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Samsung Galaxy S7's Moisture Warning Prevents Charging When Wet (hothardware.com)

Posted by timothy on from the use-more-rice dept.

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.

74 comments

  1. huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Am I missing something or is a case of "Safety feature works properly, news at 11."

    1. Re:huh by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      The problem was that the quick charge function never started to work again, and the user exploded in anger.

    2. Re:huh by jrumney · · Score: 1

      The problem was that the quick charge function never started to work again, and the user exploded in anger.

      "Never" being any period of time > 10 minutes for the latest smartphone entitlement generation.

  2. lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I hope they tell him to fuck off.

    1. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · 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...

    2. Re:lol by hawguy · · Score: 1

      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?

    3. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Samsung has drop-in support centers where you can talk to a technician and ask them to look at a phone while you wait?

      Er... yes? No?

    4. Re: lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry to say but as for phones like this one and Sony's Z3 flagship line. JUNK. Real rugged phones are near impossible to find on tv commercials and in the shitlineup at the local yocal cell store.

    5. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A little correction to your post : the story says the user plans to return the phone, not that he cancelled the plan.

      So, while the story seems presented as a new "scandal" - or we're inclined to read it in that way, the story could be read quite more mildly. "User suffers a non-critical hardware failure, RMAs the phone".
      RMA also sounds like the best or most straight-forward technical support anyway here. Can changing a software flag on that phone fix it, or was a tiny fuse blown? (and the phone very cheaply repaired by soldering a new USB connector). Can a firmware upgrade fix it by delaying quick charging or lowering the "wetness sensor"'s threshold. Can you do that on customer phone support? (wasting everyone's time)

    6. Re:lol by Anonymous Coward · · 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.

    7. Re:lol by kimvette · · Score: 1

      "Samsung Experience Centers" at Worst Buy. Calling them technicians is a bit of a stretch though...

      --
      The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    8. Re:lol by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      Sure do. Just hop on a plane to Tokyo.

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
    9. Re: lol by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      http://www.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.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  3. Rice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Next time try putting it in a bag of rice. Works every time!

    1. Re: Rice by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Obligatory xkcd, note the alt-text
      https://xkcd.com/1598/

  4. Missing Information by alvinrod · · Score: 5, Interesting

    So it would never quick charge again or it just wouldn't in the short amount of time the user tested it within, which really isn't stated. For all we know this could have been solved by turning if off and on again and it's something a software/firmware patch can fix.

    1. Re:Missing Information by kurkosdr · · Score: 1

      No it's not, moisture will still be detected in the charging port, and the firmware will still react accordingly. I never understood this "X minutes of water resistance when submerged" thing. Does this mean water gets into the device? If I wait a minute and re-submerge it, do I get another X minutes of water resistance? If not, how long I need to wait between submersions? A phone with ports can't really be water resistant. The true water-resistant phone will be full wireless with inductive charging

    2. Re:Missing Information by AmiMoJo · · Score: 3, Informative

      Original source here: http://forum.xda-developers.co...

      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.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:Missing Information by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seams/joints/plugs are imperfect especially in mass manufacturing. Water can often travel past them given enough time if it's not perfect. The standard of X minutes shows how long is can "safely" stay submerged under certain water pressure.

      Take a nylon shirt/pants and put water on top of it. Notice that water won't flow past it but given enough time (which would be short), it will eventually penetrate through the rather large holes in the shirt. Same idea but the holes are much much smaller.

    4. Re:Missing Information by KGIII · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      "So long and thanks for all the fish."
  5. Kyocera rugged and waterproof phones by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Should have got a Kyocera waterproof phone instead, they have waterproof port covers to prevent this problem:

    http://www.kyoceramobile.com/rugged-phones/#

    M

    1. Re:Kyocera rugged and waterproof phones by viperidaenz · · Score: 2

      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.

    2. Re:Kyocera rugged and waterproof phones by Big+Car+Retread · · Score: 1

      ,,,or a Sony Xperia Z3/Z5 etc. No problems with my Z3; it's been in multiple pools and been rinsed off a few times.

    3. Re:Kyocera rugged and waterproof phones by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    4. Re:Kyocera rugged and waterproof phones by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

      That was a quote from the Kyocera DuraForce user manual.

  6. The captcha for this comment is... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    reusing

  7. Blah blah blah blah..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah ... something insightful.... blah blah...something interesting about my past experience that relates to the story in an on topic manner.... blah blah blah, ...some sort of vague ideas of what the future may hold.... blah blah. *The End*

  8. If this happens by queazocotal · · Score: 1

    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.

    1. Re:If this happens by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The cable is probably less expensive than the phone, and usb should current limit the power rails unless the device requests more power.

    2. Re:If this happens by viperidaenz · · Score: 3, 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.

  9. Why is wetness even a problem? by NixieBunny · · Score: 1

    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. I can see why you wouldn't want to submerge your 120V hair dryer in the bathtub with you, but this is a completely different scenario. Am I missing something?

    --
    The determined Real Programmer can write Fortran programs in any language.
    1. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by threephaseboy · · Score: 1

      The USB charging port is only 5V

      False.

      Quick Charge 2.0 chargers can support 5V, 9V or 12V (volts) and up to 3A (Ampere) and 60W.

      --
      .
    2. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by jeffb+(2.718) · · Score: 1

      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, 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.

    3. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by Anonymous Coward · · 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 ?

