use one to charge my pods.

Edit:
Wrote that before seeing the issue was resolved.
End edit

 

[Lowjumper]

$4.64 EVOD-MT3 1100mAh Rechargeable Starter Kit - 1.5ml / 2.4ohm / USB charger at FastTech - Worldwide Free Shipping
Get a few of these for spares.
If the laptop charges your phone the usb port is fine.