FP3 Slow Charging

Hi,
this is my first time on the forum, because I have the same problem all of the sudden, so I’m looking for help too.

I have FP3. Worked just fine. During the past week it didn’t want to recharge anymore. After a whole night charging only 32%. Changed cable, switched on and off, updated my phone (which I should have done earlier), …
Sometimes it did charge completly, so I thought the problem was fixed. But last night again it didn’t recharge at all…
I noticed sometimes it says ‘slow charging’ or ‘fast charging’ and sometimes it just buzzes but apparently doesn’t charge…

I also have charging problems.

it just won’t charge or very slowly.

When the phone is turned off and I try to charge it; the phone seems to reboot itself all the time (booting: buzzing, and showing the fairphone logo then turning off and again and booting again going through the same cycle every 30 seconds)

I tried:

  • rebooting
  • battery pull
  • updating everything (of course)
  • new cables
  • cleaning the usb-c connector
  • Going to repair shop: They say we don’t do fairphone because modules are sold out, this goes against their own principles of sustainability)

I had this issue before, it happened after a couple weeks after I bought it new. Back then I fixed it by buying a new bottom module. But now these are sold out.

I love the idea of modularity and sustainability, but I hate these low quality fairphones. (they are not durable)

Also I have problems with the screws: The screws are easily stripped, so you can’t get them out again.
also after taking it apart and putting it back together the fairphone gets a flickering screen.
also you can’t get genuine replacement screws. I really start to hate fairphone.

@PUNCHANAZI @faea @LienDF have you tried a “Power Delivery” Charger as mentioned in my comment above? it would be interesting if this worked for you as well. (I paid 15-20€ for a simple Power Delivery 3.0 charger , so it’s worth a try)

My fairphone 3 had problems with charging slowly since yesterday. I found the cause to be a drop of water behind the speaker and bottom module. (I went kayaking yesterday and found out that the waterproof cover I use was damaged and a bit of water went through)

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See waterwiki . Since humidity has got in, I would recommend you to disassemble the phone (remove all modules) and leave to dry if possible in an air flow.

Even if the phone is still working, the long-term presence of dampness is very bad and will end up doing damage.

Hello all,
I know we already had some threads regarding this issue:
At some point the FP3(+) is charging very slow, and even if it starts fast charging after inserting the charger, it switches to slow after some time.
Some users found, that holding the charging plug in a specific angle, switches back to fast.
I also found, that turning the plug can help.

I agree, that this are sings of a physical defect in the charging plug, or the phones charging module. And so it is recommended to buy a new bottom module.

Now, it seems to me, that turning the phone off and then inserting the charging plug, lets the phone charge fast, regardless how you inserted the plug. I could not find any reports for that.
Can anybody confirm this? Is it possible, that this is not only a “physical”, but also a software issue as well?
Regards
frytz

1 Like

Hi,

I had for a little while charging problems. Phone was not able to change normally anymore.

I share with you two things that helped me charging the phone till the real fix came along:

  • Start the phone in fast boot mode (volume down and plug in usb-c charging cable), your phone will change when the menu comes on. Leave it in this state overnight the battery changes till 50%

  • Take out the battery strip an old usb cable and put the red wire in the + and the black on the - slot of your battery. Hold them in place with an elastic. Battery will change to 70-80%

First I thought it is the battery, so ordered a new one. Finally by replacing the bottom-module my phone if normal again.

Cheers,
Bastiaan

2 Likes

Yes! Same behavior here. Point is that it does seem to get resolved when installing a new bottom module, but the problem always gets back. I am on my third bottom module now, and about to buy a new one.

I know it’s not ideal, but after having problems on my FP3 like slow charging, I cleaned the USB-C port with ispropyl alcohol and it worked again. Since then I bought and always use silicone USB-C port protectors (like these) and have not had any more problems. Sometimes changing the cable can also improve the situation.

Good luck.

2 Likes

If it’s none of the problems above, it could be a defective power management Chip (e.g. PMI632). This could only be replaced with hotair soldering.
I have such a FP3, but haven’t replaced the PMI632 yet.