Symptoms
- No charging light or icon when plugged in
- Battery percentage doesn't increase after hours on the charger
- Unit only charges when held at a certain angle
- Charging cradle contacts look dull or dirty
Likely causes
- CommonCharging cable or adapter is faultyCables are the most common failure point, especially with visible fraying or a loose connector.
- CommonCharging port or contact pins are dirty or misalignedMonitors that charge via metal contacts on a cradle can lose connection from dust or slight misalignment.
- PossibleOutlet or power source not workingA dead outlet or a power strip switched off can look like a device charging failure.
- PossibleBattery has reached end of lifeRechargeable batteries lose capacity after a couple of years and may eventually stop holding or accepting a charge.
- PossibleUnit not seated fully in charging cradleA camera or parent unit not pressed all the way into its dock won't complete the charging contacts.
What to do
- Confirm the outlet works by testing another device in it.
- Try a different compatible charging cable or adapter if one is available.
- Wipe the charging contacts on both the unit and the cradle with a dry cloth to remove dust or grime.
- Reseat the unit firmly in its charging cradle, making sure it clicks or sits flush, not at an angle.
- Leave it charging for at least an hour and watch for any indicator light change, since some units take a few minutes to register.
- If the unit has a physical charging port instead of a cradle, inspect it for bent pins or lint blocking the connection.
- If nothing charges the unit after ruling out the cable, port, and outlet, the internal battery has likely failed.
Tools and parts
- Dry cloth
- Spare compatible charging cable (if available)
Charging cable/adapterSearch: “baby monitor charger replacement”
Internal batterySearch: “baby monitor replacement battery”
When to call a pro
If the battery has failed and the monitor is out of warranty, contact the manufacturer about a battery replacement option, since these are usually not user-serviceable inside the sealed case.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.