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Upgraded Keyboard Dock now won't charge!

I have a B50 keyboard dock that was older so didn't support the new battery saving mode in newer firmwares. I sent it in to Asus for upgrade and just got it back today.
Upon putting my Transformer on it, it asked to update the firmware, I did it.
The battery saving mode works now, but my keyboard dock won't charge!
I plug it in and the light turns on like it's charging, I use a couple battery widgets and it would say it's charging and 2 seconds later it stops.
I unplug the cable and the keyboard dock light blinks like it would if it's out of juice/very low.
My keyboard dock is stuck at 35%. I took the Transformer off and kept the keyboard dock plugged in for about 2-3 hours, put the Transformer back on it and it still says 35%!
So, is it broken? Do I need to call Asus again? sigh.

Have you tried blowing very hard at the connection port on the Dock?
The slightest bit of dust can effect the current required for a charge.

Hahahahahaha.
I've been tearing down the hell out of my TF and dock. I know the hardware inside out.
There is a small switch in the dock that controls the charging ability of the dock battery. It sits right on the side of where the chip that they replaced is at. It is very easy for them to accidently flip the switch, turning off the ability to charge the dock battery.
You can either RMA it or you can just open it up and flip the switch. Your choice.
Personally, I have no idea why the switch exists at all.

goodintentions said:
Hahahahahaha.
I've been tearing down the hell out of my TF and dock. I know the hardware inside out.
There is a small switch in the dock that controls the charging ability of the dock battery. It sits right on the side of where the chip that they replaced is at. It is very easy for them to accidently flip the switch, turning off the ability to charge the dock battery.
You can either RMA it or you can just open it up and flip the switch. Your choice.
Personally, I have no idea why the switch exists at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm Ok, I'm pretty good at taking things apart, know of a guide to take this apart? I'll try and do it myself. Thanks!

First and foremost, doing this and telling asus about it will void your warranty.
Warning: Failure to follow my instructions right down to the letter will result in your in-laws camping out at your place for a month.
(1) Take out anything that's in your full size sdcard slot. Flip your keyboard upside down so that the keys are facing down.
(2) Gently but surely remove the 2 rubber pads that are the closest to the connection between your TF and the dock.
(3) Under there, you will find 2 small screws. Unscrew them. Please don't lose the screws.
(4) Flip the dock over so that the keys face up towards the sky.
(5) Write me a check for $3000 USD.
(6) Use your right hand and hold down the part where the TF makes the connection. Curl your left fingers into a hook, put it under the dock, and pull up. After the left side of the dock is severed, reverse and do the right side.
(7) Now that both left and right sides are off, continue to lift up the top of the dock until the side towards you loses the connection as well. Be careful not to remove too fast. There are wires connected between the 2 parts.
(8) With the connection point between the TF and dock facing away from you, the switch is a tiny black thing on the side of the left board. Look at the following picture.
(9) Flipping it away from you = on. Flipping it towards you = off.
(10) Write me another check for $5000 USD.
(11) Before you close up completely, plug in to make sure it now charges.
(12) Close up and screw in.
Here is a picture of where the switch is.

Thank You! It works!
And yeah, agreed, what a stupid function that switch is for!
You checks' in the mail!

That was fast.
Added by edit.
People, please spread the word if other people have this problem and I'm not here. This isn't the first time I've seen people complain about this.
In order to replace the chipset to allow powersaving mode, they have to work around the area of that switch. I did similar work around that area, too, and found myself keep flipping it back and forth by accident.

I had a similar experience... I just got my dock back from RMA which fixed the battery drain.
However the dock was returned, completely drained and won't charge (the light indicator on dock blinks orange) but my tablet charges fine.
I was just wondering if this is due to the switch preventing the dock charging?
I've heard that once the dock hits below 3%, it won't charge and I'll have to RMA once again...
I've also checked with dual battery widget and it shows (when my charger is plugged in) the tablet at 100% and dock being N/A (even though it also says its still charging as well)
So yeah was wondering if it was due to the switch?

