Nexus 5X melted USB port using charger from Google Store

[mglehtonen]

Woke up in the middle of the night to the smell of burnt electronics and melting plastic. My Nexus 5X was very hot to the touch and the plastic around the USB connector was melted. The charging cable (Universal 15W USB Type-C Charger purchased from the Google store) was also a bit melted and was stuck, but came out without too much force. I called Google support today and they are going to replace both the phone and the charger.

Has this happened to anyone else?

It would seem to me that this is all the more reason to purchase chargers directly from Google; if I had not, I imagine this could all be blamed on an after-market cable.

 

[bavarianblessed]

That's a first for me. Haven't heard of this happening with the 5X yet.
Do the pins on the cable connector or the phones USB port look bent or are making contact with each other?

 

[androidsnax]

Glad that nothing bad happened mate, i for one will only be charging mine in the daytime while I'm awake! I find that the phone only loses a few percent overnight and the fast charging on usb-c means it can be topped up quickly while i get ready for work etc.

Let's hope this was an isolated incident - glad you are ok though!


Sent from my Nexus 5X

 

[mglehtonen]

That's a first for me. Haven't heard of this happening with the 5X yet.
Do the pins on the cable connector or the phones USB port look bent or are making contact with each other?

I didn't have much time to check the cable before running to work this morning and the phone port is blackened to the point where I can't see any pins. I'll take a closer look later and report back.

 

[mglehtonen]

Glad that nothing bad happened mate, i for one will only be charging mine in the daytime while I'm awake! I find that the phone only loses a few percent overnight and the fast charging on usb-c means it can be topped up quickly while i get ready for work etc.

Let's hope this was an isolated incident - glad you are ok though!

Thanks! Yeah, there's a nice spot on my nightstand where she was beginning to smolder. Good thing I was restless last night

 

[Nidstang]

I have seen a lot of press on how various 3rd-party type-c chargers can damage the 5X, but I have yet to see anyone have the same issue with a charger purchased directly from Google. Has this happened to anyone else?

Actually, my understanding is that third party cables could damage the source of the charging, not the 5X (i.e., a power brick, a computer's USB port, etc.). This is because the 5X tries to pull more juice than the source can handle.

If I am right on that, then your issue is completely unrelated to the issue with 3rd party cables.

 

[mglehtonen]

Actually, my understanding is that third party cables could damage the source of the charging, not the 5X (i.e., a power brick, a computer's USB port, etc.). This is because the 5X tries to pull more juice than the source can handle.

If I am right on that, then your issue is completely unrelated to the issue with 3rd party cables.

After further research, I believe you are correct. It appears that this was either an issue with the phone's internals or Google's charger shorting out. Either way, I'm still glad it didn't happen with a 3rd party cable/charger for warranty purposes.

 

[GoogleFan]

Do you have any pictures to support your accusations?

 

[mglehtonen]

Do you have any pictures to support your accusations?

Updated to include pictures. Didn't realize I could create an album within xda.

 

[bobby janow]

Just for the heck of it you might want to check the voltages in your home if you can. Although it does sound like a faulty charger since this is the only report of it happening.

 

[jmkhenka]

Just for the heck of it you might want to check the voltages in your home if you can. Although it does sound like a faulty charger since this is the only report of it happening.

This is not caused by voltage but by the charged supplying to much current.

Also the chargers are often certified for 100 to 250 volts or around that and is switched, spikes or even a minor spike in voltage will not cause this.

This is probably a bad wire or bad control ciructry in the device(s), depending on source. 3A is quite alot considering the small wirs used in the cable.

 

[(THE REAL) Neo]

You was lucky.
It could have been ended badly...

 

[mglehtonen]

This is not caused by voltage but by the charged supplying to much current.

Also the chargers are often certified for 100 to 250 volts or around that and is switched, spikes or even a minor spike in voltage will not cause this.

This is probably a bad wire or bad control ciructry in the device(s), depending on source. 3A is quite alot considering the small wirs used in the cable.

Thanks, you are correct - I believe the charger says it is rated for 100-240.

 

[bnelly3383]

Same thing happened to me last night! Woke up to a burned up charging port and cable with the bumper case melted all together with it. Houston we have a problem! I called Google and they are sending me a new device....perhaps to finish the job.

 

[Maritus1]

Same thing happened to me last night! Woke up to a burned up charging port and cable with the bumper case melted all together with it. Houston we have a problem! I called Google and they are sending me a new device....perhaps to finish the job.

Do you have used the original charger that is shipped with the phone? And which kernel have you been using, the stock one?

 

[koax88]

after a bit of research, i found that this problem does not apply only to nexus 5x, its mostly on the port fault either on the cable or the phone , something is shorting inside the cable ( bent leg ?)

 

[eduardoll]

My USB connector melted too with the original usb cable and charger (then I tried with other cable to check whether charging was still working, and it melted again). Unfortunately I bought the phone while I was traveling to the US, I can't send it to RMA here in Brazil...

Luckily I was awake at the moment and could hear and smell the plastic melting... The plastic piece of the USB cable got stucked inside the phone

 

[shadowcore]

Just a nice article on USB Type C cables.
http://www.androidcentral.com/usb-c-problem-isnt-going-away-anytime-soon

My only suggestion is o check the cables before charging. SInce this is the original cable, I can only assume it was faulty to begin with.

 

[koax88]

My USB connector melted too with the original usb cable and charger (then I tried with other cable to check whether charging was still working, and it melted again). Unfortunately I bought the phone while I was traveling to the US, I can't send it to RMA here in Brazil...

Luckily I was awake at the moment and could hear and smell the plastic melting... The plastic piece of the USB cable got stucked inside the phone

may i ask, how long did u use your phone?is it your first charge or its just happen after a while?

 

[eduardoll]

may i ask, how long did u use your phone?is it your first charge or its just happen after a while?

Exactly one month old.