Is your hoverboard experiencing charging issues?
Even with the best care, hoverboards can suffer the woes that plague most electronics. But perhaps the most common problem hoverboard owners have to deal with is “battery not charging”. This can happen due to a number of reasons, from faulty chargers to motherboard problems.
If you’ve found yourself in such a situation, don’t fret. We’ve compiled a list of several fixes to help you get your hoverboard charging again. But first let’s answer the question, “why is my hoverboard not charging?”.
Table of Contents
Reasons A Hoverboard Battery Won’t Charge
1. Power Outlet Issues
Sometimes, your hoverboard charging issue might lie with the power outlet, not the battery. Perhaps you’ve simply not switched on the wall socket. Or maybe the outlet is not supplying enough electricity to power the hoverboard battery.
Your wall socket might also stop working if a circuit breaker is tripped or a fuse blows up. So, check the circuit break panel for any tripped breaker and switch it ‘on’. For blown fuses, open the fuse box, identify the broken fuse, and replace it.
If the hoverboard still doesn’t charge after being plugged into the outlet, then you are dealing with a burned-out outlet or faulty wall socket.
2. Charger Problems
Charger issues can prevent your self-balancing scooter from charging. To confirm if the charger is working, plug it into a functioning wall socket and wait for the small green indicator light to turn on.
Next, connect the charger to the electrical device. If the hoverboard battery is out of juice, the charger will produce a red light. When the battery is full, the light will change back to green.
However, if the light indicator stays green throughout, the charger is the problem. The same applies when the green light on the charger box disappears.
You can confirm if your charger is faulty by getting another charger or using your charger with a different hoverboard.
If the new charger turns red first and green later, it means your hoverboard is charging. Therefore, replace your defective charger. But if your old charger charges another hoverboard of the same model, check your device charging ports.
3. Damaged Charging Ports
Over time, dirt and debris can block the charging port, preventing the charger from supplying power to the scooter’s battery. This hold, especially if the charger light doesn’t turn on when plugged in.
The hoverboard’s battery will also not receive any charge if the charging port is broken and disconnected. You can usually tell if the charging port is damaged when the charger’s light does not turn on when plugged in.
Let’s not forget about misaligned charging ports. Hoverboards come with a charging port locator tab to help you plug in the charger correctly. But if the charger and the charging port pins don’t align, your hoverboard will not charge.
4. Faulty Battery
Most hoverboards, if not all, use a lithium-ion battery. These batteries are designed to last anywhere between one to two years. Past that, their ability to hold a charge reduces to a point where they can’t hold a charge at all.
One sign of a damaged or depleted hoverboard battery is a beeping red light. Another sign is a flashing orange light when you connect the device to a charger.
Open the battery compartment using a screwdriver and test the battery’s voltage using a voltmeter. If it’s completely drained, your device will need a battery replacement.
5. Loose Wires or Connections
Another problem could be loose cables and connections. Hoverboard absorbs a lot of impacts, especially when used on rough terrains. However, constant shaking can cause the cables to loosen and connectors to disconnect, preventing the hoverboard from charging.
6. Motherboard Problem
If the hoverboard’s motherboard or logic board short circuits, it will affect the board’s balance sensors, plus the charging system. Unfortunately, there’s no quick fix for malfunctioning internal circuit boards.
But if your board is still covered by warranty, you can send it back to the manufacturer for repair. Alternatively, you can get a replacement kit for your board from Amazon on any other e-commerce site.
5 Ways To Fix a Hoverboard That Won’t Charge
1. Replace Charger or Batter
If the culprit behind the charging issues is the charger, replace it. While there are many cheap hoverboard chargers on the market, these will only last you between four to six months.
We recommend you buy a high-grade UL hoverboard charger. This charger will serve you for about two years or more if properly maintained. Furthermore, it’s designed to prevent short circuits, plus other issues.
If you opt for a third-party charger, ensure it’s compatible with your scooter battery’s voltage. Otherwise, it would damage the lithium-ion battery, or worse, start a fire.
2. Replace the Hoverboard Battery
It’s impossible to repair a dead or defective battery. Therefore, if you have identified a broken hoverboard battery as the cause of the charging problems, get a replacement.
Like chargers, hoverboards are available online. But you must ensure the replacement is compatible with your hoverboard.
Since most hoverboards share the same construction and design, you can buy a universal generic replacement battery. The 36V blue shrink-wrapped battery is arguably the most common hoverboard battery on the market. This basic battery is also available in gray and green shrink wrap.
Although basic hoverboard batteries can do the trick, they can overcharge and catch fire. To avoid this, you can buy UL-certified hoverboard batteries. These high-quality batteries are housed in thick, non-conductive plastic and come with thermal sensors to prevent overheating. Because of this, they are the safest batteries on the market.
3. Clean Charging Port
Getting rid of dirt and dust from the hoverboard charging ports can allow the device to work. Get a small pin or a toothpick and carefully remove any debris and lint inside the port.
If the charging port has come loose but is still working, open the hoverboard and tighten it from the inside. However, if it’s missing pins/prongs or cables, you must install a new one.
4. Use A Functioning Power Source
If the problem is the power source, use a different 120 VAC electrical outlet. Confirm if the alternative outlet is functioning by testing it using your phone charger or plugging any other device that works. Alternatively, you can get a new wall adapter for your hoverboard.
5. Check Wiring and Connector
Open the hoverboard by unscrewing the bottom cover. Identify the disconnected wires and plug them back. If the connectors are loose, add adessive or replace them.
Pay close attention to the charge port wires and connectors. If you notice any frayed wires, replace them since they can interfere with the connection and power flow to the battery. It also helps to clean any corrosion or rust build-up.
If you’re not comfortable with the repair work, you can hire a hoverboard technician.
Can You Charge Hoverboard Without Charger?
You will discover many articles and YouTube clips online describing the various ways you can charge your hoverboard without a charger. But it’s wise to avoid these charging methods since they are not safe.
When you charge your hoverboard with a different charger, let’s say a laptop charger, you risk voiding the device warranty. At worst, the charger can reduce the hoverboard’s battery life or cause it to catch fire or explode.
Generally, there are no effective methods of charging your hoverboard without a charger. However, you can give the device’s battery power for a short time by moving it back and forth many times.
But this is just a temporary solution. So, invest in a new charger if yours is damaged or lost.
FAQs
1. How Long Do Hoverboard Batteries Last?
A fully charged hoverboard battery can last anywhere between four to six hours on a single charge. But if the battery is faulty, it won’t even last for one hour.
2. Can hoverboards explode?
Most modern hoverboards and self-balancing scooters use UL-certified batteries. These batteries’ solid construction makes them resistant to overcharging. They also come with other safety features like thermal sensors. However, if you use a basic generic battery on your hoverboard, you increase its risk of catching fire and exploding.
3. How do you know when a hoverboard needs to be charged?
If the hoverboard battery indicator turns red, it’s a sign to juice up your board. Plug the charger into the wall socket and connect it to the device. Once the light turns green, remove the charge. Avoid overcharging your board since you will reduce the battery’s life.
Closing Thoughts
There are several reasons your hoverboard battery won’t charge, such as a damaged charger, a dead battery, and loose wires.
Fortunately, the solutions above can help you address this problem hassle-free. But if you have tried these fixes with no result, probably your hoverboard is defective.
For other hoverboard issues, you can reset the device. If this solution fails, it’s time to seek the help of a hoverboard technician or get a replacement.
That is all for today!
If you have any questions or suggestions, leave us a comment in the comment section below.