Stephen289 said:
I had a similar experience... I just got my dock back from RMA which fixed the battery drain.
However the dock was returned, completely drained and won't charge (the light indicator on dock blinks orange) but my tablet charges fine.
I was just wondering if this is due to the switch preventing the dock charging?
I've heard that once the dock hits below 3%, it won't charge and I'll have to RMA once again...
I've also checked with dual battery widget and it shows (when my charger is plugged in) the tablet at 100% and dock being N/A (even though it also says its still charging as well)
So yeah was wondering if it was due to the switch?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It probably is the switch.

Goes to show us asus is hiring some really cheap technicians to do the job. I'm ot even an electronic technician. What I do has nothing to do with electronics at all. And by now I know the dock inside and outside intimately.
The least they could do is spend an etra micro second to check the switch before they close it up and send it back to you.

One question. How hard is it to remove the top cover of the dock... I'm trying to but it doesnt seem to budge

Stephen289 said:
One question. How hard is it to remove the top cover of the dock... I'm trying to but it doesnt seem to budge
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was hard until I read goodintentions' directions in his post
"(6) Use your right hand and hold down the part where the TF makes the connection. Curl your left fingers into a hook, put it under the dock, and pull up. After the left side of the dock is severed, reverse and do the right side."

nxt said:
It was hard until I read goodintentions' directions in his post
"(6) Use your right hand and hold down the part where the TF makes the connection. Curl your left fingers into a hook, put it under the dock, and pull up. After the left side of the dock is severed, reverse and do the right side."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that part is kind of confusing, do i dig my fingers between the gap? Because pulling it up from "under" the dock doesn't make too much sense

Stephen289 said:
Yeah, that part is kind of confusing, do i dig my fingers between the gap? Because pulling it up from "under" the dock doesn't make too much sense
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah put it just underneath the metal side lip/gap and just pull hard.

I RMA'd it second time... when I got it back, the dock was fully charged, plugged the dock into the Transformer and it showed the correct percentages, however as soon as I plugged the charger in, I suddenly get the N/A dock on my dual battery widget and the LED notification light on my dock is solid orange... guess I'll have to try open up the dock myself and see what is wrong with it...

Here is a video I made showing you how to open up the dock.

thank you so much!

This didn't work for me. My battery is stuck at 89% and will not charge or discharge for that matter.

works like a charm!
My dock was recently RMA-ed (battery was completely dead) and upon return it shows 19% charge but will not be charged. flipping the black switch completely solved it!
Cheques are in the mail.

hey guys just wanted to let you know my dock batery sussenly stopped working this morning and flipping this switch off and on again solved my problem so thanks guys

[Q] screen activation

1st, I'm spanish I'll try you understand what I say
I see that the tablet with the screen off (locked) can be activated without pressing the power button. Only need to put "near the dock"*
*making like you open the tablet+dock, but is not needed that the tablet was connected with the dock, I dnt know if someone else was noticed that... but I'm a bit curious about that and i want to know how its work? (magnet?, gyroscope?, magnet+gyroscope?) if someone knows it
and I say it to other people that dnt now this, THANKS
SOLVED MISTERY!
Like some says here its a magnet near the backspace key, exactly the "¿/¡" key
here is a really good cover mod idea: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1507548 thanks to MrNago

nobody has any idea?

I think there is a switch in the hinge maybe? Seems that would be the easiest way to have the screen turn on while opening the lid while its on the dock.