    4. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by kimvette · · Score: 2

      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.

      --
      The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    5. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by kimvette · · Score: 1

      0.0032 meters

      --
      The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
    6. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by dwywit · · Score: 3, 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.

      --
      They sentenced me to twenty years of boredom
    7. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by hankwang · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      Avantslash: low-bandwidth mobile slashdot.
    8. Re: Why is wetness even a problem? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      No. I charge my galaxy active on a daily basis in a humid room. No worries. From the looks of it I should avoid the Galaxy 7.

    9. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by thegarbz · · Score: 2

      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, D+ or D- pins, and the charger should have a current limiter which prevents issues with a short between 5V and GND.

    10. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      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.

    11. Re:Why is wetness even a problem? by threephaseboy · · 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

      Quick Charge 2.0 offers four charging voltages at 5V, 9V, 12V and 20V, Quick Charge 3.0 provides flexibility with 200mV increments from 3.6V to 20V

      --
      .
  10. Magsafe by slazzy · · Score: 1

    Love the magsafe style port on my xperia z3, charges great even when I'm snorkelling!

    --
    Website Just Down For Me? Find out
    1. Re:Magsafe by Threni · · 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.

    2. Re:Magsafe by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 1

      Companies are dropping those ports because of EU regulations requiring phones to use micro-USB compatible chargers.

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
    3. Re:Magsafe by Harlequin80 · · Score: 1

      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.

    4. Re:Magsafe by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Actually, no, they do require to be able to take charge from a micro usb.

      This can be via an adapter, though. Which is why apple sell the micro usb to lightning adapter.

    5. Re:Magsafe by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
    6. Re:Magsafe by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      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.

      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 Apple only having had two different USB compatible connectors (30 pin dock and lightning) used on their whole range of products, people still complain how Apple is "proprietary". How do you think people react when Sony, who ships far less units than Apple will react? Apple used it on all their products and people still complained how they weren't micro-USB compatible. Or mini USB compatible way back when. Or USB-C compatible now.

      So yeah. Standards rock. Except when they don't. (Incidentally, proper lightning cables the ones with the Made for iPhone/iPod logo, actually are completely waterproof, as are the ports).

    7. Re:Magsafe by tlhIngan · · Score: 1

      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.

      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 work non-polarized as well.

    8. Re:Magsafe by Threni · · 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 do nothing but vent their loud, pointless views over and over at every opportunity. If there's money in it, companies will sell it.

    9. Re:Magsafe by HornWumpus · · Score: 1

      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?

      --
      John McAfee 'It was like that time I hired that Bangkok prostitute; to do my taxes, while I fucked my accountant'
  11. Just stick with wireless charging by DavidMZ · · Score: 2

    While water around the connector may be harder to remove and may take longer to evaporate, the S7 also features wireless charging so you can still charge it.

    1. Re:Just stick with wireless charging by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Wireless charging screws up my ham radios, you insensitive clod!

  12. Re:Why are niggers the way they are? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    lol i noticed that too.

  13. pushing buttons while submerged? why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The S7 owner is an idiot. I hope his insurance claim is rejected!

    1. Re: pushing buttons while submerged? why? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Some of us like buttons to push

  14. Shock horror! by viperidaenz · · Score: 1

    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?

    1. Re: Shock horror! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My Fish hated this phone too.

  15. wireless? by fyngyrz · · Score: 2

    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... USB port now unreliable; I've been though two Gear watch charger cradles, on my third now, as on both of the first two cradles, the USB ports became unreliable. USB is such a lowball connector standard, and the connectors are often mounted such that physically speaking, they aren't very robust. My Note III's charging port is getting flaky too. Normally a failure like that would make me look askance at the manufacturer, but it seems pretty clear to me that no one has really nailed down a reliable data/charge connector for plug-and-unplug service one or more times a day for years at a time. Wireless, though... oh yeah.

    Well, different strokes and all that. If ya gotta plug... Sure am looking forward to the S7. Delighted they put card storage back in it. That kept me from buying a new phone from them for a while. Hoping for some more CPU ooomph, too, as compared to my Note III. The specs say I'll get it. I hope that turns out to the case in real-world applications.

    Don't plan to either plug it into anything, or drop it in the water either. Even just to see. I know, I'm just no fun at all. :)

    --
    I've fallen off your lawn, and I can't get up.
    1. Re:wireless? by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · · Score: 2

      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.

      --
      "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
    2. Re:wireless? by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
    3. Re:wireless? by Coren22 · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
    4. Re:wireless? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The other great thing about wireless charging is that the slower charge rate makes your battery last longer.

      I wouldn't be too sure of that. One of the down-sides to wireless charging is that lots of energy is wasted as heat, while I'm not particularly bothered about the waste as is still doesn't add up to much, it does result in the phone warming up which itself isn't good for the battery.

      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.

      I agree with you here, personally I prefer smaller phones and would have bought a 5X to replace my currently broken Nexus 5, if the 5X had wireless charging.

      Instead I'll have to look at getting my Nexus 5 fixed, it appears to have a faulty power button switch which due to positioning of the components looks too tricky for my limited soldering skills to do myself. I've just been putting off finding somewhere reputable to do it for me as I already have a Galaxy S6 for work which I can install any apps I want on to, and a Moto E which works as a personal phone.

  16. Re:This is why I own an iPhone by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I have it on good authority that you also enjoy penises in your rectum.