Acer Iconia A500

Acer Iconia A500

This is a a true story about how my Acer Iconia Tab A500 stopped charging, and how I chalked it up to battery life, when it actually turned out to be a charger issue.   If you wish to delved deeper into my experience with the issue, read on, but below is the quick synopsis of the problem, symptoms, and solution so you can down to fixing your Acer Iconia A500 tablet battery charging problem.

  • Problem:  My Acer Iconia Tab A500 is no loner charging
  • Symptoms:  power light indicator flashes white and tablet doesn’t charge
  • Solution:  Purchase a replacement charger.

Background

About two years ago, I purchased an Acer Iconia T500 tablet–my very first tablet.  About 6 months ago, I found that it wasn’t charging any more.  The symptoms began when I plugged in the charger and noticed that the charging indicator on the power button was lit and was flashing.  Normally, when it is charging, the color would be amber, and it would just be lit; but this time it was white and flashing on and off.  I thought maybe it is still charging, so I left it plugged in over night.  The following morning, I checked to see if I could turn the tablet on, but much to my dismay I would turn it on then quickly shutdown.

In Search for a Solution

Computer batteries typically have a life of about two years.  So I thought since I’ve had the tablet for over two years now, it was overdue.  I chalked it up to battery failure, and never really thought much about it until I had the urge to do further investigation just several weeks ago.

Since my first gut feel told me that it was the battery, why not buy a battery?  Amazon.com has everything, so I checked there and found this:  Geniune Acer Iconia A500 Tablet Battery ($14.99).  I have prime membership on Amazon.com, so I received this battery within a couple of days.  I didn’t know how to open the tablet and get the battery replaced, so I browsed through YouTube and found a good video which shows how it’s done:

Anyway, I was able to change the battery with the help of this video.  Upon replacing the battery, I was able to turn on the tablet.  The new battery had about 24% charge on it. It continued to discharge upon use, and unfortunately, even when plugged into the charger, the battery still didn’t charge.  The power indicator continued to flash white.  It wasn’t the battery!

I searched for other possible solutions on the web, but no luck.  There was nothing out there that really matched the symptoms my tablet was experiencing.  I finally thought that there is only one possible answer to this, why not just try replacing the charger.  It may be just inexpensive enough to try this.

Again, I went back to my trustee source–Amazon.com.  I found this adapter:  Pwr+ 6.5 ft Rapid 2amp charger.  It only costs $13.90.  Not bad.

Pwr+ 2amp charger

Pwr+ 2amp charger

Again, I received the order within two days.  Upon receiving it, I plugged in my Acer Iconia A500 tablet and low and behold it began charging.

Finally, problem solve!

Conclusion

Although the solution to my Acer Iconia A500 tablet charging problem was solved by replacing the charger, I still show the process I went through and the other solutions I tried just in case the problem you are experiencing is battery related.  Hopefully this has been helpful to you.  If so, please let me know.  If not, and you found another solution, just let me know by commenting below.