I test one more time and I noticed that the system is only at the right side of the tablet and dock, like u see in this image. And its not needed any contact, but it need tablet and dock really near.
I think is a magnet system, but i havent any magnets at home to make a try...
edit: i have an error in the image, looking the camera i can see that the tablet is in the wrong side, we must see the camera down. Not at the top like in the image xD

ww.youtube.com/watch?v=k-6dKsGJ4VY
I see nothing in this disassembly to make this activation, this is curious, i want too know how it works

turning on via opening.
i tried looking using a magnetic viewer screen there are several places in the screen and in the keyboard that show magnetism, on the screen the two speakers are the main places and in the keyboard below the backspace key is quite strong as well.
i tried replicating the action using a strong magnet but i could not get it to work only when help above the keyboard does it work so there may be more then one place it looks at, i will try again when i have more time and then post results.

Interesting discovery! I don't thnk anyone actually tried this, though many speculated there were magnets in the base, many users said (and I agreed at the time) that the mechanism to wake the device was located in the hinge, though having a function like this actually does make more sense than an actual hardware switch that could fail at some point.
You should make a video and I will add this information to my epic noob thread!

thanks for replies, i tried with a small magnet without results, and try in other positions with the dock and negative results too...
I'm sure that the magnet of the backspace key its the "switch" or one of them, they are 2 maybe....

Guessing here, probably not just a magnet, maybe even an RFID chip of some sort..

Its a magnet that does this. Don't doubt. Believe. Removing the magnet and putting it back in is part of my hard drive soldering procedure.

it is a microswitch in the hinge, all experimentation I have done supports this, the only thing left for me to do is pull apart my dock and take high res pictures of the microswitch seeing as you all seem to need proof of it

lilstevie said:
it is a microswitch in the hinge, all experimentation I have done supports this, the only thing left for me to do is pull apart my dock and take high res pictures of the microswitch seeing as you all seem to need proof of it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stevie, i did think so as well, but the device will wakewhen placed on the dock and removed even if it is not affixed in the hinges and even if the hinge does not move, i don't think you are getting what poster is saying, i will make a video myself and post to demonstrate.
HERE
Thereis also probably a switch in the hinge as well for sure, but this does seem important information, wonder what the mechanisms in the body of the tf are..i enjoy solid state switches like this

Oddly enough this is confirmed using Paul's ICS and my dock not connected. Totally bypassed the lockscreen. Held it as close as I could for about 5-7 seconds then on came the screen. Tried this at least 10 times (five of which I just was amazed) and everytime opened right up. Nice catch:thumbup:
Sent from my Ice Creamified Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

You guys are right, there is some kind of magnet. For those that doubt it, like I did, try this:
First off, undock the tablet, so that you have the 2 items apart.
1. Lock the tablet, so that the screen is off.
2. On the dock, rotate the hinge outwards, so that you can put together tablet+keyboard without docking.
3. Actually put them together, so that their position is exactly the same as docked, except they aren't.
4. Screen should turn on. Mine certainly does!
Edit: as you can see, there is no connected circuitry between them and the tablet is waking up. Don't know about locking though, but I hope this gets things clearer and Modding nearer!

MrNago said:
You guys are right, there is some kind of magnet. For those that doubt it, like I did, try this:
First off, undock the tablet, so that you have the 2 items apart.
1. Lock the tablet, so that the screen is off.
2. On the dock, rotate the hinge outwards, so that you can put together tablet+keyboard without docking.
3. Actually put them together, so that their position is exactly the same as docked, except they aren't.
4. Screen should turn on. Mine certainly does!
Edit: as you can see, there is no connected circuitry between them and the tablet is waking up. Don't know about locking though, but I hope this gets things clearer and Modding nearer!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the same way to unlock that Im saying since the first post. Only need to test to know what kind/power/number of magnets or "sensor" is needed
Enviado desde mi Transformer TF101 usando Tapatalk

Here, I found it out
I opened a DIY thread: [DIY] SmartAss Cover for your Asus TF101

[Q] Dock to Tablet connection loose

Hey everyone, Since i got my transformer I've only had one thing bug me and that is the left bracket on the dock holding the tablet in place feels loose and wiggles around slightly even though it seems to click in place. where as the right side is fine.
I brought it second hand for cheap so this kind of this was expected. Just wondering if anyone's having a similar issue.
Cheers

thats normal all the connectors are a little loose my tablet sits at about a 2-3% angle

mrevankyle said:
thats normal all the connectors are a little loose my tablet sits at about a 2-3% angle
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah that's good to know I've been contemplating open it up to to see what's going on but ill leave it now lol.

[Q] What was your experience with ASUS Support?

Hey guys,
I want to know if anybody tried to get a warranty repair on his TF700 with cracked glass.
I can't claim i NEVER dropped my Transformer, it has a small scratch on the side from about 8 months ago. About a month ago I noticed my screen cracked on edge after I woke up and tablet was laying in his case right where i put him. A week or so later I noticed that I can't lock it in the dock, the left hinge just wouldn't fit, however the dock still worked. After about two weeks I was on a yacht, the dock was stored in my cabin all the time, but one day I wanted to charge battery from it I noticed it's dead and not charging. After plugging it to charger in marina the light was not lit and when I connected dock to tablet it didnt recognise it. And then 2 days later I took Transformer out of my backpack at the airport and I saw another crack on the screen. Again it wasn't dropped, hit with a club, tossed, just put gently in the backpack.
The weird thing is I got 3 diffrent problems, all happening within a month and none of it was directly preceeded with any kind of misuse. I wonder if people at ASUS support are going to believe that I didn't abuse my Transformer in any way.
Anybody had simmilar problems and what was the result of RMA procedure?

Where are these cracks? I would assume along the bottom where it would fit in the dock but are they where the connection dongle is, on the side, ever notice it getting unusually hot when charging or smell anything? If I follow correctly then neither the tablet nor dock is charging regardless if they are connected or as individual peices.
I've had the dongle portion on my tablet go bad. I heard a pop after plugging it in, a faint smell of burnt something, and it didn't respond anymore to the usb cable. Connectiong it to the computer also resulted with nothing happening. They repaired it with no problem. Perhaps your port went bad and in the process caused the screen to crack. If the cracks are around the port area of course. How it ties into the dock not working now could also be related. Maybe it was the dock that went bad first but the signs showed on the tablet since it is easier to see.
Either way your tablet is useless if it doesn't charge. All you can do really is send it in for RMA and hope they don't claim it is customer induced damage. Try doing a Google search for the model you have and screen cracks. Might find something there following other people with cracked screens.
Good Luck

Keyboard dock issues - katkiss 6.0.1

O happy day- got a keyboard dock. Happiness was short lived; after allowing the dock to charge overnight, I was unable to get either of my tf300's to work with it. The tablets will recognize it as a charging device (you can see the 2 battery icons on the status bar) but that's it- no track pad or keyboard functions. I haven't tried to see if usb is active, though. I've attempted the troubleshooting steps I've seen online, like cold booting a tablet while connected to the dock, all to no avail...
Anyhow, obviously there's no warranty in play here, so I was curious if anyone had any know-how on servicing the dock? I read on Tom's Hardware that the dock needs to be glued somehow after disassembly, so i'd like to consider that "last resort", but if that is what it's going to take, that's okay. Anybody have any suggestions?

monogwai said:
O happy day- got a keyboard dock. Happiness was short lived; after allowing the dock to charge overnight, I was unable to get either of my tf300's to work with it. The tablets will recognize it as a charging device (you can see the 2 battery icons on the status bar) but that's it- no track pad or keyboard functions. I haven't tried to see if usb is active, though. I've attempted the troubleshooting steps I've seen online, like cold booting a tablet while connected to the dock, all to no avail...
Anyhow, obviously there's no warranty in play here, so I was curious if anyone had any know-how on servicing the dock? I read on Tom's Hardware that the dock needs to be glued somehow after disassembly, so i'd like to consider that "last resort", but if that is what it's going to take, that's okay. Anybody have any suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, here's a status update... I've gone ahead and opened the dock, and nothing really looked out of place, so I went ahead and reattached the various cables and screwed the sucker back together. I now have the keyboard working. The trackpad, however, still is not working. I took it apart a second time and verified that the cables for the trackpad were plugged all the way in (where the black line on the ribbon cables are flush with the connectors on the boards), and still no go. Anybody have any experience with a non-functional trackpad?

monogwai said:
Well, here's a status update... I've gone ahead and opened the dock, and nothing really looked out of place, so I went ahead and reattached the various cables and screwed the sucker back together. I now have the keyboard working. The trackpad, however, still is not working. I took it apart a second time and verified that the cables for the trackpad were plugged all the way in (where the black line on the ribbon cables are flush with the connectors on the boards), and still no go. Anybody have any experience with a non-functional trackpad?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, wow! It didn't even take me an hour to break it again. Went and re-read threads on various forums, and people were having some luck with cold booting while docked. So I did, and yet again the keyboard ceased functioning. Despite having not even moved while reading/rebooting, I opened the dock once more. Of course, nothing appears to have changed, so I don't even know what to do at this point. The vendor has refunded my money, so at least I'm not out anything; it'd be really nice if I could somehow restore function, though.
I can get a replacement keypad/trackpad off eBay, but I'm concerned that my problem may be where the cables attach to the main board. Of course it could also be the ribbon cables themselves. Anyone know somewhere to get new cables at a reasonable price?

I've got the keyboard working again. Seems like once I plug it in to charge, the keyboard stops working and i have to go play with the cables to remedy that. that's only when charging with the tablet attached. haven't tried seeing what happens if i undock, then charge, then redock.
kinda surprised nobody's had any input... <shrugs>. and in regards to something i had said before, it seems i was a bit mistaken: i can order a replacement keypad, but not the trackpad. i'm wondering if i might need a new main board for this instead, though. would like to hear something out of someone who's replaced a board in the dock before i pull the trigger on one. anyone? anyone? Bueller?

new update:
had to set the dock to charge, and naturally, the keyboard didn't work. so i went and took it apart again. this time, though, I plugged the tablet in to the base prior to screwing everything back. I detached the cables from the mainboard, reseated, and checked-- no change. so I detached the mainboard cables again, and proceeded to reseat the cabling where the touchpad is. snapped the tablet back into place; lo and behold, I got a little circle on screen... hey! the trackpad's working!!! Excitedly, I screwed the screws under the trackpad button, and replaced the button, and proceeded to close the tablet so I could flip the dock over and replace the other screws/feet. Opened everything back up and unlocked the tablet and.............. <price is right tuba noise here> no trackpad. total freaking bummer.
I'm guessing now that maybe there's some kind of short somewhere. When I get to my destination this evening (or perhaps tomorrow, to be honest), I will further explore this new development. It's interesting at the very least. I do know the pad isn't totally dead in the water.
it's odd... charging causes the keyboard to stop functioning, and screws apparently cause the pad to stop functioning. very odd.

i've sat down and dismantled the entire thing. i decided to unplug the battery from the system board for a while thinking there might be some kind of situation where that could be helpful. let it sit probably 2 hours while i worked on something else. now i've reassembled, snapped it back together (but no screws yet), and the trackpad is working. has been working for the last hour, give or take. dock is down to 38% charge, so i'm trepidatious (is that even a word? lol) about which step to take next -- seeing what happens when i screw this thing back together, or try and see what happens when i attempt to charge it. i'll have to make some sort of decision, so once that happens, i'll post yet another update. hopefully a solve.

Problems with a dock? unplug that battery for a while!
I've rounded the last corner i think. i've got the charger plugged in to the dock as i sit here and type; trackpad still works too. all that's left is trying to screw it back together, so i'm gonna call this tenatively solved. because if i just can't have screws for some strange reason, i suppose i'm fine with that.

Still working... How does one go about marking something 'solved'? Ask a mod...?